Today I’m going to be reviewing Blind Rage (Under the Breaking Sky #1) by Nick Clausen.
Here’s the blurb
It’s an ordinary Monday.
Until everything changes forever.
At 2:44 PM, a mysterious crack appears in the sky.
Anyone unfortunate enough to look up is immediately struck blind. What’s worse, their mind is wiped clean, replaced with a vicious urge to kill anyone within reach.
Mark is at work when it happens. Fighting not to fall asleep, the boring department meeting suddenly turns into a bloodbath when people are drawn to the windows to look up at the sky.
Down at the street, Gina just finished shopping and now finds herself thrown into a scene from a horror movie, as everyone around her begins beating each other to death.
Stopping at a red light, Tommy’s stepdad leans forward to gaze upwards. Without warning, Tommy is trapped inside the car with a mindless monster intent on killing him.
Now, these ordinary people must stand together in the fight for mankind, or die along with it. As the crack grows bigger, more and more people succumb to the rage. Societies collapse and the world is plunged into mayhem.
And there seems to be no cure. No safe haven. Not even an explanation.
Only blind rage.
Review
Oh wow.. this was just what I needed!
It’s a typical day but suddenly the world is turned upside down..a crack of some sort appears in the sky and it’s appearance brings about a change in those who look directly at it..
Those unfortunate turn blind and are full of rage.. the interesting part is not everyone is affected.. some are immune..
What I really enjoyed was the development of the blind, they aren’t simple savages.. they are smart and strong.. able to communicate and plan..how on earth can they be stopped.
I’m not going to spoil it for anyone but not only do we have the immune but there’s one individual who knows what’s coming.. he doesn’t have all the details but knows something is coming and when the worst happens he knows it’s time to pick his side..
I want to say it’s a typical zombie apocalypse.. but it’s not, it’s something completely different and fresh..while the blind act like zombies, they aren’t zombies.. they aren’t dead.. but can they be cured? Pfft I’m actually not sure how anyone will survive the onslaught.
The most interesting bit for me was the impulse people had to look at the crack when it appeared.. it’s like they can’t control themselves..
I liked the differing perspectives as multiple characters were introduced, there’s lots to take in but the pace is perfect. We then explore the issues the non-blind face in this new world they are forced to live in…no one knows how or when the crack will appear again.. but why would it only appear once? There’s lots of unknowns but some people act fast securing themselves as much as they can.. but can these doors hold?
The characters deal with difficult topics like dealing with loss but also about guilt.. to live they must fight..and sometimes it’s someone close to them that stands in the way of survival.
Overall a dark and intense tale, the plot was fresh and intriguing and put a spin on the typical tales.
Today is my turn on the blog tour for Thor’s Revenge by Donovan Cook.
Thor’s Revenge is Book 3 in the awesome Charlemagne’s Cross series.
Here’s the blurb
A kingdom without a crown.
A boy forsaken by his God.
A warrior bent on revenge.
After the bloody Battle of Jelling, Denmark’s throne lies empty and chaos reigns as Jarls jostle for power.
Sven survives the bloodshed only to return home to find Ribe sacked by those he trusted and Charles, a pawn in a much bigger political game, kidnapped.
Consumed by the loss of Charles, Sven is shocked by the arrival of the Abbess Hildegard, daughter of his nemesis King Louis of East Francia, who seeks the whereabouts of Charles, her son, and also the cross of Charlemagne.
But whilst others want revenge for the chaos Sven has caused, Denmark burns and Sven must stand in the shield wall one more time if he is to survive and rescue his grandson.
Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Sven and Charles must put their fate in the hands of the gods if they ever want to see each other again.
Review
We are back with Charles and Sven the Boar..
Sven returns home after a fierce battle.. you’d think surviving a battle is something to celebrate but not this time… many many many men died and Denmark no longer has a King… this has left bands of disbanded and leaderless warriors ransacking Denmark…
And that’s only part of Sven’s trouble… he learned that his grandson Charles has been taken..Charles is Sven’s redemption in life so his loss breaks the man but at least this time he has people around him to try and knock some sense into him.
