Tag Archives: Fantasy

The Striding Spire (Modern Magick 3) by Charlotte E English – Review

Title – The Striding Spire (Modern Magick 3)
Author – Charlotte E English
Genre – Fantasy
Length – 192 pages
Publication – Feb 2018
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

As an agent of the Society for Magickal Heritage, Cordelia “Ves” Vesper has an important job: to track down and rescue endangered magickal creatures, artefacts, books and spells wherever they are to be found. It’s a duty that takes her the length and breadth of Britain, and frequently gets her into trouble. But somebody’s got to keep magick alive in the modern world, and Ves is more than equal to the job.

Fresh from an involuntary crash course in the Stranger Arts, Ves has a new mystery to solve: the inexplicable reappearance of an extinct species. The Dappledok Pup has not been seen in the flesh since the eighteenth century – so how does one come to be found, weak but alive, over two hundred years later? A creature with a unique talent for sniffing out treasure, no less, and that can’t be a coincidence.

Where did the pup come from – and is there something sinister afoot? Aided by a talking book, a spriggan with a taste for vintage fashion and the best Waymaster in the business, nothing can stop Ves from finding out the truth. Can it?

Review

The Modern Magick series is fast becoming a favourite of mine. Short and informative chapters make these books such an easy read and the plot keeps you hooked easily.

This is an ongoing series so I do strongly suggest you read the previous books before starting this one.

Check out my reviews below –

The Road to Farringale

Toil and Trouble

So we are back with Ves and the Society for Magickal Heritage and things are starting to heat up. We start to learn more about the decline of magic in the world but also the history behind the magic..both good and bad…secrets are waiting to be discovered.

I really enjoyed the character development and its great to see each character get their own share of page time so the focus isn’t always on Ves.

Another thing I really like about the style of the tale is real life touch added to Ves and her growing infatuation with Baron Alban from the troll court. This mix of development with the main plot and her personal development just makes Ves more real..more human.

This book is all about the build-up..magical creatures long forgotten have returned.. buildings are disappearing and reappearing but why and who’s behind it…did I mention theres also a dragon? albet quite a ncie one.

Many questions get half answers in this tale..it just leads to more and more questions which for me certainly hooked me in to buy the next book.

It’s another classic tale from Charlotte who certainly knows her target market well. Her writing style continues to keep me engrossed with fantastic use of words that engages the reader and is suitable from teens up easily.

The Striding Spire is a fun tale and the series has lots of promise. I’m starting to see a bigger picture emerging but the author keeps you in the dark and only reveals tit bits as we go along to tantalise the taste buds.

I’ve high hopes for this series..don’t let me down Ms English!

If you’re looking for a good fantasy book then I can’t recommend anyone more highly than Charlotte E. English.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Oh did I mention book 4 is out today? Find out more here and look out for my review soon!

Windcatcher by A.J. Norfield – Review

The Hidden Face by S.C. Flynn – Review

1 Reply

Title – The Hidden Face
Author – S.C. Flynn
Genre – Fantasy
Length – 403 Pages
Publication – 25^th Nov 2017
My Rating – 4/5 Stars

Synopsis

A face without a face – an unmasking that leaves the mask.

Once every few hundred years, the sun god, the Akhen takes on human form and descends to earth. Each Unmasking of the Face of the Akhen ends one era and begins another; the last one created the Faustian Empire. Where and when will the Face next appear, and who will he – or she – be?

Dayraven, son of a great hero, returns to Faustia after years as a hostage of their rivals, the Magians. Those years have changed him, but Faustia has changed as well; the emperor Calvo now seems eccentric and is controlled by one of Dayraven’s old enemies. Following the brutal death of his old teacher, Dayraven is drawn, together with a warrior woman named Sunniva, into the search for an ancient secret that would change the fate of empires.

Powerful enemies want the secret as well, including a dynasty of magician-kings who were thought to have died out long before, a mad, murderous hunchback and a beautiful, deadly woman who is never seen. Sunniva and Dayraven fight to survive and to solve the mystery while their own pasts come back to life and the attraction between them deepens.

