I know, I know: “are the best.” Don’t undervalue my alliterative Ebonics, ese.
The Based Book Sale is back–this time in conjunction with Based Con. I’ve never been to Based Con. I can only guess that it’s like Comicon or Dragon Con (never been to those, either) only without the woketards.
Anyway, the Based Book Sale is where you can find hundreds of books by dozens of non-woke authors, discounted to 99 cents…or FREE. One of those free books will be American Stasi–you should definitely grab your own copy.
This might be the last time I include all my full-length novels in the sale, so get ’em for cheap while you can.
Those full-length novels include Paradox Book Six: Confronting Fate, which caps off my coming of age time travel conspiracy thriller wrapped around football and high adventure. The BBS will have an Amazon link, but it’s also available at the other online book stores, too.
Almost all the paperbacks in the series are published, too. I’m planning an E-Book boxed set, and possibly a hardback edition.
“Rhoye grabbed the hideous thing by the scalp, pressing it to the tabletop, whereupon Astropho, grimacing as he did so, dug his fingertips into its eyesocket to pry out its eyeball.”
This installment marks the last tale in The Girl with the Fire in Her Hair by Robert Mills. It’s been a great ride and once again Mills, if anything, delighted us with a blend of exquisite prose and classic adventures all throughout the book.
PLOT:
Rhoye and Astropho take it upon themselves to go visit the small town of Augwick, where most of the men have gone missing under strange circumstances. We will learn of how Haralfe, former apprentice of the Loyal Guild of Merchant Magi at the city of Galdurburgh, has become a powerful golenmaster with a corrupt soul and how our heroes, with the help of the local townsfolk, will have to defeat him in order to bring back normalcy to Augwick.
This story will not only exalt the courage and prowess of Rhoye and best friend, but also that of the local residents, ordinary folks placed in extraordinary circumstances.
PLAYING IT TOO SAFE?
This is a very fun and entertaining story, BUT I felt that coming from Mr. Mills, it played out too much on the safe side, feeling a bit too ‘formulaic’ at times in its plot development. I know what the author is capable of writing, so perhaps I’m holding him up to higher standards than the average fantasy writer, but this was a point that must be mentioned.
The most positive comment I can give is in regards to how we see all throughout the story an active involvement of ordinary people in extinguishing the evil of the land. Usually in these tropes the hero does all the work, in fact he often warns ordinary folk to get out of the way and stay home. But here there would be no good ending if it wasn’t for a joint effort from all parties involved. Even the small deeds performed by ordinary men and women CAN make a difference!
My answer is NO. And this is not a knock on this latest collection or the author at all. But if we want to be objective, Man of Swords set the bar very high and by comparison, The Girl feels more average, and though remaining a fun read on its own, it is not the best we’ve seen.
The stories unfold within a safer ‘formulaic’ fantasy format more commonly seen in current fiction writing. What distinguishes it is certainly the exquisite prose, and the fact that Mills knows how to put together good action scenes.
Having said all that, I still must recommend this collection to all of you who still care about compelling characters and fantasy realms where it is still possible to escape for a few hours!
I was at first on the fence about whether to upload this review or not. But hindsight I felt like this could serve as a lesson on:
What to do
What not to do
…as a fiction writer.
Let me first go on record stating that Christopher Buehlman is an objectively GOOD writer. He knows how to build a world with interesting characters and plot lines, at least judging by Between Two Fires, the only book of his I’ve ever read so far.
The issues I found in this book, however, are significant and my suspicion is that these are more a result of the worldview lens Buehlman applies to see the world through, and Christianity in particular.
PLOT:
The story catapults us into XIV plague-ridden France where the lives of three seemingly different characters converge under some very special circumstances:
Thomas: a former knight with a grudge
Delphine: a young orphan girl with strange supernatural gifts
Matthieu: a priest with personal secrets
When Thomas saves Delphine’s life, he doesn’t realize that he has also committed his sword to not only protect the young girl but to also aid her in a mysterious mission allegedly imparted by the angels of Heaven themselves. In their journey, Pierre Matthieu, a priest addicted to wine and with same-sex attraction tags along, having nothing else left in his hometown now devastated by the plague.