His anger soon returns when Abbess Hildegard arrives and pushes him a little too far… there’s a blast from the past that I’ll not spoil but by god I felt the fury pouring of Sven… Abbess Hildegard who we learn is Charles mother so we finally get to learn more about why Charles has been brought up to believe she was dead…I could only imagine how this felt for Charles as he learns the truth about himself.. who he really is.
I really enjoyed that we also learned more about the cross that Charles has been carrying ever since his father’s murder.. Charlemagne’s Cross… of which, if the stories are believed has the power to reunite Francia..
What really makes this instalment shine is the character development, not only do we meet and get to know new characters we see some established characters grow, Thora, Rollo and Sven all have a greater depth added to them while they deal with the aftermath of the battle and Charles kidnap.
Charles’ himself has some very big things to deal with.. being kidnapped… the deaths that have occurred to keep him safe.. it becomes his internal struggle and we see his faith in god shaken…
Plot wise… oh wow… it develops at a fast pace but nothing is really rushed or forced…but by god there’s a lot crammed in and credit to the author that it’s been done in such a well balanced way allowing the reader to keep up the events…and the ending!!! Oh my.. I need more!!
The Charlemagne’s Cross series has quick become a firm favourite!
5/5 stars.
To find out more head to Goodreads or why not buy a copy here?
My thanks go to @rararesources for having me on the tour, as well as the author and publisher for supplying an ARC to aid my review. As usual though… I’ve bought the book too. At £2.99 It’s too good not too!
Why not follow the tour?
Author Bio –
Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series and the Charlemagne’s Cross series, both of which combine fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world and are inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. Donovan was born in South Africa but raised in England.
Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for EXSILIUM by Alison Morton!
Screenshot
Keep reading for a little Q&A too! Alison is a firm favourite on my blog so I quite enjoyed coming up with some questions to see what’s next 😊
Here’s the blurb
Exile – Living death to a Roman
AD 395. In a Christian Roman Empire, the penalty for holding true to the traditional gods is execution.
Maelia Mitela, her dead husband condemned as a pagan traitor, leaving her on the brink of ruin, grieves for her son lost to the Christians and is fearful of committing to another man.
Lucius Apulius, ex-military tribune, faithful to the old gods and fixed on his memories of his wife Julia’s homeland of Noricum, will risk everything to protect his children’s future.
Galla Apulia, loyal to her father and only too aware of not being the desired son, is desperate to escape Rome after the humiliation of betrayal by her feckless husband
For all of them, the only way to survive is exile.
Note: EXSILIUM is the sequel to JULIA PRIMA and the two books make up the Foundation strand in the Roma Nova series.
Review
I’m not sure how Alison Morton manages to, but once again the reader is given another powerful read that builds on the fabulous Roma Nova series.
What hit me straight away was the emotion..from the very first page we explore fate..destiny.. so beautifully written but so heart wrenching.
If you’ve read the rest of the series you’ll know about the strong characters and a very plot driven tale, what Exsilium offers the reader is a bit more history.. the beginnings of this fabulous place the author has envisaged, it builds on the humanity of the time and the characters.
The author tackles very real issues such as religious intolerance within the pollical landscape and while set in a different time period you can’t help but see similarities with the world we live in.. there’s a realness to the characters and their depth just pours off the page but in typical style for the author the overall message is positive.. we all deal with the bad side of the world but we need to keep striving for better.. it might not change our world as we know it but we can create positive changes for future generations…that’s what Roma Nova is for me.. a bastion shining in the dark.
I never like to spoil books but what I can say is Exsilium fits is superbly and builds on what is already a strong and established series. To manage to do this.. wow..Morton continues to do justice to the series and the dream of Roma Nova.
5/5 Stars
My thanks to Alison Morton for an ARC to aid my review, I bought a copy too as always 🙂
To find out more or to grab a copy use the links below! Remember keeping read.. 10 questions with Alison Morton is up next!!
Your newest book, EXSILIUM, is book 11 in your amazing Roma Nova series. Did you always envisage the series having such longevity or has the series just developed as time passed?
