Book Review: The Magi by Kevin M. Turner

Book:  The Magi (The Magi Series #1) by Kevin M. Turner, Smashwords, 2011, young adult/middle grade fantasy.

Source:  from the author.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Thirteen-year-old Elijah Hawk has never heard of the Magi. He doesn't know about the secret power they have. He has never been to Savenridge, the Magi city hidden deep inside the northern forests. Most of all, Elijah is unaware of the dangers hunting him, in search for something he has. After one terrifying night, however, all of that changes!

On a quest to solve the murder of his parents, Elijah stumbles upon the land of the Magi. Learning their secrets and training with their power is the least of his problems. In order to find out why his parents were killed, Elijah learns that he must confront the dangers that are hunting him. What's more terrifying is learning that stumbling upon this new world of the Magi may not have been an accident after all.

Book Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Book:  Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder, Mira, December 2011.

Source: NetGalley.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life….

Book Review: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

Book:  The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, Echo, 2011, 325 pages.

Source: Purchased.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Hermann Kermit Warm is going to die. The enigmatic and powerful man known only as the Commodore has ordered it, and his henchmen, Eli and Charlie Sisters, will make sure of it. Though Eli doesn't share his brother's appetite for whiskey and killing, he's never known anything else. But their prey isn't an easy mark, and on the road from Oregon City to Warm's gold-mining claim outside Sacramento, Eli begins to question what he does for a living–and whom he does it for.

With The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters–losers, cheaters, and ne'er-do-wells from all stripes of life–and told by a complex and compelling narrator, it is a violent, lustful odyssey through the underworld of the 1850s frontier that beautifully captures the humor, melancholy, and grit of the Old West and two brothers bound by blood, violence, and love.

Book Review: The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Book:  The Dead Tossed Waves (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2) by Carrie Ryan, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2010, 407 pages, young adult zombie dystopian.

Source:  library.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Nanowrimo and Muse A-Fair Hangover

I read someone else's blog recently about their Nanowrimo hangover.  It resonated with me and I think I am feeling its effects.  After writing so intensely for a month, it is over and I feel strangely at loose ends. 

Then, on December 2-3 I took part in the Second Annual Muse A-Fair here in Kamloops (click on tab above for more information about this), an event where 22 creative people collaboratively got together to show, demonstrate and sell their creative passions.  Me and a friend had a Nanowrimo table as our creative inspiration is writing.  This was an amazing, fun event, but coming on the heals of Nanowrimo, I felt it was a lot.  There is so much planning and organizing involved in creating events of this scope.

Our Nanowrimo table at the Muse A-Fair

So, what am I trying to say here?  I feel like I have been grossly neglecting my blog lately, and for this I apologize, but I have been participating in amazing creative processes.  After that, however, I think I needed a break to let my brain rest and lull and peculate for a time.  But, I am back now and have several book reviews almost ready to go.  I have been feeling guilty for neglecting my blog, but feel that I have been honouring my creativity by making space for it in other ways.

Thanks for your patience, everyone, especially those whose books I have agreed to review.  I am back to editing my novel and reading books and will get to these reviews as quickly as I can!!

A New Prospect Winners

 

Congratulations to the winners of A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl!!!

Deb of Just Deb won the ecopy

Kara won the print copy

I have contacted both of you to arrange sending the books to you.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and entered.

Author Interview and Giveaway (Int): Wayne Zurl

Hello Everyone, I am very excited today to interview Wayne Zurl, author of the exciting detective novel, A New Prospect, as a part of his blog tour with Nurture Virtual Book Tours.  You can read my review of his book here.  Mr. Zurl has also graciously offered TWO copies of his book to give away, one print copy (US & Can) and one ecopy (International).  In order to enter, simply leave a comment bellow and include your name and email address and whether you are entering for the print copy, ecopy or both.  The contest closes at midnight Dec 12 and the winner will be announced Dec. 13.  Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

First off, a summary of A New Prospect:
Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style. The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend. Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators. Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture. In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn't fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice. A NEW PROSPECT takes the reader through a New South resolutely clinging to its past and traditional way of keeping family business strictly within the family.

Book Review: A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl

Book:  A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl, Black Rose Writing, 2011, 276 pages, adult mystery. 

Source:  from the author.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style.

The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend.

Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators.

Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture.

Nanowrimo is Over!!

Hello everyone,

It's December 1st and National Novel Writing Month is over for another year!!!!  How did you do?  Congratulations to everyone who participated, whether you won or not.  It is always great to set an exciting challenge and stretch yourself.  I always feel that I learn something new each Nano.

We had three of us writing in our house, me, my husband and our 8 year old son - and all three of us won!!!  It was quite an experience to have so many of us writing this year, but it was also fun as we could help and support one another. 

Winner of the Gratitude Giveaway Hop

 

I've picked the winner of the Gratitude Giveaway, it is Linda K.  You have won $15 CDN in books from The Book Depository.

Congratulations!!

I have contacted her by email and she has two days to respond.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by on the hop.  I really enjoyed this one.

Guest Post: Emlyn Chan, Farsighted

Today is Black Friday in the US and also the celebration for the print release of the exciting new novel Farsighted by Emlyn Chan (read my review here).

Today I'd like to share an excerpt from Emlyn Chand's hot new paranormal novel, Farsighted (it just released on 10/24). Before diving in, check out this teaser for the book:

Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.

Book Review: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Book:  Farsighted (Farsighted Series) by Emlyn Chand, Blue Crown Press, Nov. 24, 2011, 218 pages.  Young Adult paranormal.

Source:  from the author via Bewitching Book Tours.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.