I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two young men destined for greatness must set aside their aspirations to discover the haunting path of modern warfare in author Chandler McGrew’s “Sons of Empire: A World of Arras Novel.
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The Synopsis
A gripping new historical fantasy series from the bestselling author of supernatural thrillers originally published by Bantam/Dell like Cold Heart and Night Terror.
The World of Arras has come a long way since the nearly forgotten time of the Altmages. Empires rise fueled by greed and the increasing power of the Technomagedoms of Kardith Bath in Verileon and the Gost Fabrika in Tautonia. And two young men, one destined for the Magehood and the other for political power, must set aside their dreams to learn the ways of modern war. One of them will end up dead, but for the good of Empire he cannot be allowed to stay that way.
The Review
The author did a fantastic job of capturing the in-depth mythos and history of this fictional world in which the narrative takes place. The way the author is able to infuse powerful imagery into their writing allows the reader to feel instantly transported to this world as if the grim, dark alleyways of the capital city were surrounding the reader at any given moment.
The atmosphere and character development really drove this story forward, as did the genre mashup the author was able to create here. The tension builds as the two protagonists find their lives changing in ways they could have never imagined and the visceral nature of the world they inhabit makes this world feel alive and powerful. The way the author built on themes and storytelling related to sci-fi, fantasy, and history in one narrative and still wrote strong characters that felt real and jumped off the page was great to see come to life.
The Verdict
Thrilling, mesmerizing, and entertaining, author Chandler McGrew’s “Sons of Empire” is a fantastic history meets sci-fi and fantasy novel and the perfect start to the World of Arras series. The twists and turns in the narrative and the ideal marriage of these genres allowed the history and cultures the author established in this world to come to life beautifully. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Although he is the author of four critically acclaimed supernatural/suspense thrillers from Bantam and numerous KDP titles including epic fantasy, Chandler McGrew, lives in quiet seclusion in the mountains of Maine. He writes ten to twelve hours a day, fueled by liberal doses of coffee and Pepsi, with only an occasional dollop of single malt scotch to take the edge off.
Born in Texas he lived for almost a decade in Alaska where his first novel, Cold Heart, is set. I Love a Mystery called the book a ‘tense and satisfying read.’ While the Contra Costa Times said it was ‘The best opening 10 pages I’ve read this year…reads like a good martini tastes: icy cold, with flecks of terror where the ice chips should be.’
Not a bad start for a man who didn’t begin to write professionally until he was in his forties.
Chandler followed Cold Heart with Night Terror, a psychological thriller about a woman who has lost her only son and believes she may be losing her mind as well. Like all his novels the book is peopled by characters who might be your next door neighbor. Or they might be escapees from a boobie hatch. The Denver Post said the novel ‘…plays on the primal fears that cause most adults to lose sleep.’
That’s an adequate description of all of Chandler’s work.
The Darkening, his third book, is a dark, apocalyptic thriller in which two very different individuals must not only find each other but themselves as well before discovering the path that will lead them to salvation. Publisher’s Weekly, the industry standard, said of the book that it was an “addictive…one part Rapture drama, one part Lovecraftian horror story, one part blood-soaked chase… a thrilling one-sit read.”
Which brings us to In Shadows, McGrew’s latest which the Chicago Tribune called “…a born-to-be-a-TV-series story.”
McGrew has the uncanny knack for touching readers and frightening the bejeesus out of them at the same time. And now he delves deeper and deeper into the fantastic world of Verileon.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
In the midst of a large corporate conglomerate pushing galactic expansion, an aging detective and a private security forces agent find themselves in a rush for survival in the midst of a massive conspiracy in author Walter Robinson’s “The Northern Route”.
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The Synopsis
In the distant star cluster Messier 4, the vast and stagnant civilization of the Apeilous sits on the verge of its next great expansion. Several massive corporations have merged to start the Endeavor, the most far-reaching economic and humanitarian effort in history.
Vesta Amore leads a small team of private security specializing in the protection of whistleblowers and corporate defectors. She has no interest in the Endeavor until she is swept off her feet by the suave leader of the Fortuna Corp, an equal partner in the Endeavor. Balancing her altruism with the realities of power, Vesta joins the Fortuna as they work to establish a supply route along the contested northern border.
