Book Bird Reviews: 4 Stars

Showing posts with label 4 Stars. Show all posts

Monday, May 23, 2016

Review: When Gold was Black by Michele Amitrani

Title: When Black was Gold (The Story of How Fossil Fuels Forever Changed Humankind and Planet Earth)
Author: Michele Amitrani
Published: April 27th 2016 by Michele Amitrani
Genre: Sci-fi, Enviroment, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:

Hiroto Takahashi is one of the most popular living ecopols on Earth, a man who has dedicated his entire existence to harmonizing the needs of our civilization, and the needs of our planet.

His job is to nurture a sustainable and long lasting relationship between mankind and nature. A man whose innovative ideas saved the planet from itself at a time of need. Real, sound solutions that forever solved and satiated the problems of global warming.

Invited as the main guest on Centuries, one of the most popular TV shows on Earth, the ecopol answers some of the toughest questions regarding the survival of our planet. He addresses the concerns of pollution, the plummet in energy supplies, cutting edge eco-technology, the relationship between population and environment, renewable energy, city planning and the doom our species faced at the beginning of the 21st century and how we avoided it.

Welcome to Centuries.

| Amazon |

*Received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks, Michele!

My Thoughts
I think When Gold was Black is one of those stories that everyone should read at least once in their lives and then truly take a moment to think about what it means for us and the future of our world. It may be a short story but that doesn't mean it doesn't pack a punch.

I don't often read much in the sci-fi genre but a story by Michele is a must-read and Amitrani always writes about such interesting characters and subjects, things I don't read about as often as I should.

Overall, I enjoyed When Gold was Black a lot. It's a thought-provoking story and I always love Amitrani's take on what the future might be like.

About the Author

Michele Amitrani is a young self-published author living in beautiful British Columbia. He has grown up writing of falling empires, space battles, mortal betrayals, monumental decisions and everything in between.
He now spends his days traveling through time and space and, more often than not, writing about impossible but necessary worlds.
Omnilogos is Michele’s debut novel and the prologue of an action packed Sci-Fi saga drenched with what some has called the sense of awe typical of Asimov’s Foundation series.
His previous Sci-Fi short story, ‘When Gold was Black’, has been praised as ‘powerful’, ‘intense and inspiring’, ‘really well-written’, and ‘original’.
When Michele is not busy chasing dragons or mastering the Force, you can find him at MicheleAmitrani.com or hanging out on Facebook at /MicheleAmitraniAuthor.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Blog Tour: Dream of Me by A. Star (Review + INT Giveaway)

Title: Dream of Me (The Djinn Order, #2)

Author: A. Star
Published: January 19th 2016
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:

Glory St. Pierre never thought so many lies could hold so much truth, especially when her entire life has been one of those lies. Now that she knows who she really is, she must find a way to come to terms with it before the Djinn sorcerer Rasputin and his steel army descend down upon the human and Djinn realms, wielding magic so dark even her own Djinn lover, Irving, is wary of it.

Their only hope to save the realms are a couple of hunters and the Lords of the Djinn Order, four powerful Djinn who have remained elusive for centuries. Armed with her only granted wish, a fabulous airship, and the Djinn she loves by her side, Glory will embark on a quest to find the four lords and enlist their help. But there is a reason the lords have been in hiding, and once this tiny band of adventurers awakens them from their slumber, they will set off a chain of events that has been in the making since the beginning of time.

There is no turning back now.

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo |

Wish For Me is on sale the week of the tour so hurry and grab a copy!

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Thanks to A. Star and Xpresso Book Tours for letting me be a part of the tour!

My Thoughts

Dream of Me was my first read of 2016 and it did not disappoint, although there were parts of the book that frustrated me.