Their journey will create a strong bond. Working together just out of mere survival, these three main characters start to care for one another genuinely.
HISTORICAL TIME AND PLACE:
What I really appreciated about BTF is how the description of medieval France is well executed. The towns, rivers, bridges, houses, palaces, all feel accurate. This comes to no surprise since the author majored in History with a minor in French, and it shows. For a guy from Florida, US, to write about period France in such an accurate manner, I couldn’t ask for more verisimilitude, honestly. Well done.
This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.
NEGATIVE REMARKS:
The author delights in the use of profanity, coarse language, crude jokes, and seems to have some weird obsession with anything related to feces and genitalia.
I understand that some of the characters might not be ‘saints’ (pun intended) but there are ways to communicate certain data to the readers without being so graphic to the point that it seems as though the author actually revels in this excessive graphic language. Reality is that it is NOT essential for plot or character building at all, and it just becomes annoying and ‘cheapens’ the overall quality of the book.
This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.
2. The author, throughout the story, seems to be taking jabs, albeit subtle, at the Christian faith. Whether this is intentional or the result of general biblical ignorance on behalf of Buehlman, that’s debatable. But he manages to reduce the Christian faith to nothing more than a pagan set of beliefs adept for backward people without a thinking brain.
For example, when Delphine tries to get Thomas to swear less:
Delphine “Maybe God would be more generous if you swore less.”
Thomas “God starves babies sometimes, and they don’t swear at all.”
Of course the author can say that this is simply part of the character, but similar examples are found over and over throughout the book. Maybe the author thinks those are clever arguments that would make readers realize how silly Christianity is? Only the author really knows.
But as a reviewer I can tell you that those continuous remarks and innuendos are not helping the book overall, especially when these jabs are always one sided (there are no similar examples aimed at-say- atheists or other religious groups in this story.)
This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.
CONCLUSION:
Between Two Fires is an excellent story with rich characters and compelling plot lines. The accuracy of depiction of medieval France being devastated by the plague is superb. The prose flaws nicely and it is all very professionally put together.
Unfortunately within it there is too much of that Game of Thrones depraved, nihilistic vibe that taints an otherwise 5-star quality read. Bloated with profanity and unnecessary coarse language, constantly taking jabs at Christianity, singling out the Christian faith as another form of paganism for dimwitted country folk, this book is an amalgamation of peaks and valleys, going back and forth from excellent to cringeworthy. And that’s a shame.
And Hell Followed With Him: The Circuit of Reverend Sheffield, Volume 1
Reviewed by
“So this is what it takes for you to finally draw your weapon,” he said. “Two dead men and a wife whose world has just been torn asunder. You wear the badge, Sheriff, but it bears no meaning.”
It seems ironic how the last couple of novels I reviewed both felt like I was watching a movie more than anything.
And Hell Followed With Him is one of those stories reminiscent of the classic ‘spaghetti westerns’ some of us in the older crowd grew up with. This book checks all the boxes: gunslingers with happy trigger finger, a small town in the clutches of terrible bandits, a good guy and a villain who are as opposite as they are also very alike in nature, a cowardly city mayor, a woman who is as beautiful as is brave in the face of adversities… You get the picture.
PLOT:
Civil war vet-turned-preacher Reverend Sheffield finds himself in the role of protector of a small town when he heads to preach the gospel at Pearson’s Hope, and he must use more than Bible verses to get rid of the gangsters who are oppressing the defenseless townsfolk. Of course he doesn’t like to resort to violence but he will, hoping that God will understand and forgive him. Little does he know that the city mayor himself is in cahoots with the leader of the bandits, who turns out to be another war vet who fought side by side with Sheffield himself.
TOO SAFE AN APPROACH?