Good question! I only wanted to write a book. One book. This became INCEPTIO featuring heroine Carina. Then I realised I wanted to know what happened to my characters and so I wrote PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO.
Writing SUCCESSIO, which was definitely going to be the last book – it’s fun, but an exhausting business – I became intensely interested in Carina’s grandmother’s earlier life. What part had she played in the Great Rebellion? What was her relationship with the notorious usurper in Roma Nova’s past? So another book was needed – AURELIA. Of course, I had too much story, so two more books emerged full of the rebellion and resistance – INSURRECTIO and RETALIO. I was chuffed when Conn Iggulden endorsed the former and Doug Jackson and Matthew Harffy the latter.
After that, I couldn’t leave it alone and decided to have a crack at writing a novella so dropped CARINA into the first trilogy to recount an adventure between INCEPTIO and PERFIDITAS and NEXUS into the second trilogy between AURELIA and INSURRECTIO. No longer trilogies, I named the four 21st century thrillers as ‘The Carina strand’ and the second four which take place 1960s to 1980s ‘The Aurelia strand’, all with new covers. Talk about making trouble for myself!
The two historical fiction novels – JULIA PRIMA and EXSILIUM – are all the fault of my fans who wanted to know the full origin story of Roma Nova. But I loved writing them!
EXSILIUM starts with a very emotional charged few scenes, did you find this hard to write? I know I felt overwrought after reading those beautifully written words, but it sets the tone so well, strength flows through.
Yes, I felt completely wrung out when I’d finished writing those scenes. But those events are an intrinsic part of the Roma Nova backstory, even since INCEPTIO, so I had to gather up my grit as Carina would say, and write it.
Where do you see the series going now? Are you tempted to choose a different subject matter for your next book?
I don’t know! I do wonder if readers might want something different. I published a book of short stories a few years ago – the two historical novels are a development of one of them – and I might so the same based on some other unpublished stories. I solved the mystery of the disappearance of Carina’s mother in a short story at the back of the INCEPTIO anniversary hardback edition, so I won’t go there again. I may look at the part the Roma Novans played in the Battle of Vienna in 1683, but the research could be enormous. We’ll see!
Have you started on the next book yet? I feel like you clearly put a lot of yourself into your work so can imagine you must have some half-written plots waiting to be fleshed out?
I’ve written the first chapter of the next Mélisende contemporary thriller in the Doubles series as I haven’t finished with her yet. It’s also good to have a complete change of environment.
Like most writers, I use some of my experiences and knowledge from before writing novels and research what I don’t know. And yes, there are a lot of stories in my head especially from my time in the military, but a number of which I can’t tell anybody about…
Some genres can be quite saturated with male authors, did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I did experiment with using initials for my first and middle names with the two Roma Nova boxsets, but it made absolutely no impact either way on sales. My readership is about 40% male and 60% female which I count as good, given that the average of book buyers is reckoned to be over 70% female.
The other problem is having to double up on PR and marketing, especially social media. Maintaining Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads and BlueSky plus my monthly newsletter is enough for one me.
What do you feel makes a great story?
Good characters, undoubtedly. A strong plot is essential in any thriller, but the characters must drive the story. If the reader doesn’t root for the characters, cry with them and celebrate with them, even the most clever and twisty plot can fall short. Close behind is setting which includes time period as well as physical setting. What’s happening in that world, what’s the weather like? How do people prosper or even survive? Where does the main threat come from in that place and time?
What is your favourite part of being a writer?
When the characters try to take over the story. It’s uncanny. One other is when I hold a print copy, usually a paperback in my hands for the first time. And a third would be talking about the books or writing at an event. I love sharing the Roman and Roma Nova love!
What’s your favourite under-appreciated book?
What a difficult question! This might sound a strange answer, but Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is much quoted and the title has become a public saying, but how many people have actually read it? Academics, possibly serious fiction writers and really dedicated enthusiasts of the Roman Empire. Yet its impact is massive on how we see that civilisation.
What was the most recent book you’ve read yourself that you would recommend?