Cal Sunn is a career detective looking forward to retirement. When the Maressellya Corp backs out of joining the Endeavor, they hear rumors of a defector in their ranks and put Cal on the case. What starts as a simple assignment becomes a fight for survival as he works to untangle a shadowy conspiracy that threatens the Apeilous. With the Fortuna’s backing, he and his crew rush to uncover the plot.
The Review
This was a powerful and engaging read. The author did an incredible job of crafting a diverse cast of characters that drove the reader to find themselves amongst them all, and the attention to detail the author paid to the writing, especially the imagery and character development, allowed the reader to really picture the vast universe the author had brought to life on the page.
To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the author’s world-building, which allowed the universe to thrive and feel vibrant and alive to the reader. The author not only honed in on the worlds that populated this fictional universe, but also the different cultures, class systems, and social aspects of these characters’ lives, as well as the way the story touched upon our own world’s love of corporations and the power they wield over us all, made this a compelling sci-fi read.
The Verdict
Harrowing, intriguing, and entertaining, author Walter Robinson’s “The Northern Route” is a must-read sci-fi adventure. The world-building, the mystery and intrigue the conspiracy brings to life, and the way the author was able to weave in genres like corporate espionage and thrillers into the narrative really made an impact on the reader, and fans of shows and series like The Expanse will really fall in love with this compelling novel. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Walter Robinson is a speculative fiction author based in Western PA. A classically trained engineer with experience in product development and advanced materials manufacturing, he has a passion for telling the human stories that are fundamental to the built world. When he isn’t writing or drawing, Walter spends his time designing and fabricating.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I first became interested in language as an art form in school, after being prompted to read the book Gormenghast by a temporary English teacher who was covering for our main teacher. (Sadly I cannot even remember his name to thank him!) Gormenghast, by Mervyn Peake, uses words like daubs of paint, to create imagery that is more than just the rendering of a scene or story. After reading it I had a new appreciation for words and the way they could be used to add character to something as simple as walking along a corridor. Conversely, at the opposing end of the artistic spectrum I have also always been in awe of particle physicist Richard Feynman. His ability to explain extremely difficult principles of physics to a casual reader through perfectly selected, but simple words, phrases, and analogies, is another use of language that I love to emulate.
My personal journey into writing did not start until years after leaving school, and has really only just begun. Through my exposure to the entertainment industry I have gradually found myself as the writer of several short screenplays and scripts, increasing in length, until taking on a novel was the next logical step. The rules and restrictions of writing in screenplay format have always felt extremely limiting in expressing complex ideas that do not take place through dialogue. And, since most of the concepts I am interested in exist within a kind of internal, cerebral space, writing a novel was the only way I could explore them freely.
I have spent most of my adult life freelancing between different disciplines, some in the world of entertainment – film making, working at media agencies, occasionally on-screen – and some working in tech – coding, consulting, R&D at software companies. There are so many weird and wonderful things that I have encountered that I would love to spend the time writing about, either as elements of a story, or in isolation in their own right. Hopefully I will get the time. There is so much I would like to share.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
Initially, SYMUTAL was an idea for a film – or rather the seeds of an idea. With the onset of Covid lockdowns in 2020 there seemed a perfect opportunity to flesh this idea out in much greater detail than I had ever intended. I dived headlong into writing it as a novel, then fully rewriting it… then fully rewriting the full rewrite… and again, over several iterations during the next few years. In addition to the story elements of the book, there are many ideas of computing and science that I felt have never been articulated particularly well outside of reference manuals or non-fiction. I wanted the reader to be exposed to some of the beauty that I feel is inherent in a scientific view of the world. Algorithms are beautiful, and they are everywhere.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Firstly and foremost, I want the reader to have fun through the characters and their journeys. But beyond that I guess I would like people to understand the world around them as something that is in constant flux, composed of a continual conflict of ideas – every object being the expression of an underlying principle of science.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I don’t really see myself as having chosen a genre to write in, per-se – I don’t think I could write in any other genre. It just feels like I am expressing my inner self through characters and story.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I would sit down with the meta-character The Hoshoku-Sha Corporation, and ask them to what end their progress was intended.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I have no idea to be honest. I think that contacting real readers, such as yourself, and reaching out to them is likely to be more fruitful than any number of broader social media approaches. I am still gathering data.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Since writing SYMUTAL, a few other people have asked me what my process was – people similar to myself who feel they have an idea to express but are not trained in writing, or are not experienced in writing long form content. I would say this:
Once you decide to write something, do it. Pin a sheet of paper to your wall and every night at midnight write down the number of words you have written that day. Never lie. Never cheat. Write the number. Your word count. Pin it somewhere so that you can always see it. If you don’t feel like writing that day, do it anyway. If the words feel like they are not coming out creatively that day, or you don’t have your “muse” with you, write anyway. Write something. Move the story forwards. Do it until you reach the end. No matter what. Every day. Until it’s done. Even if it is only one paragraph that day. Do it.