The Hidden Face is a fantasy mystery drenched in the atmosphere of the Early Middle Ages and in Kabbalistic riddles, and is the first book in the Fifth Unmasking series.

Review

The Hidden Face by S.C. Flynn is a super-fast paced fantasy adventure.

There’s quite a nice build-up to start with as we learn about the main character Dayraven and his family history. Dayraven has been kept away from his homeland for many years and on his return he is quickly thrust into a quest to protect The Hidden Face.

Little does Dayraven know but those close to him have helped keep a secret safe for many years and after the murder of his old teacher things quickly start to unravel.

Sunniva quickly enters the plot, her family have connections to The Hidden Face also and she and Dayraven are thrust together to solve the clues left for them.

This is the fun part of the story as we find clues have been left.. but the answer are only something Dayraven and Sunniva would be able to figure out..and they need to work together to ensure it’s done quickly so they can keep ahead of those who wish to find The Hidden Face of themselves.

Who is The Hidden Face you might ask. A god turned human.. who heralds the rise of one nation and the fall of another. Dayraven must stop the power of The Hidden Face falling into the wrong hands.

A major plus for this book is that I loved the vast and varied characters within the tale. To be honest I actually preferred the supporting cast over the main duo.

The only thing I can say I didn’t really enjoy was the love angle between Dayraven and Sunniva..the emotional connection wasn’t there for me so it just didn’t feel right…saying that if you read my reviews you’ll know I’m never a big romance fan.

Overall a decent plot with a fun ensemble of characters, there’s more to come and I’m interested to see what happens next.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Light Dawning by Ty Arthur – Review

1 Reply

Title – Light Dawning
Author – Ty Arthur
Genre – Dark Fantasy
Length – 228 Pages
Publication – May 2017
My Rating – 4/5 Stars

Synopsis

Once known as the City on the Hill and revered far and wide for its independence and boundless opportunity, Cestia has become home only to the damned. Surviving under the brutal occupation of a southern empire for three long years, the oppressed populace has lost hope of liberation, turning instead towards an increasingly desperate rebellion willing to commit any atrocity for a chance at freedom. As total war approaches, four lost souls trapped behind Cestia’s walls are on a collision course with fate, destined to either save the city or see it utterly destroyed while calling on forces beyond mankind’s comprehension. For good or ill, the light of a new day is about to dawn.

Review

A once great city has fallen but rebels still plot from the shadows.. the problem is they are slowly being hunted down.

The four main characters in the book are Myrr, Tala, Father Erret and Casterly. Each has their own journey to follow but at the same time their paths will cross..but are they friend or foe..the line is blurred at times.

I really enjoyed the gruesomeness of the tale, there are some rather vivid moments that don’t leave you quickly and you are left in no doubt the author has a weird and wonderful imagination which works perfectly for a dark fantasy novel.

This book is all about the build-up. You’re expecting a rebellion to happen, for the main characters to rise and become heroes…well you’ll be waiting a bloody long time..that’s not this book.

It’s quite tense at times, you really don’t know where the author is planning to go but everything falls together nicely and the interwoven tales of the main characters work well.

Oh don’t you worry a battle is coming but it’s truly unexpected the plot that plays out. I read a lot of fantasy books and let’s be honest..quite a few follow the same pattern..not this one, it’s refreshingly different and that’s what makes it so good.

The dark nature of the tale is something that really gives this book an edge, theirs a darkness overshadowing all and it was fascinating reading Tala’s tale. I won’t spoil it but she does not have it easy. She has a power within her to open the door to beings from another plain and these guys aren’t pretty that’s for sure, how they are born into this world is pretty gruesome to say the least.

I think Tala was my favourite character I must say, but I enjoyed them all, a special mention has to be made of Casterly and his fate in life.. wow..twist alert..you’ll not see that coming.

If you are looking for an engrossing slow burn of a fantasy book, heavy on the darkness scale that you can really get to grips with then this is top-notch. For me the darkness overshadows all and I liked it.