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – clever, witty, trenchant. A milestone study through tragi-comedy of America in the 1950 with an acerbic, hugely engaging and sympathetic protagonist. I adored it.
As hard as this might be… how would you sum up the Roma Nova series for anyone who hasn’t yet delved into the world you’ve created.
Suppose, just suppose, history had gone down a slightly different path. What would a 21st century Europe look like if a tiny part of the Ancient Roman Empire had survived?
Roma Nova is that country and embodies a distinct but modern Roman lifestyle in a country led by women and where honour and courage count. Of course, there are traitors, conspirators and criminals – a truly Roman society!
The Roma Nova heroines serve as Praetorian officers, industry leaders, technologists, inventors and senators, with an imperatrix as their ruler.
But its heroines and heroes face conspiracy, revolution and heartache and must use their wits, courage and a sharp line in dialogue to defend their country against all comers. The latest adventure, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the dawn of the foundation of Roma Nova.
Thank you Alison for taking the time to answer some questions for me 🙂
Bio
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. The latest, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the very foundation of Roma Nova.
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit.
Today I’m going to be reviewing The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza.
Here’s the blurb
Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.
When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Fosteris called in to lead the murder investigation.
The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.
What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?
As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.
The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?
Review
I can’t believe this is my first foray into the works of Robert Bryndza but it proves word of mouth and reviews do help. I’ve seen time and time again good things so when I had a little time spare I thought it was about time I give the author a read and see what the fuss is about.
After a very creepy opening that sets the scene superbly and a body is found we meet Detective Erika Foster.
Foster is to lead the murder investigation, but she’s got her own personal baggage coming along too that she has to deal with. I honestly don’t feel you can have a real police procedural type book without that human edge so straight off it’s a big tick for me to know Erkia isn’t perfect and has to find a balance in life as we all do.
I loved the plot and Foster’s no nonsense attitude.. There’s blockers put in her way, pressure from above and the locals but that won’t stop her finding the truth..but those twists along the way were fantastic. Typically when reading this type of book I’m always thinking.. trying to piece things together myself but with The Girl in the Ice I just found myself swept along for the ride.. it’s a harrowing murder but it makes for an engrossing tale and is 1000% times better than some of the stories I’ve seen dramatized for TV.
I particularly liked that the lead role is a female, this just added an extra something as it meant the author could explore the male/female dynamic within the investigation team.
Erika develops and grows quickly as a character and it was amazing to see how fast the author cements her position and style, it was really exciting to feel the cogs turning for her as the pieces fell into place.
Character development is something vitally important to me but what Bryndza seems to effortlessly do is mix that development quickly and in a suitable way leaving the plot to shine… and what a plot it is!
I’m very much late to the party, but better late than never and after learning this was the author’s debut! WOW. Bryndza doesn’t put a foot wrong,
I dare you to pick this up and try to put it back down after a couple chapters… it’s practically impossible.. you’ll be sucked in.
Luckily for me since I’m that late to getting into this there’s no wait for the next in the series.. or the next.. or the next ha ha. Best prepare the wife now then that I’m going to be busy for a bit and to cancel any social activities planned ha 😊
Today I’m reviewing Dark Revelations: Level 26: Book Three (Level 26 Thriller 3) by Anthony E. Zuiker
Here’s the blurb
Steve Dark has been tasked by the FBI with the ultimate search-and-destroy mission: to take down the world’s most dangerous serial killers. Now he faces the most intricate, intense, and explosive case of his career.
The killer calls himself Labyrinth. The riddles, puzzles, and wordplay with which he announces his new targets have caused a worldwide media sensation. The case has already claimed a number of high profile individuals as its victims – not to mention several government agencies, which have tried and failed to stop a growing global panic.
But what point is Labyrinth trying to make? Who will be his next victim? It’s up to Dark to assemble an elite team from the remains of the international crime-solving community, find Labyrinth wherever he may be, and put a stop to the mayhem, once and for all.
But the mystery of who, where and what Labyrinth is, is the biggest riddle of them all. And if Dark doesn’t solve it, he knows he’ll be the next victim . . .