The reason I think people should adopt such a cold-mannered, relentless, Terminator-like approach, is that once they have finished the story they will want to rewrite it *anyway*. Guaranteed. No matter how good the first draft is, they will want to improve it. Nobody will be happy with their first draft…. Therefore, do not spend 12 months procrastinating on writing a single sentence because you want it to be perfect. It won’t be perfect the first time. So just write it, regardless of mood. Refine it on the next pass.
It is much easier to refine something that already exists (your first draft) into something you are happy with (your second, third, draft), than to create it perfectly all in one go. So you will save more time writing two drafts, fast, than you will by waiting for your first draft to come out perfectly.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I am gradually making the book SYMUTAL into an independent movie. I am trying to honour the integrity of the book’s key principles, and shoot as much as possible in the style of the writing, rather than condense it down to a traditional script.
Once I have completed that I will start writing my next book. I find it difficult to overlap creative ideas and give each one my full attention.
I have attached some photos. Not sure which ones match the interview questions. Use any you think fit.
Chilling in the hammock may well be the right vibe! 🙂
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About the Author
I was born in Dubai UAE, moved to England when I was 5, and grew up in London. Currently I live in Bangkok Thailand with my girlfriend. My background has been a mix of different careers and locations, with a lot of technology roles (I have spent a lot of time as a programmer, and digital nomad), and have also had a few forays into the entertainment industry. Suffice to say I find it difficult to completely categorise myself in any normal, sensible way!
Much of this contrasting medley of places manifests itself through my writing, and will be apparent in the book Symutal, whose story is interwoven between Earth, the Moon, and virtual reality, but with a strong interlinking storyline. It is speculative, dystopian fiction, but with occasional scenes borrowed from my own experiences.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man with a hidden past he has no memory of must go on a journey to save his partner after she is abducted by the all-powerful Empire in author Quill Holland’s “Forgotten Evil”, the first book in The Forgotten Saga.
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The Synopsis
If you had the power to rewrite people’s thoughts… would you?
As a thirty-five-year-old farmer on a colony world, Raith is a kind and simple man, with a catch – he’s only existed for two years. His previous life is a mystery; the only clue to his past is a dark, ominous voice inside his head.
When the Empire executes its triennial ‘Soul Harvest’, Raith’s partner, Amorina, is amongst the abducted colonists. Stowing away aboard one of the departing ships, Raith must navigate strange yet familiar territory in an attempt to save her. Haunted by his inner demon, the rescue becomes increasingly complex, as Raith finds himself caught between the Empire, the Insurgency, and the United Earth Republic, with new friends and enemies knowing more about Raith’s history than he does.
Finally, as his past catches up with him, Raith discovers the dark truth about his former life and the powerful technology responsible for erasing it. With the burden of his disturbing past weighing upon him, Raith is forced into wielding that power once more; and the fate of humanity hangs on his decision.
The Review
This was a masterful and exhilarating sci-fi read. The author did a remarkable job of finding a way of balancing the story with epic mythos and intimate character development. The world-building was so above par, with a vast network of planets and divided allegiances that speak to a long and storied universe that the protagonist finds himself hurtling through. The imagery really brought this narrative to life in a fresh and engaging way.
To me, the combination of powerful character growth and strong themes of morality, and the fine line between good and evil made this such a standout novella. The way the protagonist embodied both good and evil with his past and present constantly colliding, and the morality of what it means to change worlds “for the better” made this a compelling story, as did the rich character arcs that showcased the romance, the drama, and the sci-fi action that fans of the genre have come to know and love.