Do I want to more from Ty Arthur? Yes please.

My thanks go to Ty for the chance to read and review the book!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Toil and Trouble: Modern Magick, 2 by Charlotte E. English – ARC Review

3 Replies

Title – Toil and Trouble: Modern Magick, 2
Author – Charlotte E. English
Genre – Fantasy
Length – 194 Pages
Publication – 31st October 2017
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

Having rescued an immensely valuable book from a long-lost library, Jay’s joy turns to dismay when it proves to be unusually… chatty, and possessed of a fine, filthy vocabulary besides. What manner of enchantment created such a strange and powerful book is a mystery to the Society, but Ves is determined to solve it.

She’s not the only one. The organisation known as Ancestria Magicka might be brand new, but they can more than rival the Society in power – and they badly want the book. But why are they so interested in its long-dead creator? When the mystery turns into a race to find a fifteenth-century grave, there’s only one thing to do: call in the Toil and Trouble department…

Review

Toil and Trouble is book 2 in the Modern Magick series form author Charlotte E. English.

If you haven’t already check out book 1 – The Road to Farringale.

Book 2 starts pretty much where we left off, Ves is back at the Society for Magickal Heritage and is about to be sent on another fantastic adventure.

During the last outing Jay discovered a very rare book indeed.. this book can talk.. and it has a lot to say for itself.

We learn of another organisation, Ancestria Magicka, who like the Society track down items of magical relevance..but they don’t always play fair. Once they learn of the books existence they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. But why? Well I’m not going to spoil it am i? ha.

I really enjoyed the plot and it builds nicely on the foundations set in the previous book. The characters develop, it just makes a better story as you feel comfortable with them..you know them.

The flow of the book is as always is perfect, nice length of chapter to keep you reading. I always think “oh go on then, one more chapter” and before you know it your finished.

Charlotte’s style of writing is what really does it for me with her books, written in a fun and quirky way. Never overly complicated and so easy on the eyes..I can’t help but devour her books. You get a brilliant plot mixed with some good descriptive info but never too heavy to lose the reader..the books always flows nicely.. too many authors throw in descriptive info when all I want is to get back to the plot and English certainly knows what her readers like.

This is a great series so far and this plot is certainly one of her best to date.

Charlotte is an author who never fails to deliver for her fans so I highly recommend you check her work out if you havent already.

The book is out on Tomorrow! And it’s the perfect read for Halloween 🙂 who doesn’t like a bit of Magic after all!

My thanks go to the author for the ARC but as a loyal fan my pre-order is in for an official download 🙂

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Light Dawning by Ty Arthur – PROMO

1 Reply

So today i’m going to be bringing to your attention the work of Ty Arthur. I’m going to be reading his book Light Dawning soon.

Here’s some blurb –

Following his debut sci-fi novella “Empty” from 2016, Ty Arthur returns with new full-length horror novel “Light Dawning.” Pivoting away from the emptiness of space, the book dives headlong into the waters of fantasy, but with a seriously grimdark twist. This next foray into the bleaker corners of human existence was released May 2017 and is available now at https://www.amazon.com/Light-Dawning-Ty-Arthur-ebook/dp/B0722FJ3ZB/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Once known as the City on the Hill and revered far and wide for its independence and boundless opportunity, Cestia has become home only to the damned. Surviving under the brutal occupation of a southern empire for three long years, the oppressed populace has lost hope of liberation, turning instead towards an increasingly desperate rebellion willing to commit any atrocity for a chance at freedom.

As total war approaches, four lost souls trapped behind Cestia’s walls are on a collision course with fate, destined to either save the city or see it utterly destroyed while calling on forces beyond mankind’s comprehension. For good or ill, the light of a new day is about to dawn.

“As with all my work, this story is inspired by a real life experience translated into a fictional setting, and completing this book took a lot out of me,” Arthur said of the upcoming release. “Its set in an unquestionably fantasy universe, but you won’t find any elves or farm boy chosen ones saving the world. My take on the genre draws more from cosmic dread and the horror of war than anything with unlikely heroes or lovable rogues. Don’t expect any happy endings.”