I had a hard time liking Glory in this book. In Wish For Me she was a kick-ass chick but in this she drove me quite insane. She'd do something dumb telling herself she knew just how wrong it was but would do it anyways, and then turned right around, and would admit that she should have never done what she just did in the previous chapter. I can understand the occasional screw-up but it felt never-ending this time around. I was also bothered by how Glory and Irving's relationship seemed to blow up so often, they were very back and forth with each other.

Now, having said all that I did enjoy Dream of Me. I adore A. Star's books, and they are pretty fast reads. I loved the steampunk creations, and Irving's airship (so awesome), and Qazi the pilot was a fun new addition to the story. It's hard to say a lot about the story itself without giving anything away but it's like nothing else I've read.

Overall, Dream of Me was a great read. A little frustrating for me (I have a hard time liking female MCs sometimes) but a fun read. It has plenty of adventure, and romance, there's even an Irving chapter too (I love male POV), and the ending was pretty bad-ass. So, if you're a fan of fantasy and romance I definitely recommend this series for you.

About the Author

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She loves to read it, and she damn sure loves to write it. She is the author of the Mythos: Gods & Lovers series and the Djinn Order series. She is a night-owl and a coffee junkie, and the only sneaker she would be caught dead wearing are Converses.

–A British Bookworm’s Blog

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Sunday, November 8, 2015

Review: Omnilogos - Extended Edition (The Omnilogos Series, #1) by Michele Amitrani

Title: Omnilogos - Extended Edition (The Omnilogos Series, #1)

Author: Michele Amitrani
Published: October 2015 by Michele Amitrani
Genre: Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:

“I am a collector of hopes and peregrine truths, a shepherd of thoughts, ideas, projects and dreams too important not to be realized. I’m an abstract concept
that has no body, no smell, no boundaries, no shape and no color.
I am the Omnilogos.”

So it is forged, a Science Fiction saga that gave birth to a legend, a tale about
the life of a man with one project that will change mankind’s future forever.
Ten stories about his life, his sorrow, and his quest to gather the resources
and the people needed to claim our place among the stars.

This is Wei’s story.

This is the world of the Omnilogos.

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo |

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Michele!

*This edition has a new cover and it's just as wicked as the original!*

I originally read Omnilogos back in February so this is my second time reading thanks to Michele's kind offer to let me review the extended edition. This review is kind of a mashup of my original and what I thought after rereading.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed Omnilogos more the second time around. I think having read it before I was better prepared to keep up with the different characters and stories and especially for Wei's quirks but it will always be one of those books that you have to read for yourself to begin to understand what it's about.

Wei Wang is the Omnilogos.

"Tiago had heard of what some called the 'human database' or 'omnilogos', but nothing could have prepared him for this."

"I am a collector of hopes and peregrine truths, a shepherd of thoughts, ideas, projects and dreams too important not to be realized. I'm an abstract concept that has no body, no smell, no boundaries, no shape and no color. I am the Omnilogos."

It's hard to say much without giving the book away but it is a short and original read. Amitrani's writing is lovely, the technical parts sometimes made the story lag for me but it didn't take away from just how brilliant a story Omnilogos is. The surprise ending was also easier to take this time and I understand the importance of it.

Overall, I've come to love Omnilogos and Wei even more. There's still a smidgen of romance and a lot of heart and of course is a perfect read for sci-fi fans.

About the Author

Michele Amitrani is a young self-published author living in beautiful British Columbia. He has grown up writing of falling empires, space battles, mortal betrayals, monumental decisions and everything in between.

He now spends his days traveling through time and space and, more often than not, writing about impossible but necessary worlds.

Omnilogos is Michele’s debut novel and the prologue of an action packed Sci-Fi saga drenched with what some has called the sense of awe typical of Asimov’s Foundation series.

His previous Sci-Fi short story, ‘When Gold was Black’, has been praised as ‘powerful’, ‘intense and inspiring’, ‘really well-written’, and ‘original’.