The Verdict
Memorable, captivating, and entertaining, author Quill Holland’s “Forgotten Evil” is a fantastic sci-fi novella and the perfect first book in The Forgotten Saga. The twists and turns in the narrative and the shocking mysterious ending shows a wealth of backstory and world-building still left to discover, and the fast pace of the narrative itself will keep readers coming back to this story time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Growing up, Quill could always be found with his nose in a book, or watching the latest science-fiction movie. As a result, he’s developed an imagination that never stops, and naturally, sci-fi and fantasy is largely the domain that Quill’s own work inhabits.
Whether it was typing code or writing fiction, Quill has been creating content for years; now as a recent creative writing graduate from the New Zealand Institute of Business Studies and a member of the New Zealand Society of Authors, Quill has taken the plunge by self-publishing his first work.
When he’s not debugging code or creating worlds, Quill likes to dabble in illustration and photography, as well as exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand with his partner.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man who fled war-torn Lebanon questions God’s existence and searches for answers from history’s greatest minds after developing a nano hadron collider in authors Dana Dargos & Said Al Bizri’s “Einstein in the Attic”.
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The Synopsis
Set against the backdrop of the war between science and God, reason and faith, Einstein in the Attic is the story of one scientist’s search for truth and meaning when faced with the ultimate question: Is there a God? Fleeing war-torn Lebanon, Adam Reemi’s faith is shaken by the hardships he has endured, but when he and a colleague successfully construct a nano hadron collider, and using sound waves, Adam finds unheard-of power at his fingertips. To help him answer the greatest question mankind has ever posed, he zaps the best philosophical minds of all time–namely Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Soren Kierkegaard, and Baruch Spinoza–from the past and into his attic. Not all goes according to plan, however, and Adam finds himself in a race against time to formulate an answer to the question of intelligent design… or risk losing everything.
The Review
This was such a fun and thought-provoking read. The balance the author found with the sci-fi, witty conversational aspects of the narrative with the more grounded, heartbreaking, and thoughtful storytelling of the main character’s arc was amazing to see come to life on the page. The world-building and scientific nature of the narrative was gripping, and powerful imagery felt very cinematic in the writing itself.
The heart of this narrative rested in the character development and the philosophical discussion that happens both in the book and within the reader’s mind as a result. The way the authors take the time to really delve into Adam’s backstory and the childhood experiences that shaped his life was heartfelt and truly emotional, keeping a sense of relatability for the reader as the more sci-fi elements of the story came to life. The attention to detail the science aspect of the narrative brought to life was enlightening and thoughtful, and the impact of these historical figures on Adam’s journey was thrilling to read.
The Verdict
Memorable, engaging, and thought-provoking, authors Dana Dargos and Said Al Bizri’s “Einstein in the Attic” is a must-read sci-fi novel. The adventure and science behind the tech that brings these figures into the modern day and the rich and emotional backstory that shapes Adam’s philosophical and intellectual dilemmas will keep readers glued to the pages of this book as the narrative takes shape. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
Dana Dargos is an award-winning Lebanese-American writer born and raised in the Bay Area. From the moment she created adventurous, crayon-scribbled tales in kindergarten, she knew writing would forever be a part of her life. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English Literature. Einstein in the Attic is her debut novel.
Said Al Bizri is an award-winning writer, existentialist thinker, and avid researcher with a BA from the American University of Beirut. He works as a business development director in a number of countries. Together, Said and Dana conducted five years of research to ensure plausible and accurate scientific and historical information. Einstein in the Attic is also his debut novel.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man-made to be a human pleasure “pet” becomes evidence in a murder investigation, and must help uncover the mystery behind the crime while living with the investigator and his wife in authors Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus’s “Malena MCD”.
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The Synopsis
Mauve is a pet, a human pleasure slave. He is smart, ambitious, horny – and the only witness in a murder case. Or rather, he is ‘evidence’.
Luckily, the crime was committed on Malicorn, where an unsolved murder would disturb its profitable reputation as the safest planet of the Empire. So Mauve ends up in the hands of the Malena MCD, the local Major Crimes Division, run by ex-space-marine Alexej Sirenkov and his brilliant wife Andrea. Unwilling to see him stored in the evidence locker, the Sirenkovs take him home for a few days. And while Mauve hopes they might just be the perfect forever-owners, he has no idea of Mistress Andrea’s plans for them…
Written by award-winning authors Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus, ‘Malena MCD’ is a funny, naughty, police procedural throuple rom-com set in the wildly diverse, hopeful ‘Virasana Empire’ universe and can be read as a stand-alone.