Like its predecessor, the creation of “Light Dawning” was driven forward by the power of music. To get an advance preview of the themes and tone of the novel, a music playlist matching several scenes can be heard via Spotify at http://goo.gl/dYxaVq

The author peaked my interest, fantasy and war always work well together for me so i’m looking forward to getting to grips with it soon.

Ty also sent me some character profile images to further wet my appetite

I was already interested before these images but even more so now.

I’d love to get some feedback from my followers. Have you read the book already? If so what did you think? If like me you’ve not read the book yet what are your initial thoughts? Would you be tempted to buy the book?

Here’s a bit more info on the author if you’d like to know more or to keep up to date with his work –

AUTHOR BIO

Ty Arthur gets to meld his passions with his work while freelancing for the likes of Metalunderground.com and GameSkinny. His debut sci-fi / horror novella “Empty” was released in early 2016, with many more dark tales still to come. Arthur writes to exorcise his demons and lives in the cold, dark north with his amazing wife Megan and infant son Gannicus Picard.

LINKS

Official website: https://tyarthur.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12585427.Ty_Arthur

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ty.g.arthur

The Reaper’s Touch (The Ripper Legacies Book 2) by Robert Southworth – Review

2 Replies

Title – The Reaper’s Touch (The Ripper Legacies Book 2)
Author – Robert Southworth
Genre – Alternative History/Fantasy
Length – 308 Pages
Publication – August 2017
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

London 1890, William Harkness is summoned to the scene of a grisly murder. The victim is not a woman of the night, nor a member of the underclass. Nonetheless, Harkness is certain the Ripper has resumed his slaughter. He and his men resume the hunt for the infamous killer but all is not as it seems. William Harkness soon realises that hunters can also be prey…

Review

For me this has to be one of the most hotly anticipated releases this year. Rob likes to tease us readers and keep us waiting but it’s worth it. Rob’s never given me anything other than a 5* book previously and he’s done it again.

What I’ve always really enjoyed about Rob’s work is that I’ve been there from the first book and I can really see how he’s grown. Don’t get me wrong.. I never found fault with any of his books but this one just seems a step above the last as he continues to rattle out fun and mesmerising tales that really suck you in.

What I really enjoyed about this plot is that with a hint of history and a pinch of imagination Rob gives us something completely original and so god damn exciting.

So this is the second book in the Ripper Legacies. If you’ve not read the first book click here to read my review.

We are back with William Harkess and his rabble of men as he joins forces with Inspector Abberline to hunt down The Ripper. This time his foe is more dangerous as William becomes more of an annoyance to him.

The book has some rather vivid moments where some unfortunate people do meet their end. While this is a completely new tale it does link well with The Ripper’s own handiwork, it makes it so much more believable and sets the tone/period of the story perfectly.

Another plus for this tale is that this time the heat is really turned up on William. Not everyone will make it out alive and this really built up the pressure.

Rob did a great job of quickly reminding me of the main players in the story and also helped me remember the previous tale in the series by mentioning a few certain characters and events that brung everything flooding back.

Southworth develops his characters well, each has their own role in the tale and there’s a few great additions to this one. I won’t spoil it but Bessie and Faraday really made an impression on me.

Do you like twists? I know I do. Well this book had a couple that hit hard..In a good way. What I expected was turned on its head within a page then the author pieces everything together nicely leaving you to wonder why you didn’t see it from the start. To be honest with Robs work I do very little thinking.. I simply enjoy the tale.

The ending sets up book 3 nicely, leaving you craving more.

All I know for sure is Rob keeps offering up brilliant stories so I’ll certainly be buying the next book as soon as it’s released.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

The Road to Farringale: Modern Magick, 1 by Charlotte E. English – Review

5 Replies

Title – The Road to Farringale: Modern Magick, 1
Author – Charlotte E. English
Genre – Fantasy
Length – 187 Pages
Publication – July 2017
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

In 2017, little remains of magick save scattered, beleaguered pockets of magickal community and scholarship – and a vast, but rapidly decaying, heritage. How can any of it survive the pace of modern life?

