Curse of the Tahiera

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Author
Wendy Gillissen


Publisher
Booklocker.com

A journey through haunted forests, through dreams and time.
A story of love, magic and the power of forgiveness.
Rom, a young Tzanatzi outcast and Yldich, a mysterious Einache shaman are on the trail of an ancient curse.
Will they save their people from destruction?


My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my FB Group Page)

Curse of the Tahiéra is a wonderfully written fantasy novel that carries deep meaning on a few levels. The characters are amazing; the scenery and descriptions were vivid without going on for pages; and this book captured me right away! For myself, I personally related to Rom with some of my own past issues and I connected with Yldich in many ways due to his wise ways of the power of intention and healing.  I am anxiously awaiting Ms. Gillissen’s sequel to this powerful story. I give this book five stars and recommend it to anyone that loves fantasy!

Ya’érsi! (Well Done!)



Behold the Eye: Braumaru

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Author
Veronica R. Tabares


Publisher
Sun Break Publishing

Behold the Eye: Braumaru is the first book in the fantasy trilogy in which two distinct worlds become intertwined by dreams, shadows, ghosts, and magical gifts. As several different stories are weaved into one, diary entries from an ancient text allow the reader to discover how the past affects the present. The main characters include Micah, a teen boy from another world; a 6th grader named Vickie who simply wants to have fun with her friends; and Roland, an unscrupulous janitor who will stop at nothing to get what he believes he deserves.


My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my FB Group Page)

Being an adult, I enjoyed this story very much as it was vivid and with the changing from Micah’s world and the girls’ world, it was not too hard to keep up with and it was a very interesting idea. The story starts out with a letter from Vickie to her local librarian regarding the book that I found to be fun and with humor well placed. Veronica truly captured the girls’ attitudes and behaviors, meaning I liked the nice ones, and was not too fond of the mean ones, or had jealousy or bad intentions. It is full of suspense, imagination and action; without being overly frightening especially for a younger reader.
I have the second installment in my hand and I am looking forward to it as this book left me hanging!





Behold the Eye: Cerulea

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Author
Veronica R. Tabares


Publisher
Sun Break Publishing

The "Behold the Eye" trilogy continues with this second installment: Behold the Eye: Cerulea; bringing together the world of dreams and the allure of adventure into an imaginative journey of mystery and danger. Behold the Eye: Cerulea transports the reader from the familiar world of everyday concerns to the extraordinary world of imagination, where anything can happen, and often does. 


My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my FB Group Page)


This is certainly a very quick and simple book for most ages. I for one, am very much considering honoring my young son’s requests as he has been asking to read these books with me. There is plenty of suspense and action, but nothing so terrifying that it could cause a young child (like mine) distress. Just like the first installment, this book was packed with imagination and I truly enjoy the message of watching your dreams, as well as the fact that one can control what they dream. I have the final book in this trilogy and I can hardly wait to see how this wonderful, amazing story comes to a close! 




Behold the Eye: Viridia

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Author
Veronica R. Tabares


Publisher
Sun Break Publishing

Third in a trilogy that illustrates how important the anchor of a safe home is to young minds, this novel finds heroine Vickie Sutton first in a coma and then missing. As her parents and friends follow the clues of what they suspect is a kidnapping, they begin to wonder if it is an epidemic when Vickie’s good friend Tricia Jones falls into a coma, too. As Vickie and Tricia’s two very best friends Karen and Cathy put the pieces together, their only hope is that through dream traveling they will begin to make sense of the mystery before it is too late. Vickie must travel to Viridia, the Land of the Green Eyes, with new friends Micah and Shanti, with the hope that someone will know how to safely send her back home to her own world through the land of dreams.

My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my FB Group Page)

Behold the Eye: Viridia, the final installment of this very thrilling trilogy, is just as fantastic, suspenseful and wonderful as Behold the Eye: Braumaru and Cerulea!  Just as in the previous works, Behold the Eye: Viridia continues with conflict, emotions, suspense, action and mystery. All characters in this tale are well detailed, so the reader can easily interpret the behavior, feelings, motives and actions of each person even before it may be stated.  There is indeed a hidden meaning or two behind this story and with the characters, so if you find it then the story will resonate even more with you – whatever your age!



Gaea

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Author
Robina Williams

Publisher
Paladin Timeless Books

Brief Summary: Gaea, the earth goddess, fed up with the damage Man is doing, decides to teach him a lesson. She ropes in her relatives to help her… and three-headed Cerberus, the hell hound, tags along too. Quant, golden-eyed seraph and quantum cat, is there to keep an eye on them all.

My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my Facebook Group Page)


Robina Williams has provided an amazing tale combining mythology, religion and the society as a whole. Gaea, classified as a 'fantasy' novel, is much more than a work of fiction as it eerily hits close to home with the truth on how man treats the planet. This combination is perfect for those that enjoy mythology, and the religious tones are not offensive by any means. Symbolism is strong throughout this powerful story of man abusing Mother Earth.
I love how we are reminded that all things... animals, trees, rocks and blades of grass have a voice to tell us what is going on, if we just quiet down and listen to the messages by slowing down and tuning into our surroundings.  This is something I do often as I find solace in Nature and I for one am doing all I can to preserve it, especially for my young son.

Pùqest Book 1: The Hunter

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Author
Amber Carez

Publisher
Ishàny Press

The new book, The Hunter by Amber Carez, seduces us into experiencing a story set on the planet Efírmà within an unparalleled universe whose science and culture we have not seen before.
Visceral fights, convoluted conspiracies and primal sensuality intertwine to reveal the story of the split of a great nation into two polarized countries and the subsequent history that irrevocably binds them together through the eyes of an adventurer and the object of his desire.

