A Highly Rated Score In. . .

Dark Test

I’ve been looking forward to reading Marcus Abshire’s Ways of the Warlock series as the into blurb hits all the right buttons. See for yourself:

*************

My name is Jakobus Shaw, and all I want is to be left the hell alone.

Once upon a time, I was a warlock. I killed, I tortured, I did all kinds of horrible things for more power, for more control, but I have tried hard to put that all behind me.

Now, someone just framed me for murder. A coven of white witches thinks I killed one of their own, and they want their pound of flesh.

My past is coming back to haunt me, and there isn't a damn thing I can do to stop it. If I don’t find the real killer before the witches find me, it’s all over.

Who is going to kill me first? White witches hell-bent on revenge? An assassin hired to tie up loose ends, or an Immortal with more power than he knows what to do with? I guess we'll see.

*************

And ‘see’ you do in a nifty little tale that is as high on adrenalin as it is on dry humor.

I connected with Abshire’s style of writing from the outset, and was immediately reminded of then vibe created by Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. It’s familiar. It’s cozy. It creates a welcoming tone that invites you in and encourages you to take part.

Jakobus is a guy with a checkered past who is doing his best to stay on the straight and narrow. Not an easy thing to do with a seemingly endless posse of magic-wielding practitioners lining up to get a piece of him. While far from happy about that, his down-to-earth and no-nonsense attitude help him deal with such problems head-on. So things get physical, and sorcerous pretty quickly. In a good way. Abshire’s main protagonist is far from invincible . . . but his nobody’s fool either, and sets out to discover just who it is that wants so desperately to set him up for a fall.

And it’s great fun!
I found his characters relatable and convincing. His story arc, entertaining. The pace a pleasing balance of action and plot development that keeps you intrigued throughout. And what the heck, there’s even a dash of sexual tension thrown in.   

As I say, it all adds up to a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed. You really ought to check this series out. I know I will be.

Amazon Review

 A Story That Leaves you
Shaken & Stirred

As The Artifacts Stir

I’ve been looking forward to Radar DeBoard’s follow-up to The Altar From Space, as I thoroughly enjoyed his slaughter-fest in micro-g the last time Talisha Martison set foot aboard a ship she should have avoided like the plague.

The thing is, she might have survived the mayhem aboard the SS Revelation, but she hasn’t made it home yet. Or indeed, anywhere near a place of relative safety . . .
as the blurb to As The Artifacts Stir reveals:

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After escaping the nightmare aboard the SS Revelation, Talisha awakes on an unfamiliar medical station. She quickly realizes that something truly awful is happening based on the blood splattered walls and piles of viscera. It seems that Talisha escaped from one hell, only to be plunged into another.

*************

After reading that intro, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had flashbacks to when Rick Grimes woke up in the south wing recovery ward in the very first episode of the Walking Dead. Only, Talisha’s reality gets much bloodier, far more quickly. And before she’s had time to find her feet, she’s off and running – or should that be limping, with a lot of slipping and sliding – through an unknown base with a bunch of deranged psychopaths hot on her recuperating heels, all of them hell-bent on adding her entrails to the Picasso art-ery-work on the walls.

She’s not alone of course. There are others, desperate to survive, and unexpected benefactors, too. But picking friend from foe proves rather difficult when everyone and is hyped up on fear and adrenaline, and everything is covered in other people’s blood.

As before, I rather enjoyed this fight-or-flight of fancy. It’s fast paced, has relentless action, and proper decorum and ethics are thrown out the airlock when it comes to making split-second decisions to stay alive. . . (Although one or two could do with a kick up the self-preservation backside). You’ll see.

As The Artifacts Stir. A mission that will leave you shaken, stirred, and in dire need of a vodka martini.

Amazon Review

 This Week, I lost Myself In. . .

The Girls Who Were Found
Just when you thought it was safe to turn the light off, we get a rather macabre twist of fate that reminds us, life – however many times it comes around – just isn’t fair.

Take a peek at what to expect.

*******

Kate Sullivan’s back from the dead, back from the Beyond, and ready to just be a normal girl again. She, Caro, and Darcy agree not to use their powers and to forget about the Beyond with the whispering ocean. Problem is, one of them is lying. She doesn’t want to move on, and she doesn’t want to be normal. The more she dreams of the Beyond, the more it feels like home. Will the others figure it out and save her before it’s too late?

Kerry Sullivan wants to leave the girls alone, leave the Beyond alone, but her boss isn’t so keen on that idea. She’s got a new lab, new subjects, and one chance to change all of their lives forever. But her brand new sacrifice has ideas of her own—she’s not going to die to go Beyond without taking someone with her.

Luke has moved on himself, even though he hasn’t quite given up on Kerry forever, but a knock at his door will turn his world upside down in a split second. When he answers Kerry’s call, Hannah heads out on a rescue mission, ready to face the Beyond once again.

As worlds collide and battles unfold, who will stay and who will go? Who can be saved and who is lost forever? Will any of them ever be free of the Beyond again?