Review
In Dark Revelations Steve Dark joins a new team, Global Alliance. They have the funds and the connections that will allow Steve to do what he does best.. and that’s stop the worst of the worst..
Steve’s newest target is Labyrinth.. but the hunt is going to take him on a collision course with his old team, Riggins and Constance. They don’t understand why he’s left them behind.. and I think Steve just doesn’t care at this stage.. he’s a one man band.. he doesn’t want a team.. something Global Alliance will find out shortly..the team doesn’t exactly gel.
Labyrinth was a very interesting villain.. he’s got secrets that he’s willing to spill..I was conflicted if I’m honest.. his actions are despicable but he’s trying to right the world.. and that’s something I can get onboard with.
It’s been a very interesting series, and this book read as a standalone is pretty decent but if you compare to the 1st instalment it’s lost a little shine.. the original team..the red tape.. the realism.. that’s what hooked me in. Don’t get me wrong the plot was still really engaging and the added cut scenes you can access online really give it an extra punch but I felt we lost a little of the Steve Dark I loved.
I wish we had more time to see the team connections within Global Alliance and really would have loved to see Riggins and Constance join forces with Steve’s new team properly..
Overall a very interesting series that I’m glad I took the time to read. Shame there isn’t more.
Today I’m reviewing The Fallen Girls: (Detective Clara Jefferies Book 1) by Kathryn Casey.
Here’s the blurb
She didn’t notice the corn stalks shiver a few feet to her right. By the time she looked up, the man towered above her. In a single movement he wrapped one thick hand around her waist, the other he clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams.
Detective Clara Jefferies has spent years running from her childhood in Alber, Utah. But when she hears that her baby sister Delilah has disappeared, she knows that the peaceful community will be shattered, her family vulnerable, and that that she must face up to her past and go home.
Clara returns to find that her mother, Ardeth, has isolated her family by moving to the edge of town, in the shadow of the mountains. Ardeth refuses to talk to the police and won’t let Clara through the front door, believing she and her sister-wives can protect their own. But Clara knows better than anyone that her mother isn’t always capable of protecting her children.
When Clara finds out that two more girls have disappeared, all last seen around the cornfields near her family’s home, she realizes it’s not just Delilah who’s in danger. And then she gets a call that a body has been found…
Clara will have to dig deep into the town’s secrets if she’s going to find Delilah. But that will mean confronting the reason she left. And as she gets closer to Delilah, she might be putting her more at risk…
Review
Detective Clara Jefferies escaped her home town many years ago… and didn’t look back….but it’s time to head home when her sister Delilah goes missing.
Clara has to face her past.. and judgement from everyone including her own family.. she needs to break down the walls to discover what has happened to her sister but no one is willing to talk.. she’s now an outsider.. and I think some are just angry she escaped and they didn’t!
Things get more tense when it becomes clear Dalilah isn’t the first young girl to go missing..
The town is full of secrets and the residents continue to stonewall the investigation but Clara knows she has to pile on the pressure to get some answers and fast! Time is running out to find her sister.
The Fallen Girls has a very tense, creepy feeling from the onset.. Clara was raised in an isolated polygamist society so you quickly see why no one is willing to trust her.. but soon she starts to make a little headway..but the slow pace just adds to the building tension!
As the story progresses we see events play out from different perspectives at times and this just added to the creepiness and psychological edge to the tale as you tried to work out who the killer is.. and why…most importantly will Detective Jefferies put the clues together and get there in time?
Not only was the plot intriguing but Kathryn Casey managed to portray the people, the setting, the emotions brilliantly..there was a very natural feel to the tale and that made it even more creepy.
When it comes to endings.. WOW.. those last few chapters had me gripped as the pieces came together as the action heated up.
Overall The Fallen Girls is dark, gritty and disturbingly brilliant. It’s like one of those true crime programmes or podcasts.. it’s so gruesomely enthralling.
Today I’m reviewing The Devil’s Pocketbook by Ross Jeffery.