My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my FB Group Page)



I am a huge fan of fantasy fiction featuring new worlds, ideas, adventure and of course, an appropriate splash of magic and romance. Despite a few frustrations that I encountered, this story was fast-paced, full of action during fighting scenarios, offers a love story and if one notices, a bit of spiritual enlightenment. I did find myself unable to put the book down as I was anxious to see what would happen next. This tale sets up perfectly for the next book to come in a way as I for one was left in suspense in my desire to know more of the main characters trials to encounter.
The down-side of ‘Pùqest Book 1: The Hunter” for me was not that the author created a new world of un-ending possibilities, it was the ‘created’ words (or language) was used often, and a small few were left undefined. A pronunciation key to know how to interpret the words would have helped me, personally to understand how to interpret the words. A handful of sentences had me wondering what was occurring or being expressed. I feel that Ms. Carez may risk others whom could also become confused, or put the tale down and move on. Until I decided just to ‘flow’ with it and read the language without special attention, other than looking in the glossary when necessary, then I was able to get an understanding of what was being told and enjoyed it.

Deception Past

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Author
Franki deMerle

Publisher
iUniverse

As a child, Sand remembered living before. She remembered her death in Dachau, but she didn't have a name for her past life identity until a former friend claimed it as her own. She is haunted by her past death and recurring premonition of another death to come as she grows up in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and early US spaceflight. Her past life memories put her in conflict with the religious beliefs of mainstream society.
The convergence of conflicting cultures results in race riots at the high school Sand attends. Sand's friend, Chrissie, remembers writing poetry in 19th century Amherst, Massachusetts, as Emily Dickinson.
After Sand graduates from college and goes to work for a local newspaper, her childhood premonition of another death comes true. Meanwhile, a package that she has kept a secret suddenly resurfaces, but what does it mean? She discovers that her next door neighbor, a rising rock star, is a bigamist. Sand's story is told by Brenda Campbell, who is the daughter of the bigamist rock star, through the symbolism of her Tarot cards.
Deception Past is a story of betrayal and forgiveness.

My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my Facebook Group Page)

While it is summarized as ‘a story of betrayal and forgiveness’, I felt there was so much more. The symbolism is quite apparent throughout the tale, and not just with what each Major Arana of the Tarot represents (for each chapter). There are awareness lessons that can be learned and applied by the reader in daily life if they so choose to see them. I found that I was very involved in this story as I was searching to connect the dots of the past and to see if peace within could be attained for the characters. A very great story that sweeps you along the way.

Powerless: The Synthesis

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Author
Jason Letts

Publisher
Kindle Edition (Available on the 'Kindle', only.)

Mira Ipswich couldn't have ever known the startling difference that separates her from the rest of humanity. But when she discovers a strange anomaly in the midst of her seclusion, her parents are forced to reveal she exists in a world where everyone is imbued with a wondrous natural gift. Everyone except herself that is. Accompany Mira as her attempts to fit in among peers and understand her inconceivable condition embroil her with the dangerous forces threatening her homeland. Protected by nothing more than her imagination and ingenuity, you'll never find a superhero more like you.

The first book in the Powerless series is the tale of Mira’s turbulent and perilous entry into the world around her. And once she’s a part of it, nothing will ever be the same again.

My Thoughts:

As we are introduced to Mira, we see that she lives quite the sheltered life with her parents. For being overly protected, she is quite imaginative, scientific and is ‘gifted’ with the ability for making gadgets. When her parents decide it is time for her to grow and attend school, Mira slowly learns to stand on her own in a world like nothing she imagined. All but Mira have their own special ability which will help them for the upcoming war. Mira is overwhelmed by not having her own power for the obstacles to come from school and for what is waiting in her future.
Jason Letts has created a very interesting world of magic and power, while at the same time truly symbolizing the desire to be accepted by our peers. While Mira does not have her power, she does indeed have her truly unique gift that puts her at the head of the class. I really enjoyed reading this captivating tale and I am ready to pick up where I was left hanging!


The Jumper Chronicles: Quest for Merlin's Map

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Author
W. C. Peever

Publisher
Savant Books & Publications LLC

Six thousand years ago the Norse Gods were forced to leave their creations on Earth to fight an epic civil war. They charged the Druids of Britton with the protection of the human race while they were away, imbuing them with all of their abilities.  The Gods never returned, and their abilities were passed down through the ages.  Twelve year old Charlie Burrows is one of the most powerful of these descendants; he just does not realize it.  That is, until today.  The fate of humanity and the life of the father he never knew lie in the balance as he and his new friends struggle to discover the truth about the object the Merlin hid in both space and time.

My Thoughts: (Full Review found at my Facebook Group Page)

There are some similarities with the Harry Potter series that many will notice, especially the ‘die-hards’ of the series like me. During the explanations of the space time parallels, I had visions of The Doctor (character) from Doctor Who. While there are those feelings of familiarity, with the ‘three best friends’ and ‘headmaster’ of a ‘special school’; for me, that was the extent of it. There was also a brief Sword in the Stone reference for a moment; however the story shifted gears, going with a different approach with the Merlin story.

I think many young adult readers can identify with the storyline in one way or another. Fantasies aside all of us do face some type of adversity in our life, and I feel that some of those were captured in this novel. I am not sure how fast this story would be wrapped up, as it has many options to explore in what was presented, but I would enjoy going along for the ride to discover what happens.