When Michele is not busy chasing dragons or mastering the Force, you can find him at MicheleAmitrani.com or hanging out on Facebook at /MicheleAmitraniAuthor.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

ARC Review: The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Title: The Girl from the Well (The Girl from the Well, #1)
Author: Rin Chupeco
Published: April 5th 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
I am where dead children go.

Okiku is a lonely soul. She has wandered the world for centuries, freeing the spirits of the murdered-dead. Once a victim herself, she now takes the lives of killers with the vengeance they're due. But releasing innocent ghosts from their ethereal tethers does not bring Okiku peace. Still she drifts on.

Such is her existence, until she meets Tark. Evil writhes beneath the moody teen's skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. While his neighbors fear him, Okiku knows the boy is not a monster. Tark needs to be freed from the malevolence that clings to him. There's just one problem: if the demon dies, so does its host.

My Thoughts

Recently I've developed a love for Asian horror stories and movies. So when I found The Girl from the Well on NetGalley which is based on the Japanese ghost legend of Okiku I was very happy.

The legend varies a bit but in each version poor Okiku ends up dead in a well, having been murdered. The Girl from the Well takes place over 300 years after her death as she roams around the world killing those that have taken the lives of children and boy is it gruesome when she gets to work. Even with those scenes you can't help but come to love Okiku and understand how her spirit could end up that way and after she finds Tarquin you get to see the other side of her, more of what her human side was.

Overall, I really loved The Girl from the Well. It was both scary and beautiful and part of the book was spent in Japan which was interesting. Chupeco's writing kept me glued to my e-reader and I'm excited to find out what happens in the next book. So if you enjoy a creepy ghost story or legend then you should check this one out!

About the Author

Despite uncanny resemblances to Japanese revenants, Rin Chupeco has always maintained her sense of humor. Raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. She's been a technical writer and travel blogger, but now makes things up for a living.

| Website | Goodreads | Twitter |

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Review: Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles by Daniel Beazley

Title: Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles (The Sepherene Chronicles, #1-4)

Author: Daniel Beazley
Published: August 9th 2015 by Daniel Beazley
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Religious, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
In a time where religion has become no more than a convenient commodity and angels bask within their god-like existence upon the mortal planes, can Sepherene the fallen angel find the path to redemption and at what cost? She has chosen Lucius to journey with her but his past is hidden beneath a dark shroud and he carries troubles of his own. As he is drawn deeper into an ancient struggle between good and evil, will he be able to stay upon the right path or will darkness obscure the way?

The Sepherene Chronicles tell a tale of unity and righteous endeavour where the line between good and evil becomes ever more blurred. As humankind reaches out into the far corners of the universe and colonises extraordinary worlds along the way, the struggle for hope continues against overwhelming odds. With adversity lurking in every shadow, will the bond between man and angel provide the only path to survival?

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Daniel!

My Thoughts

I read the first part of The Sepherene Chronicles back in January and was blown away by Beazley's take on fallen angels. I have a hard time finding angel stories that I enjoy and these are the best that I have found. There's action and adventure, mystery and a cool futuristic setting.

There are also so many great characters besides Lucius and Sepherene including smugglers Iolaus, Shon and Cal who help them out quite a bit. Who doesn't love pirates, am I right? I especially loved the variety when it came to the fallen. We learned each one's unique history, no matter how small their part in the story.

Beazley's writing is beautiful and the descriptions of his future grand and truly creative. The fight scenes are absolutely epic with heads rolling and quite a bit of blood spilled.

Overall, Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles is a pretty serious story with wonderful characters and is a must-read for any sci-fi fan.

Favorite Quote
"The man's indifference had lit an anger within Lucius that he'd never been able to extinguish. As he got older, even the hard spirits and powdered spice hadn't managed to dampen the burn. His torment had always remained, even when the effects of the drug-induced oblivion wore off."

About the Author

Daniel Beazley was born and raised in the South West of England. He began writing in 1996 whilst spending some time in the sunny climes of Sicily. This continued periodically whilst working in the Army and then the Police; living in various parts of the country as well as overseas.