Here’s the blub
Erik and Lara are in mourning for their daughter, who was born “incompatible with life”. To get away from their suffocating grief and the ever-present shadow their daughter has cast in their lives since passing, and desperately trying to recover their increasingly rocky relationship, they take a trip to the seaside town of Polperro, in Cornwall. But no sooner have they arrived, than they realize that their grief cannot be so easily eluded. Drawn to the waters, Erik and Lara discover a large Devil’s Pocketbook, and inside: the miracle child they could never have. Scylla.
Review
Erik and Lara are struggling with the loss of their daughter, it’s been a tough going for the couple when it comes to having a family and just when things seemed to be going well for them the worst happened and their one hope was lost to them.
They set out to reconnect.. to find a way to continue.. I don’t think either really know what they want any more…little do they know they are going to have to face the grief they are suffering head on!
While out one day they notice something in the water… a large Devil’s Pocketbook..a Devil’s Purse…the contents of which is a young frail girl, Scylla.
They take the young girl to their home.. to get her warm and safe while they decide what to do next.
Erik notices subtle changes in the way some locals look at them but doesn’t think too much of it.. Lara on the other hand is lost in her own world caring for Scylla. It’s like she’s been given a second chance to be a mother.
At first Scylla seems quiet and you don’t really know what to make of her.. could she be just the thing Eric and Lara need to heal?
Things quickly turn dark and gruesome, there’s violence, blood and death but Erik still can’t figure out what is actually happening.. it’s like he’s suffering blackouts..things are happening but he just has no knowledge of how..
Slowly, with the help of a couple of locals who don’t want to see another innocent person harmed Erik starts to see the truth but Scylla still has control of him.. he’s powerless at times to go against her will.
Gut wrenching isn’t the word.. it’s got so much depth.. it’s a horror tale but unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s heart destroyingly good as the couple face their grief in the worst possible way… it’s a battle of wills but are they strong enough?
I’ll not post spoilers but Scylla’s origins fascinate me..it’s the stuff of nightmares but makes for such a great tale… it’s a real cerebral pulverising read.. you get so much from the book but it takes from you too.. I dare you to read this an not feel emotionally drained but awestruck at the same time.
A real emotionally charged horror tale and one I’d highly recommend.
I wish I could recall who recommended this book to me but I’m so glad I picked it up. Not for the faint of heart that’s for sure!
Today Is my stop on the blog tour for Conflict and Loyalties by Anna Allen!
Here’s the blurb
FOR THREE YEARS, Gritheim has been torn asunder.
Pestilences ravage the land, and the harvests have failed again, driving up the cost of bread. Emaciated animals are dying. The king becomes less popular each day, and civil war knocks at the palace gates.
The Master is smug.
His immortals recruit nobles and their troops to challenge and depose the king.
Soon, he will be able to step forward and take his rightful place. He needs one more thing—the key to The Book of Realms.
The book will show him how to create spells to help him conquer the land and all its inhabitants.
Two young people thwart his plans.
Even untold riches and immortality won’t tempt them. Leonné, an untrained Elementalist, has married Roland D’Abernon against her will, but Roland hasn’t consummated the marriage yet and, therefore, hasn’t stolen her powers.
Saving her from this atrocity is the knight Fitzsimmons, a great warrior. Rumors suggest his abnormal strength is due to his undeveloped magical powers. The Master must persuade Fitzsimmons to join him or do all he can to destroy him.
This dark fantasy is packed with magic, witchcraft, and swordplay. Become drawn into a world of sorcery in this gripping sequel to Rise of the Immortals.
Review
Conflict and Loyalties is book 2 in The Battle for Gritheim series and picks up where the last book left us. While the flow is great, I’d certainly suggest reading the first book in the series if you haven’t just to understand the character setup.
Fitzsimmons and Leonné’s connection grows as does their powers.. and they are going to need all their skills to defeat the evil forces of The Master.
There’s an influx of new characters which allowed the author the chance to explore scenarios allowing our main two heroes to grow, learn and use those skills.
I particularly liked Fitzsimmons needing to control his emotions.. I won’t spoil why.. but lets just say he’s a different person when he gets angry.