In this first adventure, Ves meets her new partner, the Waymaster Jay. Their mission? Find the source of a magickal disease that’s decimating Britain’s troll enclaves – and fix it. Simple in theory, tricky in practice, for the only place that might hold the information they need is the ancient and inconveniently lost enclave of Farringale…

Review

Charlotte E. English is back with a new fantasy tale and once again it’s a real treat for us readers.

Magic is real, hidden away and on the decline. There are a few out there who are doing their best to keep the community alive..Ves is one such person. She’s a rather intriguing character. She’s quite an internal person so in the inner thoughts of Ves really help you learn what kind of person she is, she strong and capable and you can’t help but grow to like her.

While Ves is on a mission she discovers an alarming issue with the Troll community..something that is threatening to wipe them out..could the answer to this mystery lie in a long-buried enclave?

Along the way we meet some fun characters. Jay who has a rather special ability to transport over great distances using ancient portals. Val had to be the character I enjoyed most.. anytime you need to know something she’s the one to go to and if you find anything juicy she will be the first there to investigate further.

I really enjoyed Milday and House..yes I said house. House is where Ves works for the Society for Magickal Heritage, and this house isn’t like any other you’ve been in. It’s magical and if it likes you it will be kind, if not don’t expect to get to where you plan to go anytime soon as this house can change itself, move and adapt. Ves reports to Milday and Milday and house work in partnership, but like any good partnership they don’t always agree and it’s this very unique dynamic that I really loved.

With the help Baron Alban Ves sets out to save the Trolls from extinction and while doing so she may just solve a long forgotten mystery. I loved the Baron, like all good chracetrs you learn more about him as the tale unfolds and his mysteriousness is what really entriged me.

The book builds its pace nicely and you are left hoping more will come. I enjoyed the ending but knowing how good the author is you are left in no doubt there must be more tales to come.

Charlotte is the queen of the short story for me and she’s done it again. She effortlessly manages to suck you and give you so much story in so few pages..I never feel short-changed when I buy her work, if anything I’m just eager to read it and to find out when the next instalment is due J

English has given me another 5* book, the tale is quirky and fun and I couldn’t ask for more. Anyone who is a fan of the authors work will love it as it has her usual unique charm but at the same time gives the reader a fresh tale.

Charlotte E. English has to be top of list for author you need to read!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

Liefdom: A Tale from Perilisc by Jesse Teller – Review

2 Replies

Title – Liefdom: A Tale from Perilisc
Author – Jesse Teller
Genre – Dark Fantasy
Length – 262 Pages
Publication – August 2016
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

A zealous guardian in a peaceful city, Gentry Mandrake is a fairy unlike any other. Cast out and hated for his differences, his violent nature makes him wonder at the purity of his soul. He hunts for belonging while fighting to protect the human child bound to him. Explore the mythical realm of The Veil, the grating torture of the Sulfur Fields, and the biting tension between power and purpose in this wondrous struggle against a demonic wizard and his denizens. Can Mandrake overcome such terrible foes to defend those he loves?

Review

I’m a massive fantasy fan I’m not going to lie. To me there’s so many possibilities with fantasy but at the same time this means you’ve really got to hit a high standard to have me enjoy the story.. Well Jesse Teller certainly delivered.

Mandrake isn’t like other fairies.. he’s different in so many ways, and isn’t accepted by anyone. Little do the fairies know Mandrake is their champion and their going to need him very soon.

What really fascinated me about the story was the connection between the fairies and humans and how the actions of one could affect the other.

Because of this connection Mandrake knows his child Is in danger and not only does he have foes to battle in his realm he must also help save his child in the human world..but how can he?

It’s a magical tale. There’s lots of action but there’s a light-hearted feel at times as Mandrake deals with emotions that he’s never felt before.

What Teller gets spot on is the development speed of his characters versus plot..they develop naturally together and nothing is forced on the reader which means you can really get sucked in and enjoy this one.