Daniel now lives with his family in the rural countryside of Devon.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Review: Sora's Quest by T.L. Shreffler

Title: Sora's Quest (The Cat's Eye Chronicles, #1)
Author: T.L. Shreffler
Published: April 18th 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
Sora Fallcrest always dreamed of adventure, but as a member of the nobility, she learned the ways of a Lady instead. Now seventeen, she is expected to choose a husband and marry. She plots to run away, but just as she is stepping out the door, she runs into a mysterious man--and is kidnapped.

Abducted from her manor, Sora is plunged into a world of magical races, arcane jewelry and forgotten lore. She finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous assassin, haunted by an even darker past. She yearns for freedom, but he won't let her go--not when her Cat's Eye necklace is the only thing that can save his life.

But the necklace itself presents a problem. It is an ancient device from the long forgotten War of the Races, and its magic has the ability to steal souls. Can Sora learn to wield its power -- or will the power wield her?

Check out the official site for the The Cat's Eye Chronicles where you can find all kinds of info about the books and characters, you can take the quiz to find out which race you are (I'm a Harpy) and there are tons of other awesome things to discover.

My Thoughts

I have to start off by saying that I had absolutely no clue that I would love this book so much and it's permanently free guys so go grab yourself a copy...like now.

So, I've recently become obsessed with anything and everything fantasy and I just happened to come across Sora's Quest on Goodreads. The synopsis sounded amazing, with a fresh idea and I was hoping for a strong and smart heroine. It's been a long time since I've found such a great MC.

Sora is turning seventeen, she's bored by her life and dreams of adventure and finding her long-lost mother. She gets her wish within the first couple chapters when she's kidnapped at her birthday ceremony. In taking her, Sora's captor pulls her into his mess...he's on the run from the Wulven mage, Volcrian (pretty bad-ass name, right?). Her captor is Crash the assassin who is so hard to figure out sometimes and I am dying to know more of his backstory. We also have mercenaries, Dorian and Burn, nice guy Wulvens who travel with Crash.

It's hard to tell much of the story without giving something away but there is so much to Sora's Quest. It has an original world with different races of creatures, magic, mystery, a dash of romance, a surprising amount of blood and gory moments (which I must admit was pretty awesome) and new book boyfriends of course.

Overall, I think Sora's Quest is a must-read for fantasy fans. With kick-ass characters and tons of twists and turns you won't be disappointed.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Kobo

Favorite Quote

"Each constellation had a history, a piece of lore. If one listened closely, the stars would share their stories, telling of years long past, of places long lost to the world, of secrets long forgotten by man."

About the Author

T. L. Shreffler lives in Los Angeles, CA. She loves diversity, fantasy, romance, iced tea, long walks, philosophy, and thrift store shopping. She recently graduated with a BA in Badass (Creative Writing) and her poetry has been published consecutively in Eclipse: A Literary Journal and The Northridge Review. She is author of The Cat's Eye Chronicles(YA/Epic Fantasy) and The Wolves of Black River (PN Romance.)

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Monday, February 2, 2015

Review: Eventide by Daniel Beazley

Title: Eventide (The Sepherene Chronicles, #1)

Author: Daniel Beazley
Published: November 1st 2014 by Daniel Beazley
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Religious, Adult/Young Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
Held within the soft embrace of semi-consciousness upon a strange world, Lucius can barely hear the argument that rages over his fate. Little does he know they're the voices of angels and that he is about to be pulled into an ancient struggle of epic proportions where more than his own destiny will hang in the balance.
In a time where religion has become no more than a convenient commodity and fallen angels bask within their god-like existence upon the mortal planes, can Lucius find the courage and will to see him through the trials that have now been laid before him? And will his newfound companion always be there to shine her light along the way?
Eventide is the first instalment in The Sepherene Chronicles, a tale of unity and righteous endeavour where adversity lurks in every shadow and the line between good and evil becomes ever more blurred.