The best thing about the book was the development of the world as you learn more about the kingdoms, who’s who, who supports who.. where strengths and weaknesses lie.. book 1 was all about setting up the characters which is now perfectly balanced with development across the board.
I really enjoyed the growth of Roland too. He’s driven by the desire to become immortal but if he displeases his master then there’s no chance of that happening.
The Master seems to hide in the shadows a lot.. he’s an unknown quantity for the most part but this just added some mystery to everything.. if he’s so strong how long before he makes an appearance?
The author really makes you connect to the characters.. you end up enjoying the good guys.. you hate the bad guys… when a character is frustrated you feel that frustration too!
Overall it’s a great sequel packed to the brim of action and development.. it’s fast paced and goes from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye. Really fun and enjoyable and perfect for those readers who just want action, action, action.
4/5 Stars.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ zooloosbooktours.co.uk for having me on the tour!
Today might be the last day of the tour but why not check out the other reviews on the stops?
Dawn’s Bio
Dawn Bolton writes romances and crime/romantic suspense under the name of Toni Bolton, fantasy novels under the name of Anna Allen and historical romance/ suspense novels under the name of Alexie Bolton.
Fascinated by history and law she studied both and taught law in higher education. These subjects inspire many of her books.
She lived in a boat while she studied at unviersity and now lives in a pub, she and her husband renovated near the Grand Union Canal with two fluffy Birman vandals. She loves aqua, yoga and Zumba and draws and paints in her spare time.
Her family are psychic and some of their experiences inspired some of her fantasy and paranormal novels. She’s fascinated by the occult and herbal medicine and brings these into her latest dark fantasy novels.
She loves hearing from her readers and getting feedback.
Today I’m going to be reviewing Usurper: (Victorinus Book 2) by Adam Lofthouse!
Here’s the blurb
The second book in a thrilling new series of adventures set in Roman Britain. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, SJA Turney and Gordon Doherty.
Wall of Hadrian. Britannia, 382 AD
War is creeping back into the land. As silent as snowfall, as inevitable as winter. They’ve had sixteen years of peace, but all things must end.
Tribune Sixtus Victorinus has grown old, complacent. Blind to the truth that stares him in the face, he contents himself with what he has. He runs errands for the Dux Britanniarum Flavius Maximus and watches with joy as his boys grow to become men.
It is his friend, Prefect Gaius Felicius, who first spots the signs. Once more, the Caledonian tribes are rearing their heads in the north, but the greatest danger does not lie with them.
For there is a new pretender to the throne of the West. Another man who seeks to drape himself in purple. Caught up in a scheme they cannot comprehend, Victorinus and Felicius must navigate their way through both a war in the depths of winter, and a treasonous plot that will shake the Roman Empire to its core.
A new age dawns on the men of the Britannia. For Victorinus, he must fight for the right to see the sun rise over it.
Usurper is the second book in the Victorinus series: an action packed, immersive military adventure that will sweep the reader through the tumultuous years of the late Roman Empire.
Review
Oh it’s good to have another book from Adam Lofthouse! The author never fails to surprise me with his masterfully woven tales.
As a fan of the author I’m of course going to tell you to read all his other books if you can, especially Victorinus Book 1, but truthfully the plot is so wonderfully written you don’t need to, all the detail is right there to get you up to speed quickly but at the same time naturally. If you haven’t read the 1st book I can guarantee after reading this you’ll want to that’s for sure!
I’m not going to say I’m an expert but I love this period of time.. Maximus, Theodosius and Gratian.. well known names to me and the genre but Lofthouse manages to bring some fresh energy to the scene!
We follow Tribune Sixtus Victorinus and Felicius as they serve the empire to the best of their ability.. but little do they know what’s coming for them. They once saved the empire from the biggest threat possible… and they are going to have to do it again!
War is coming and there’s plenty of battles for the gore fans, and I really liked the details added to formations of the horse units for example to help the reader really understand their place in the battles.. it’s like a chess game and a bad strategy can cause you a defeat.. but at the same time.. don’t take things for granted.. they might just be playing games with you..