Warnings: First Person POV, Slavery, MMF threesomes, Graphic Sex Scenes, Violence. And pigs, of course. We’re on Malicorn.
The Review
The world-building in this novel was outstanding. The vast differences in culture and societal norms were felt instantly with the introduction of the protagonist Mauve and the entire system of breeding facilities and the installation of human pets in general. The whole book felt like a commentary on the emergence of more and more realistic sex dolls and the talk of AI-run human dolls and the morality of it all. The conflict that arises between Alexej and his wife Andrea is so unique to see, as it showcases his hatred of slavery in their society and her desire to implement it into their household.
The commentary on slavery and sexual relationships between couples and a third party, in particular those that involve Dom and subs made for some truly interesting discussion points and drove the plot forward greatly. The genuine shock and eagerness Mauve felt when Alexej shared kindness and warmth and treated him like a person was emotional to read, and the shocking realities of their society served as the perfect foil to the actual murder mystery of the novel. The police procedural that took place was evenly paced and made for an intriguing read.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, engaging, and at times shocking, authors Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus’s “Malena MCD” is a must-read novel for those who enjoy a mix of LGBTQ-driven erotica and sci-fi police procedurals. The twists and turns the narrative takes, both for the crime itself and the personal lives of these three protagonists, will keep readers enthralled, and the way the authors are able to bring a sci-fi element to the story without focusing too hard on the science aspect of sci-fi made this a fast read. This is definitely a book more geared towards those who enjoy erotica that involves more dominant and submissive story elements, so be prepared for that, and while that aspect of the novel was lost on me, the mystery that was presented and the morality that was explored through these characters made for some fascinating world-building. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus have a new queer sci-fi book out (bi, pan, poly), the latest tale in their Virasana Empire: Malena MCD.
Mauve is a pet, a human pleasure slave. He is smart, ambitious, horny – and the only witness in a murder case. Or rather, he is ‘evidence’.
Luckily, the crime was committed on Malicorn, where an unsolved murder would disturb its profitable reputation as the safest planet of the Empire. So Mauve ends up in the hands of the Malena MCD, the local Major Crimes Division, run by ex-space-marine Alexej Sirenkov and his brilliant wife Andrea. Unwilling to see him stored in the evidence locker, the Sirenkovs take him home for a few days. And while Mauve hopes they might just be the perfect forever-owners, he has no idea of Mistress Andrea’s plans for them…
Written by award-winning authors Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus, ‘Malena MCD’ is a funny, naughty, police procedural throuple rom-com set in the wildly diverse, hopeful ‘Virasana Empire’ universe and can be read as a stand-alone.
Warnings: First Person POV, Slavery, MMF threesomes, Graphic Sex Scenes, Violence. And pigs, of course. We’re on Malicorn.
“We can’t just leave him here on the couch, you know?” The drone of voices nearby had slowly been pulling me out of my nap for a while now, but these were the first words to actually penetrate the haze.
“Well, I won’t put him in those evidence holding cells!” Alexej’s voice got me wide awake. So he had returned to the headquarters. And they were talking about me. “Have you ever been there? It’s horrible!”
“Yes, love, I have been there.” Mistress Sirenkov, calm and patient. “And it’s not horrible. It’s clean, they get fed regularly.”
“They just sit in their cells, staring off into nothing. Do they drug them?” He sounded livid.
I cracked an eye open to locate them. They were standing right outside the office in the corridor, arguing.
“Alexej… what do you expect them to do? Sing and dance for your pleasure?”
She was being sarcastic, of course, but she did have a point. Granted, there wasn’t much to do for a slave impounded at the evidence locker. But for a slave, that wasn’t necessarily something negative. When else did you ever get a chance to just sit around and do nothing without having to worry about your owner violently objecting to your inactivity?
“I don’t know! I… I won’t let them have the kid.” He sounded much less outraged than frustrated by now. “Can’t we just take him home with us?”
Take me home?! Now that sounded like a spectacular idea. I would be able to work in Alexej’s house!
And they were commoners, so with a bit of luck they didn’t have too many slaves yet and I could make myself indispensable. Not sure how to do that, though, without any useful skills. As a bargain bin pet, what little training I got had barely covered the basics of how to give a blowjob or how to keep still when being fucked.