I also really loved that some characters are a mystery and until the book develops you never quite know which way their loyalty lies.

Overall it’s very well written with fun and mesmerising plot that gives you just the right mix of action/non action scenes.

Often I find little things I don’t like about books, a certain word here or a development with a character that just didn’t feel right but this was perfect to me, no other word to describe it. It ticked everything I want and more.

A fast paced action packed entertaining read.

My thanks go to Rebekah Teller for bringing the book to my attention and provided a review copy. Loved it so much I paid Amazon for an official copy 🙂

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

The House at Divoro by Charlotte E. English – Review

2 Replies

Title – The House at Divoro (The Malykant Mysteries Book 7)
Author – Charlotte E. English
Genre – Fantasy
Length – 155 Pages
Publication – May 2017
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

Konrad Savast is the Malykant: foremost and most secret servant of the God of Death. His job? To track down the foulest of murderers and bring them to The Malykt’s Justice. No mercy. No quarter.

When Nanda shows up with a pressing invitation to a post-Solstice house party, Konrad is unenthusiastic. Eino Holt, their host, might have a taste for theatricals, but Konrad emphatically does not.

But then a corpse turns up, mutilated and hidden in a pantry cupboard. Konrad soon learns that the house at Divoro harbours many a dark secret…

Dark fantasy meets classic murder mystery in this seventh installment of Charlotte E. English’s Malykant Mysteries.

Review

Oh how I love Konrad.. I’m so glad we have another story to read. First off I must say the covers for the series keep getting better and for me fit the tale perfectly.

Followers of my reviews will know I’m a big fan of Charlotte’s work. She has to be my favourite writer so the bar is always set high.

Well once again she’s leapt over the bar set by the previous tale and has given me the best one yet.

What English always seems to get spot on for me is the balance between story and character development. In a short tale it’s not easy to make you enjoy the characters but English does just that, building on previous tales but at the same time a reader could easily pick the series up from here as we are given just the right amount of background info when setting up the scenes that it’s easy to understand the relationships between the main characters.

My favourite line of the book has to be “it was bad because he felt as fresh as an aged pair of socks, and approximately as lively” – Sounds like me most days ha

As I’ve said this is the best tale yet, English easily keeps the series fresh and interesting and I love the continuing development of Konrad. He doesn’t like to give much away but he’s a loveable character.

In this tale, as usual a body is found..but there’s a few strange twists that leave you thinking “What?” or “How?”. It’s these twists and turns that keep you hooked.

Again what I’ve always loved about the authors work is the writing itself.. Never dumbed down but never overly complex, it might be a dark tale but the writing is suitable for young and old alike.

The suspense was killing me with this one right till the end and the page count means you can easily get sucked in and read this in one sitting or over two.

Konrad struggles in the tale more than the last to keep his secret life just that..a secret so it was a great chance to see him put his different personas to use.

I can’t write a review on this book without mentioning Optapi and Eetapi, Konrad’s serpents who help him in his role as the Malykant, their dark humour makes them quirky and fun and I love when they show up. It’s a strange relationship between them and Konrad and for me it’s the best thing about the series..after the plot of course 🙂

The Malykant series is rather unique in my opinion. I’ve read nothing like it before and I just can’t get enough.

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.

David's Book Blurg

Book reviews from a guy up north (UK)

Tag Archives: Fantasy

The Striding Spire (Modern Magick 3) by Charlotte E English – Review

Windcatcher by A.J. Norfield – Review

The Hidden Face by S.C. Flynn – Review

Light Dawning by Ty Arthur – Review

Toil and Trouble: Modern Magick, 2 by Charlotte E. English – ARC Review

Light Dawning by Ty Arthur – PROMO

The Reaper’s Touch (The Ripper Legacies Book 2) by Robert Southworth – Review

The Road to Farringale: Modern Magick, 1 by Charlotte E. English – Review

Liefdom: A Tale from Perilisc by Jesse Teller – Review

The House at Divoro by Charlotte E. English – Review