Both characters are thrown into the thick of danger at every turn of the page..it’s just a full on adrenaline rush of the tale.. each forced to fight to stay alive.. but who are the enemies really? If you know the period you’ll have a good idea, the political landscape at the time was complicated to say the least and the men of the time only wanted one thing… power!
If anything I feel Adam Lofthouse just keeps getting better and better with his plot and the subtle details that make the characters come alive. I particularly liked that the author showed how tough being in the army could be on the soldiers’ feet! I doubt many of us today could march like the roman legions!
What really shines through is the relationships between the men.. forged in the heat of battle…theirs friendship, family, love.. it’s so beautifully lovely and brutal at the same time..then throw in those twists! Christ.. my heart could barely take it! if the author makes me worry about Amor in the next book as much as in this one I think I’ll be writing a strongly worded letter for sure ha ha.
I’m going to be perfectly honest and say I reckon the author needs to give the character Drost his own series now! Oh how I loved that man and his humour! He’s got so much going for him and I really could see his own tale working.
The setup for the next book in the series couldn’t have been better.. what Lofthouse does is leaves you with the taste for more..that’s not any easy thing to do.. sometimes endings can leave things flat… oh hell no.. not this story…I really do need more.
Lofthouse isn’t one of the best… he IS the best!
There’s only thing to say about this book.. SNAILS! Who knew.. well done to the author for another cracking read.. and whoever designed the cover needs a pay rise 😊
5/5 Stars
It’s only February but I’m tipping this as my pick of 2024 already!
But as they struggle to make sense of the evidence, the twins begin to uncover an even bigger mystery in their own family. As events spiral out of control, can Alex resolve a family crisis, save Donna from imminent danger, and return the missing dog to its rightful owner?
Review
My daughters are 9 now and Georgia especially is keen to start reading longer books that she can really spend some time to get in to. Eye Spy seemed to fit the bill!
The book follows Alex and Donna, twins who decide to set up their own investigation agency to look for a valuable dog.
What I loved from the off it’s not just a book about that adventure, there’s so much more depth. We learn more about the twins life and as a parent it resonated as I see my girls having their own adventures but at the same time they deal with the events life can throw at us.
Alex and Donna’s personal life isn’t all fine and dandy, as many children do they have to deal with being brought up by a single parent. What I felt was done really well was the depth given to the characters where you could understand the dynamics and things they might be dealing with without words being needed.. it’s all about the detail. Their father for example was a nice character—loving but aloof at the same time, particularly when he’s working on one of his numerous inventions but you can tell this is his way of dealing with things and I felt it’s a really nice way for young readers to learn about some difficult events that can happen in life and we all deal with things in different way…and also I loved the idea of the dad tinkering around.. makes me wish I was an inventor. No spoilers but there’s more to this than you know, and you quickly learn that Alex and Donna are going to want the truth.
Mixed with this personal development you have the case of the missing dog. The Twins quickly find a suspect, but have they stumbled on to something more than they can handle?
The tale moves at pace, is fun and exciting even from my point of view. The chapters are so engaging it was a real joy to read with Georgia.
Georgia really enjoyed the story, especially all the twists as she just never knew what was going to happen next.
It was the perfect read for both of us but she’s keen to read more.
Overall the word to describe this one is “Cosy” grab a hot chocolate (it’s bloody cold at the minute) curl up and enjoy the adventure.
5/5 Stars
My thanks go to Rachel @rararesources for having me on the tour, as well as the author and publisher for supplying an ARC to aid my review. As usual though… I’ve bought the book too. It’s a bargain!
Tessa Buckley was an inveterate scribbler as a child, and spent much of her time writing and illustrating stories. After spending fifteen years working for architects and interior designers. She took up writing again when her young daughter complained that she couldn’t find enough adventure stories to read. This led, in 2014, to the publication of Eye Spy, the first in a series of detective stories for 9-12 year olds, designed to encourage reluctant readers. The second book in the series, Haunted, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2017. She lives with her husband and a large white cat called Pippa in a town on the Thames estuary, which inspired the seaside setting for the novels. She also writes about family history, which has been her passion for many years.
David's Book Blurg 