But I was smart and had picked up a few things along the way. How to make coffee, how to hang up laundry or do dishes and a smattering of other housekeeping abilities. A bit like a proper household slave, and that was infinitely better than being a pet. Householders got more valuable with age, while every pet had a doomsday clock ticking over their heads counting down to the day when they would be too old and used up to be desirable anymore. That thought had kept me motivated over the years. And I was a fast learner.
So this little sliver of a chance made my heart pound in my chest. Plus, being around Alexej all the time? The mere thought of seeing his gorgeous ass every day made me half hard. It would be torture, not being allowed to touch and lick him all over – but what sweet, sweet torture that would be!
“After all, he is evidence, and he might still prove useful in our investigations.” Alexej sounded like he was pleading a case, though the argument he chose wasn’t exactly the reason I had hoped for. “We should question him further tomorrow and see what else he can tell us about his late master.”
Mistress Sirenkov remained curiously quiet for a while. “I guess there’s no harm in that,” she eventually agreed. There was an odd undertone in her voice that I couldn’t identify, but Alexej seemed oblivious to it.
“So that’s settled then,” he stated and I quickly closed my eyes, pretending I was still asleep when he entered the office.
The couch dipped as he sat down on the edge and a comfortingly big and gentle hand nudged my shoulder. “Hey kid, wake up.”
I blinked at him sleepily, trying to give a credible show of just waking up. He still looked as delectable as he had earlier, only now his hair was more tousled and the shadow across his jaw more pronounced. I also noticed Mistress Sirenkov standing in the doorway behind him, her arms crossed over her chest, watching thoughtfully.
Alexej turned his reassuring smile on me and Mistress faded out of focus as all my attention was drawn to this gorgeous man.
“You look much better already.” Of course he didn’t mean it the way I wanted, but rational thought was hugely overrated anyway, especially when faced with so much attractive manliness. “I have to quickly take care of a few things here but then we’ll go home,” he continued. “We’ve decided that you’ll be staying with us for the duration of the investigation.”
I wasn’t sure if he expected a proper answer to that so I just nodded.
“Now, kid, I want you to do something for me…” A blowjob?! I’m good with blowjobs! Really! No one has ever complained! I’ll…
“I want you to start thinking about a name for yourself. We can’t just keep calling kid, can we?”
Oh.
I really needed to get a handle on my reactions to this man, or very soon I would make a complete idiot of myself and probably gross him out completely. I wasn’t exactly an expert at seduction since my owners hadn’t wasted a word on me except maybe ‘kneel’ or ‘hold still’. So apart from my probably rather useless knowledge from romance holonovelas, I had no clue how to get into his pants. And if I had, it would have been a very bad idea to try, with the wife and the daughter. With a professional attitude, I might have a chance at prolonging my presence in Alexej’s household, but if I behaved like the cheap slut I was, I would ruin whatever slim chances I had.
“Think you can do that?”
Do what?
Right, think of a name. In all honesty, I had no idea whatsoever. How does one pick a name for oneself? But I nodded anyway, just to please him. I would do anything just to see that smile of his again, so I needed to fucking figure out a name for myself. How hard could it be? I was well aware that it would be a temporary thing, anyway. I would only have it as long as I was with Alexej and the Mistress. Which, judging by my lack of self control, wouldn’t be overly long.
“I won’t be long. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Alexej reached out and tousled my hair like I was some cute kid or dog.
Fuck, it was insulting.
Maybe I wasn’t as drool-worthy as other pets, but to be shown he didn’t consider me sexy at all plain hurt. Still, his touch made me tingle all over and I wanted to hump his leg. What was wrong with me?! Granted, he was pushing all my buttons, but that didn’t explain why I was an inch away from begging him to fuck me. I wasn’t this needy usually.
Author Bio
Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus are a couple currently living their happily ever after in the very heart of Germany, under the stern but loving surveillance of their cats.
Both are voracious but picky readers, love telling stories and drinking tea, good food and the occasional violent movie. Together, they write novels of adventure and romance, hoping to share a little of our happiness with our readers.
An artist by heart, Beryll was writing stories even before she knew what letters were. As easily inspired as she is frustrated, her own work is never good enough (in her eyes). A perfectionist in the best and worst sense of the word at the same time and the driving creative force of our duo.