This story can be entertaining and I certainly admire the fact that the author doesn’t mock Christianity or try to make the reader second guess the values and principles upheld in the Bible. Sheffield has made a vow to preach the gospel and I admire that.
Where I think the author fails however is in adopting an overly safe approach to the western genre. So safe indeed, that at times it becomes even too predictable, in my opinion.
From the opening scene, to the villain, to the secondary characters, it all comes off as an overly choreographed effort.
SO DIFFERENT YET SO ALIKE:
The relationship between good guy and villain follows a very traditional pattern whereas they are both similar in nature: both served in the war, both have natural born killer instincts, both are made to be leaders. However, the way the war affected their outlook on life is where they differ. Though both came out of the war bitter and disgruntled, one turned to the Gospel of Christ while the other decided to use his skills to take whatever he pleases and, in a way, make himself his own god.
HIGHLIGHTS:
There are plenty of ‘moments’ that make this book worth reading. The suspense preceding the coordinated attack of the enemy upon the town, the moment Sheffield lets go of all his fears and doubts and just hands it over to the Lord, willing to die with a smile for what is right, even though they are grossly outnumbered… I was on the edge in a few scenes, I must admit!
CONCLUSION:
Though Hell Followed Him at times plays it too safe, it offers a revival of all those elements that make for a solid Western drama. Another good story I’d rather read than watch any of the recent summer flicks Hollywood keeps regurgitating to audiences everywhere!
“Taking life is hard. Neither of us had ever killed so much all at once, and I could only imagine how he was feeling.”
To summarize this first book of the Hero’s Metal series with one word, I’d have to use the word FUN. And this book is first and foremost just that: a fun ride with cool fantasy/action and just enough comedy thrown into the mix!
The author credits his inspiration to progressive heavy metal, dungeonsynth music, nature itself, very good people, and Jesus. The result is a very distinct narrative with its own unique undertones.
CHARACTERS:
Our MC is Pierce, a young man whose battle skills are only surpassed by his sheer (and at times reckless) courage. Pierce joins the most legendary group of justice-seeking warriors, the Gorgonbane, composed of Axebourne and wife Scythia, Agrathor, and supra-gen Ess (she’s kinda like a mage, we could say). Later on the group will be joined by Forgemaster 77 (aka Sev) who betrays his lord and main villain of the Underworld to join Pierce and his friends.
THE WORLD:
This world we are catapulted into is divided into Overland and Underland, with the latter ruled by Overlord Kash. Kash is amassing an army to take over Overland for reasons we will find out by the end of the book.
Underland is populated by big scary creatures like the Gen and the Monstrosity. In addition you also have supra-Gen and supra-Monstrosity with even greater lethal powers.
BATTLE SCENES:
The siege of the city of Grondell was very well executed particularly in the aftermath of this epic clash between the Gorganbane and city militia against the hordes of Underland. The taste of defeat, the dismay that follows, the disappointment of failing at defending the city, at being the heroes they ought to be, all transpire through the words of Marquis very effectively.
A TWIST:
What I really enjoyed mostly about Book 1 is how the author lures the reader into a specific path and outcome but then with a big reveal he unmasks some truths that one might not expect. This element of surprise is what really made this story worthwhile, particularly since without that, some characters might have seemed weak or incoherent at best.
CONCLUSIONS:
How black the Sky is a solid beginning to introducing readers to this fantasy world which can be at times suspenseful but at other times funny enough as to not take itself too seriously either.
Based on the unexpected plot twist I have mentioned above, my curiosity ignited, I will have to pick up book 2 and see where this might be leading next!
THE SPIRAL OF MY DESTINY: Book 2 of the Rosteval Saga
By Michael R. Schultheiss
Reviewed by
As always, if you haven’t read our review of Book 1 and, furthermore, picked up a copy of the book, I strongly encourage you to do so! This is not your average epic fantasy series!