 

*******

The accelerated pace of the last story continues in, The Girls Who Were Found, the fourth book of L’Erin Ogle’s Beyond series. And as the blurb so clearly indicates, times running out, for rescuers and resurrected alike. The Beyond wants to reclaim its own, and concepts like keeping a low profile or working quietly behind the scenes simply don’t enter the equation. Smash n’ grab brutality and action does, snaring all of the main players in an ever tightening noose that leaves little room for maneuvering.

Yes, lives are about to be changed forever. . .

The trouble is, all these spooky goings-on are becoming increasingly public. So, how to keep a secret when more and more people are witnessing things that simply shouldn’t exist?

One thing’s for sure, Detective Claire Wlazniak and her partner don’t like secrets. Especially the ones that seem to swarm around Kate, her family, her friends, and just about anyone remotely associated with the institute that ‘mysteriously’ burned down. And with all the upheaval, they’re drawing ever closer to finding out the truth. And that can’t be good!

So, let the chaos continue! As you may comprehend, Ogle manages to keep a check on the pace, and steers the story arc along in a madcap, helter-skelter ride of mayhem, fun, and vicious action that keeps you turning the page. Needless to say, I really enjoyed it.

Amazon Review

 There's Nothing Cold about This Story

The Darkest Vengeance

Walsh Ritter has had a lot of time to reflect over the circumstances that led to his current predicament, first at the hands of a mad hermit, and later, at the behest of megalomaniac William Victorrio. You’d be forgiven for thinking that things couldn’t possibly get worse?

But you would be wrong. . .

*************

Five years after the events that had left Walsh Ritter imprisoned in the ancient mountain fortress known as Agua Rocosa, William Victorrio’s daughter Angelina was now in full control of the family empire. All that she will require had been packed for her annual journey to the fortress where she would meet once again with the infamous gun hand Walsh Ritter. The fortress had its qualities, but it did not offer what she had in mind. To get Walsh Ritter to the Victorrio vacation home in the mountains, she would have to earn his trust and perhaps even his affections.

After three days of travel an accident occurred during a river crossing. Angelina’s life was completely in Walsh’s hands. It was up to him whether she lived or died. Unbelievable to her, Walsh chose to help her. Tending her wounds and caring for her as diligently as he could until he finally delivered her safely to the mountain cottage. Finally, she decided that she could wait no longer to start enacting her plan of vengeance. Walsh had to pay for the death of her mother. Painfully and methodically, she ushers him into a state of confinement that was as equally brutal as anything he had been subjected to back at the mountain fortress.

*************

So, that’s an idea of what you’re going to get. And while the blurb does provide a bit of a spoiler, it doesn’t sour the impact of what’s to come. As we saw in The Darkest Sin, Jeff Crawford’s The Gun Hand Series is a bit of a dark horse when it comes delivering. And deliver it does, in a stylish, confident manner that makes no apologies for the brutality involved.
This is one of the few offerings I’ve read recently where the second book of the series is a marked step up. It’s terse. It’s edgy. It involves you, allowing you to experience what Ritter is going through. You empathize with his plight. Feel the abject misery he’s enduring. Spit and curse over those moments where he’s cruelly taken advantage of.

But the slow build is there. Oh yes. The pressure gradually increases toward a climax you just know HAS to come. And when that climax hits, it’s delivered in the cold, clinical fashion you’d expect of. . .

Ah, no spoilers from me.

If you want to find out what happens, I suggest you delve into the The Gun Hand Series yourself. Believe me; you’ll be glad you did. It’s one of the finest, morbidly intense, compelling examples of a dark psychological thriller you’ll ever read.

Amazon Review

There Are No Idle Hands In This Tale

The Devil’s Work

In The Devil’s Work, we find loner Jim Colton looking for a change of pace and scenery. Unfortunately for him, his plans are shunted onto the sidelines almost from the word go; as the blurb highlights:

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Jim Colton has had enough of the Eastern U.S. with its big cities and bigger buildings. He longs for the quiet, untouched beauty of the West where a man like him can make it on his own. When his old friend, Alexander Price, offers him a ticket on a train bound for California, he takes it. How can he refuse?

Train life isn't what Colton expects, especially when there's an attempted train robbery by infamous bandit Scratch Maynard. But that's just the start of his strange ride through the United States. When people start dying in ritualistic murders, Colton doesn't know who he can trust except himself and his gun.

*************

Yes, Jim Colton’s hope of finding that simpler life take a turn for the worse when he steps in and kills the leader of a gang out to rob the train he’s travelling on. And it’s not because the marshal or any of the agents on the train are out to cause him trouble. Far from it. The problem stems from the antics of some of the gang members themselves, who are obviously crazy. After all, they hear voices . . . and normal people just don’t do that. Do they?

What follows is a spiraling nightmare of murder, misdirection and deceit, instigated at the behest of a killer who will stop at nothing to get their way. It falls to Colton to do something about it. He’s a loner, don’t forget. A survivor, used to fending for himself. Only this time out, he has to do that within the confines of a train. And with time running out, it’ll take all his skills to survive. You’ll see.