An entertainer and craftsman in his approach to writing, Osiris is the down-to-earth, practical part of our duo. Broadly interested in almost every subject and skill, with a sunny mood and caring personality, he strives to bring the human nature into focus of each of his stories.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Three strangers must remember a shared past of a previous life and the connection they share before an ancient evil rises to wreak havoc on humanity in author Giancarlo Roversi’s “Pulstar 1 – The Swan Barely Remembers”, the first book in the Pulstar series.
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The Synopsis
Three strangers who share a forgotten past confront a vengeance they incited when their bodies weren’t human.
In Astralvia, a nation on the brink, astronomer Jeral Murh’s life is in limbo.
She’s woken from a coma with fresh memories and is certain of two things:
Her past actions are already haunting her present.
She is not entirely human.
She must abscond from Astralvia before an ancient enemy wreaks revenge. Everything is against her. Also, she must find Aris Castilho, her former ally, and make him remember what they once meant to each other. She can’t leave without him.
Will she find Aris and convince him of their common past?
Will they reach Esther, their third ally?
Time is short … the ultimate reckoning is coming … and it’s unthinkable, indescribable—the worst thing that can happen to any human being.
Find out the fate of this trio of allies in this puzzling sci-fi thriller, where the stunning ending is just the beginning. Get ready to reflect on your place in the cosmos, your raison d’être, and what being human actually means.
Riddled with mystery, suspense, and a smattering of romance, Pulstar I: The Swan Barely Remembers is the enigmatic and addictive first installment in the Pulstar trilogy; although you can also read it as a stand-alone novel. It took over ten years to make and has a soundtrack in production. Watch out for books 2 and 3, due for publication this year.
The Review
This was a compelling and captivating sci-fi dystopian read. The author found a great balance in world-building with powerful thematic storytelling. The almost ethereal atmosphere the narrative took on and the imagery in the author’s writing style really brought this universe to life so perfectly, showcasing a future for mankind amongst the stars and the way the past impacts the present and the future all at once.
To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the character development and the powerful themes the author explores in this book, for they both develop off of one another in a complimentary way. Jeral especially has such a great arc, both in her past life that leads to this conflict and the earth-bound life she had before her emergence occurred. The confrontation with her Earth mother and the mystery behind her sister’s disappearance play a major role in this story, and yet it is the theme of what it means to be human that has such an impact on this cast of characters, especially Jeral, for questions of science and spirituality come to a head in this futuristic world and the cliffhanger ending ensures that the cosmos will never be the same as this powerful force is unleashed.
The Verdict
Memorable, captivating, and entertaining, author Giancarlo Roversi’s “Pulstar I – The Swan Barely Remembers” is a must-read dystopian sci-fi and grand first entry into a brand new series. The twists and turns of the narrative, as well as the very cinematic approach to the storytelling and the spiritual and moral themes the author touches upon through these characters, add a philosophical aspect to this narrative that will keep readers eager for more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Venezuela-born Giancarlo Roversi isn’t only a writer. He’s also a computer engineer and a musician who shared stages with artists such as REM, Oasis, Travis, Duran Duran, and Maroon Five.
When his band Fractaler broke up in 2011, he devoted the next ten years to cue the Pulstar Trilogy and three prequels in that universe.
He surrendered his personal life and wrote these manuscripts in his native language, Spanish, and then he translated them into English. He also composed a soundtrack for each book; they’re currently in production.
When he’s not living and breathing in his Pulstarverse, he loves family time, cooking, astronomy, animals, and having philosophical discussions—especially about the meaning of life—with anyone who cares to join him.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An earth-born man from the 80s joins a woman from an extinct race of bounty hunters to stop an armada of ruthless warriors led by two war-monger brothers and the god-like being who is hell-bent on preventing a prophecy that spells their doom in author Dee Rose’s “Hut-Yo Cull: The Hunt Begins”.