Book 1 introduced us to a mythical world where warriors live in the pursuit of fighting and conquering. The weak will be weeded out from the strong. Glory is reserved for those who dare stand up in defiance of adversities.
But power comes with a responsibility to be fair and just as well, for power without honor means nothing.
PLOT:
And so once again we join Kastorak Rosteval and his slave-girl-turned-wife, Ghaitta, as they expand their new kingdom and authority throughout the lands of the South.
Aided by the Bright Zayastura, divine beings led by Bright Apshendarin, Rosteval’s reputation grows throughout every corner of every land. Speaking of the Bright Zayastura, these are immortals. When they get killed bodily, they simply turn into a Core, which looks like a sphere of marble until they are given back human form. They are almost ‘angelic beings’ for all intents and purposes. I hope we will get more in-depth lore about them soon!
A NEW THREAT:
But a new threat is rising in the form of a Rishvanti by the name of Soltapyral. The Rishvanti are mortal beings who achieved immortality. In book 1 we met Rishvanti Haldua, whom Rosteval eventually defeated. But now our hero must ask for Haldua’s aid in order to best this new foe.
Soltapyral counts with his own Bright Zayastura and you can imagine a clash for the ages will be inevitable!
WEAPONS:
What I find intriguing about this world is that every warrior relies on two types of weapons: physical weapons (spears, swords, bow/arrows, shields) and supernatural weapons called rishva-shades or ‘emanations’.
When a battle takes place, both armies must use both types of weapons intelligently and effectively. This creates a visual feast for the mind, as epic scenes of both mortals and immortals clash in explosions of lights and roaring sounds.
CLOSING REMARKS:
Book 2 is the result of passion, dedication, but above all respect for our ancestors and mythos. Michael is a good friend, husband, and father and last but not least, a great writer who is dedicating himself to creating NEW LEGENDS!
Pick up a copy of the Rosteval Saga today and give us your feedback!
~“I think there’s loads of things that ‘appen in London that don’t make the papers.”
Zillah nodded. She knew that all too well.~
When I think of Paul Leone, I think of an author that embodies my concept of creating NEW LEGENDS, A concept that I continuously ‘spam’ all over social media. I don’t exaggerate when I place Leone in the same club as Tolkien or C.S. Lewis, and deservingly so.
But oftentimes, we wrongly assume that great authors will always and undisputedly write great books… which is not the case.
PLOT:
The Mysteries of Zillah Harvey revolves around a young lady-Zillah Harvey-who becomes a member of the Savant Club: “the most prestigious gathering place for those who belonged to either London’s occult community or its Bohemian, if not both.”
After nearly being stabbed to death in a dark alley by none other than Jack The Ripper, Zillah mysteriously gains what seem to be paranormal faculties. It’s thanks to those acquired faculties which allow Zillah to communicate with the dead that she earns a membership to the prestigious paranormal organization the Savant Club, whose members include peculiar characters such as Hazel Payton, Newell Ashwood and Colonel Christie.
Zillah is now licensed to perform seances and make a decent living at that…And here is where I find issues with this story.
MAIN CHARACTER/FLAWS:
Zillah, for all intents and purposes, feels like a very shallow and self-absorbed character. She has very promiscuous tendencies (literally sleeping with a man after just 2 hours of having met, sometimes even dating/sleeping with multiple partners); uses her ‘gift’ not so much to help people but to make herself wealthier; shows utter ungratefulness towards Peggy, her landlady, who always caters to her needs and always making sure that she is well fed and cared for. She doesn’t give us any redeemable features that would make us want to care about her, quite frankly.
THE WORLD:
Where the novel shines is in the reconstruction of 1800s England along with her folklore, legends, myths, and peoples. Leone is very diligent at doing his homework and giving due respect to our beloved European culture which has been in decay as of late.
The way all characters maintain their distinguished accents going from one region to another is also a positive point I need to highlight.