Once again, I really enjoyed Jon Dobbin’s economical writing style. He has a story to tell, and does just that in an easy to understand/easy to follow manner that allows you to immerse yourself in the narrative and follow along as Colton tries to unravel this latest mystery without getting himself killed – by bad guys or the law.

Well worth a ride!

Amazon Review

 Ah, Those Moody Streets of Prague. . .

The Lights of Prague

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis was another of those novels I caught mentioned on Black Gate Fantasy. Not being able to resist what they said about it, I decided to give it a try. And boy, was I glad I did!

Here’s the blurb to whet your appetite:

*******

In the quiet streets of Prague all manner of mysterious creatures lurk in the shadows. Unbeknownst to its citizens, their only hope against the tide of predators are the dauntless lamplighters – secret elite of monster hunters whose light staves off the darkness each night. Domek Myska leads a life teeming with fraught encounters with the worst kind of evil: pijavice, bloodthirsty and soulless vampiric creatures. Despite this, Domek finds solace in his moments spent in the company of his friend, the clever and beautiful Lady Ora Fischerová - a widow with secrets of her own. 
 
When Domek finds himself stalked by the spirit of the White Lady - a ghost who haunts the baroque halls of Prague castle – he stumbles across the sentient essence of a will-o’-the-wisp captured in a mysterious container. Now, as its bearer, Domek wields its power, but the wisp, known for leading travellers to their deaths, will not be so easily controlled. 
 
After discovering a conspiracy amongst the pijavice that could see them unleash terror on the daylight world, Domek finds himself in a race against those who aim to twist alchemical science for their own dangerous gain.

*******

So, how to explain what happens without giving the game away?

The Lights of Prague is a comprehensive blend of mythology, the mystical and mystery, all wrapped up in the noir, moody setting of one of the most ancient, evocative and Bohemian cities in existence. Even better, Jarvis keeps a well established trope interesting by wisely rooting the story in the latter half of the nineteenth century, thereby avoiding the temptation to use – what is to me, at any rate – the overused ‘get-out clause’ allowed by modern-day technology – to even the playing field when there are supernatural foes to battle.

And there’s plenty that’s supernatural about The Lights of Prague.

It’s 1868, and the Lamplighters are a secretive group of men assigned to keep Prague’s many neighborhoods safe at night – ostensibly by extending their duties as caretakers of the city’s gas streetlamps – with that of being alert for paranormal shenanigans. And if they discover such goings-on, they are empowered – and trained – to take instant action to eradicate them.

However – and being careful NOT to spoil a polished and rather clever plot – things are not as they first appear. Yes, there’s been a status-quo of sorts between the forces of good and evil for many years. However, rumors start to circulate of a cure for vampirism. And when I say cure, I mean a remedy that allows such creatures to retain their preternatural strengths, while allowing them to walk in daylight. Something that must be avoided at all costs.

But how to combat such developments when all you have to go on are scant whispers and tidbits of intelligence from too many unrelated sources?

Ah, you’ll find out in a well grounded, cleverly paced little mystery/action/adventure that pits heroes and heroines against dastardly villains; entrenched diehards against open their more open-minded, progressive counterparts; and a stagnating society, more concerned by class and status than the real danger lurking in their midst.

Yes, The Lights of Prague is a rather evocative, gothic little romp through some of the most magical streets in existence, and a superb introduction to what I’m sure will be the first of many books in a new series . . .

You’ll see.

Amazon Review

 This Week's Review Sheds Light On. . .

Left in the Dark

Set a few months after the events in Afterthoughts, Detective Paige Aldridge is settling into her new routine. One that involves marrying her emerging abilities with work, a new boyfriend, and a burgeoning relationship with a sister she never knew existed.

What could possibly go wrong?

As it transpires, quite a lot:

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Paige Aldridge's adventures continue as she learns more of her developing powers, while she deepens her relationships with her partner and her sister. Can she regain control of her own mind before the powers that threaten to tear her apart claim her sanity and the life of a ten year old girl? Past, present, and future all collide with fear in this chilling sequel.X

*************

A canny blurb hides the depth of what Detective Aldridge has to face.

As I mentioned, Detective Aldridge is settling into a new routine. Outwardly, things are going well. She’s learning more about her new abilities and even manages to use them to help an old school friend find her missing son.

Meanwhile, Junna suffers a series of ongoing nightmares. Nightmares involving two other people that are sooo real, she becomes increasingly concerned that someone’s life is in danger.

Spurred on by her success with the missing boy, Paige suggests they try and solve the mystery of the nightmares by hunting down the persons concerned. In doing so, they trigger a series of catastrophic events that reveal new dangers they are not prepared to handle.

I particularly liked the way Lynn Tincher doesn’t give her characters free license to be instant experts omniscient superhuman powers. They’re fragile. Flawed. They have a lot to learn. That makes them vulnerable, adding a sense of realism

Amazon Review