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The Synopsis
In the year 2345 on the planet Kazar, a young woman, Hut-Yo Cull, grows into adulthood and learns of her parent’s origins, which are a race of bounty Hunters, who were made extinct and enslaved by an intergalactic armada known as the Merciless. They are led by two brothers, Admiral Gloomis, and General Vrane. They only concern themselves with two things, a god-like creature known as MInister Milos, who also wants to rule the Universe, and a prophecy he created known as the Gunn Prophecy. In an effort to prevent the prophecy from occurring, General Gloomis travels to Earth in 1985 to stop the birth of the Jake Gunn, the prophecy’s namesake. This starts an adventure that spans to several planets throughout the universe and unites Jake, Hut-yo Cull, and their allies to do battle with the Merciless and Milos
The Review
This was a profoundly entertaining and captivating sci-fi read. The author did an amazing job of world-building for this novel. The mythology and wealth of backstory built over the course of the novel made the universe feel so alive and vibrant on the page. This was doubly felt with the author’s use of imagery and heavy atmosphere that made these settings feel as massive and compelling as the cosmos truly is.
Yet to me, it was the amazing balance of theme and character development that made this story shine. The themes played well into the character arcs of this story, as both protagonists find themselves on a mission of revenge and justice against this alien threat of the Merciless, and yet the story plays with the idea of how thin the line between destiny and revenge a hero’s journey can take and how our personal histories can often blur that line in life, just as it does for the protagonists here. The chemistry that forms between these two people as they face this cosmic threat was great to see come to life on the page.
The Verdict
With a haunting story, rich character growth, and an entertaining mythos to get lost in, author Dee Roses’s “Hut-Yo Cull: The Hunt Begins” is a must-read sci-fi epic you won’t be able to put down. The twists and turns in this narrative are not only plentiful but so shocking that by the book’s end, readers will be shocked and eager for the author to return to this universe immediately. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Dee Rose was born on July 5th and resides in Denver, CO, where he studied Political Science at Metropolitan State University. He has two children, Nadia and Nicole. He started writing when he entered a writing contest at William A. Wirt high school in Gary, IN. “My goal is to blow people’s minds.” He says. “But sound cool doing it.”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A member of a future society of a new human civilization builds resistance to a gene treatment meant to eliminate selfishness entirely, and discovers the consequences of trying to suppress human nature as a whole in author Matthew Marullo’s “Welcome to Opine”.
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The Synopsis
Nine billion years into the future, the rogue planet Earth is captured by a blue dwarf star in another galaxy, eventually culminating in the rise of Homo Sapiens 2.0.
Imagine a member of the ancient humans had buried deep in the earth a quantum computer containing a vast, digitized compendium of humankind’s history and achievements, all preserved within petabytes of quantum memory.
This new human civilization, calling their planet Opine and themselves the Opinions, the first “i” pronounced with a long vowel, were granted the valuable benefit of hindsight. After spending decades studying “Ancient” history, the Opinions endeavored to expunge selfishness from the human genome through a genetic therapy called the Self Suppressor.
But what happens when one person develops a natural resistance to the therapy? Would he then represent a threat to the gene pool? Will the Opinions be able to correct this genetic anomaly, or perhaps adapt it, in the interest of regaining a sacrificed part of their humanity?
One voice may know the answer. The voice of the man who originally buried the quantum computer billions of years ago…
The Review
This was a captivating and thought-provoking blend of sci-fi and satire. The author was able to find the perfect voice to capture the curiosity and discovery that these futuristic humans find within themselves at the pleasure and gratification resulting from this young man’s immunity. The themes of conservatism and viewing sex not as a pleasurable act but as a scientific necessity to further the human race came to life in an artistic and brilliant way.
The powerful imagery of the author’s work and the world-building helped to elevate the character’s growth and dynamics in a big way. The spark to this “revolution” of sorts within this futuristic society stems from the connection between Aster, the young man who begins to develop immunity, and his longtime friend Dianella. The sudden burst of embarrassment and shock that Aster has at his actions and desires is a stark contrast to the almost deadpan observations of Dianella. Yet, the domino effect of Aster’s actions showcases the futility of suppressing human sexuality and freedoms as a whole.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, mesmerizing, and haunting, author Dr. Matthew Marullo’s “Welcome to Opine” is a must-read sci-fi satire. The twists and turns in the narrative help to bring the rich mythology and world-building of this futuristic society and version of Earth to life in an authentic way. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Dr. Matthew Marullo is the author of three prior novels: The Octave Displacement (2006), Gludman’s Proof (2013), and Till Times Are Done (2019). Reviewers such as Kirkus, Blueink, and Foreword call Marullo’s novels “unique,” “clever,” as well as “expertly” and “masterfully” written. Dr. Marullo lives with his family in Long Island, New York.