STRUCTURE:
The novel is a group of short stories or ‘cases’ that Zillah finds herself at the center of, but they are all part of one long thread all pointing at Zillah and the mystery surrounding her newly acquired psychic powers.
CONCLUSION:
Overall, this is a good novel worth reading, if for nothing besides the accuracy of the myths and folklore surrounding the British island. As mentioned before, I found the MC shallow and at times, and quite insufferable due to her promiscuous tendencies and overall selfish behavior. But I am being overly harsh here because I know what Leone is capable of writing.
*To the author’s credit, this was an earlier work of his, so I am sure he went through personal growth and development as a writer, which would be quite understandable indeed.
From The Girl with the Fire in Her Hair by Robert Victor Mills
Part 5 of a 6-Part Series by
“You have not retched for the metal of hot blood in your mouth, nor revolted at the mud and gore brimming your boots to the knee, nor been deafened with the mewling of new-murdered men while hedged in the thickest press!”
Rugosto, Ealdorman of Oltisa finds himself challenged to a duel by Baron Wulfiolo over a matter of honor. Since he cannot walk due to war injuries, and cannot stand , the law allows him to pick a champion to fight on his behalf. Things get complicated since that same law requires the chosen champion to be a family member. Rugosto only has one daughter, just barely 18 years old and no combat skills: Celesta.
But what Celesta lacks in physical prowess she makes up for with courage and intelligence. She seeks the help of Royhe and her power of conviction is here in full display:
“Most mortal of weapons, a woman’s tears, to the heart of a true man. For against that soft stiletto of feminine woe can be raised no shield, nor any armour ward the chivalrous breast from the plunge of so delicate a blade.”
As it goes, Celesta pleads with Royhe to teach her sword fighting, since she is the only next of kin who can fight for Rugosto, her father. Naturally Royhe thinks this madness, considering that she is but a small young lady with no experience with the sword, whereas the Baron is a seasoned soldier but most importantly, a man with twice her size and strength!
ASTROPHO AGAIN:
So if you guess that Astropho will be the one to save the day yet again, you guessed right! But what I loved about this is how the author is able to create a sense of anticipation regarding how the cunning bard will be able to solve this conundrum. To let young Celeste fight would surely mean her death, yet by law only a relative could fight for the challenger, if the latter is injured or disabled.
CLOSING REMARKS:
This is thus far one of my favorite tales in the book. The specific circumstances in which our heroes find themselves require more than brawn to get resolved. Particularly considering that neither Rohye nor Astropho are willing to break the law in order to help Rugosto and Celeste. The end result was brilliant and left me smiling.
“What we do after, where we go from here when we have won, that is going to depend more on folks like you than we blowhards up at the Hall. You will all have to dig deep and find the will to rebuild. To become stronger.”
If you’re curious to know why I decided to go on and review book 3 of this series, the answer is simple: why not?
This entire world created by Laurence is exactly what readers of all ages deserve at this time. With modern media entertainment becoming more ‘progressive’ and deranged, it is refreshing to find content that the whole family can enjoy together again. Disney, Netflix, and the other big networks at this point no longer care about creativity and good content, so if you finally got the memo and realized that it’s now the time to seek good, wholesome storytelling elsewhere, there is no better place to start than at the Islands of Loar!
If you’ve missed our previous two reviews go back and check them out:
If you haven’t, join us on this third ride into ‘fantasy done the right way’!
PLOT/CHARACTERS:
In Book 2, we saw how Doogan took charge of the island of Bethairia, and along with bard/ best friend Serah and the other characters we got to know throughout Books 1 and 2, created an organization called the Restorationist League. The League includes some of the most powerful and resilient beings, from elves, to dwarves, to fairies, and men and women skilled in the arts of battle, hunting, and magic. It is without saying that this will obviously cause tension with the Council, led by Doogan’s father, Lord Riftwind. A conflict of interests will certainly be inevitable over the issue of the bards.
Remember that Islands of Loar is known for featuring a multitude of characters moving about many different stages where the action takes place. It’s important that the reader keeps tabs and stays FOCUSED! I counted in total approximately 7 stages with 7 different groups of characters. But there might be more! It can be challenging but it is also fun and much rewarding! This is not Disney’s The Acolyte, after all.
THIS IS WAR:
As Loar seems to undergo civil turmoil, with persecution of the bards by the Council of Wind, and the League standing up for their rights, an alien invasion of the Xenotaur is unfolding. The Xenotaur, previously believed to be just another form of Aberration, turn out to be aliens, and their sheer numbers alone prove to make them an unstoppable force.
Unlike in the previous books where we’ve seen scattered fights here and there with the Xenotaur invaders, in book 3 things escalate to full-blown war. Feats of bravery and courage are in full display, and all the forces of Loar are tested to their limits.
The battle scenes are massive. The loss of lives, a cold harsh reality of war.
NOBODY’S SAFE:
Unlike other franchises of this kind, where powerful beings use both super strength and magic to fight their battles, here in Loar death is real and death is blind. I think frankly that’s a great way to keep the reader invested. No matter how powerful or central a character may seem, he/she could be the next victim to be claimed by the ongoing conflict. This is something that instills an added sense of humanity to these super-beings. We hold our breath every time danger is upon them because frankly the author has already shown us that nobody is safe indeed!
MAGIC MEETS HIGH-TECH:
We were already introduced to the high-tech flying ship and golem of Optrinicus in Book 2, but in Book 3 these really take center stage as I was hoping and expecting. This creates a very exciting universe where you have both the power of magic at display but also the advanced technology applied to ships, space suits, and other cool gadgets. The enemy is powerful and every weapon available must be used to deter them!
CLOSING REMARKS:
I think perhaps at a subconscious level I decided to read and review Book 3 in face of the grim reality of the current fantasy genre content that mainstream media is promoting. With abominations like Prime’s Rings of Power or Disney’s Star Wars, Islands of Loar is a strong reminder that it’s time to accept the idea that good content does exist, we just gotta know where to look to find it. Laurence is an extremely smart individual and understands how to create a world that can be easily accessible to audiences of all ages, yet without ultimately presenting a dull product. When was the last time a franchise was able to appeal to both children and adults equally? Maybe The Hobbit comes to mind. But what about new content? Where is the new content that can get dad, mom, son, and daughter equally excited about?
It’s right here. And it’s found on the Islands of Loar!
~“Ah, Rhoye of Khetaine!” said he. “In arts of iron and steel you are the unequalled master, the man of swords. But here we have an affair of the heart. Such is the province of a poet, a man of words.”~
This must be the shortest and most light-hearted tale from the Wandered Lands we’ve read so far. Forget the epic battles, fight scenes, or dramatic events; this time we visit the world of romance and poetry, thus you can already guess our favorite bard Astropho is once again at the center of the action.
PLOT
As our two companions Rohye and Astropho are sitting at a tavern of a fishing town they’re passing through, a young fella approaches Astropho seeking his aid in a matter of the heart. He explains that he wants to master Astropho’s poetic skills to gain the heart of the girl he is in love with but that unfortunately has been set up to marry another man by consent from her father.
Without giving any spoilers, Astropho has another plan to bring together the young man and his beloved…But not through poetry!
POEMS
Every chapter here begins with a song/poem by Astropho. These are love poems that some might want to read while others will prefer to skip over. They really don’t aid the plot or are by no means indispensable to further enlighten us on the unfolding events. They’re just a nice bonus, no more no less.
CONCLUSION
As this was a very short tale, so is its review.
It seems like the author here wanted to explore a more laid back, humorous setting. Astropho is our MC while Rohye is just happy to sip on his drink and smirk at his friend’s schemes to help two young lovers be united.
This is a somewhat drastic departure from what we’ve been used to, but even warriors sometimes need to take a step back and enjoy a drink…or two!
Red-Blooded American Men Examine Pop-Culture and the World