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Daniel!

My Thoughts
Usually I don't have much luck with angel books besides Thomas E. Sniegoski's The Fallen novels and Lauren Kate's Fallen novels. Eventide is now the best angel story I've ever read. It mixes fantasy and sci-fi together to create a new and fantastic setting.
Lucius Gavalas has an angel inside of him, Sepherene, who is out to put an end to other fallen angels believing that she will be accepted back if she succeeds. Lucius is the poor soul who ends up having his body used as Sepherene fights the fallen and he has the scars to prove it. We don't learn a lot about him in this book but what we do is that he's a haunted man and he's fought addiction, using to dull the pain of his past.
I really enjoyed Eventide. This is the first story I've read from Beazley and it won't be the last. The writing is smooth and the action scenes wonderfully detailed. This is a short read and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger but I wasn't upset by that, it worked with what was happening.
So, if you're into sci-fi, fantasy or a good angel story this is the book for you.

Favorite Quote
"The man's indifference had lit an anger within Lucius that he'd never been able to extinguish. As he got older, even the hard spirits and powdered spice hadn't managed to dampen the burn. His torment had always remained, even when the effects of the drug-induced oblivion wore off."

About the Author

Daniel now lives with his family in the rural countryside of Devon.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Review: Bloodrush by Ben Galley

Title: Bloodrush (The Scarlet Star Trilogy, #1)

Author: Ben Galley
Published: December 16th 2014 by BenGalley.com
Genre: Fantasy, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
“Magick ain’t pretty, it ain’t stars and sparkles. Magick is dirty. It’s rough. Raw. It’s blood and guts and vomit. You hear me?”

When Prime Lord Hark is found in a pool of his own blood on the steps of his halls, Tonmerion Hark finds his world not only turned upside down, but inside out. His father's last will and testament forces him west across the Iron Ocean, to the very brink of the Endless Land and all civilisation. They call it Wyoming.

This is a story of murder and family.

In the dusty frontier town of Fell Falls, there is no silverware, no servants, no plush velvet nor towering spires. Only dust, danger, and the railway. Tonmerion has only one friend to help him escape the torturous heat and unravel his father’s murder. A faerie named Rhin. A twelve-inch tall outcast of his own kind.

This is a story of blood and magick.

But there are darker things at work in Fell Falls, and not just the railwraiths or the savages. Secrets lurk in Tonmerion's bloodline. Secrets that will redefine this young Hark.

This is a story of the edge of the world.

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo |

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Ben!

My Thoughts
I have to start off by saying that Bloodrush has one of the most original storylines that I have ever read.

"Welcome to the wild west, he thought. Last stop before Hell."

The story follows thirteen year-old Tonmerion Hark, Merion for short. The story begins in London, where we learn Merion's father has been murdered and Merion's life is again turned upside down as he learns he's to be sent to America to live with his aunt until he's old enough to take over his father's estate. Tonmerion and his friend Rhin the faerie soon make their way across the Iron Ocean to Fell Falls, Wyoming. The frontier town is a drastic change to what Merion is used to and he isn't a bit happy to be there or with his Aunt Lilain, the local undertaker. We also meet Lurker the prospector and his magpie Jake.

I don't want to give the entire story away but I just have to mention the rushing. Merion learns he's a Bloodrusher as his father was which means he has the ability to drink blood from an animal or creature and take on some of the abilities from them. It was amazing how many kinds of shades there were to learn of and as I said I don't think I've ever heard of a story like that.

I also love that it has a western setting, I don't read westerns so this was a nice compromise. It's a great new setting for me and the railwraith creatures were scary fun and the Shohari were an interesting lot.

Overall, I loved everything about this book. Sometimes I wanted to thump Merion for the things he did but you can't help but love him and I really want to see Lurker and Lilain get together! I would recommend Bloodrush to anyone who loves amazing characters (Lurker was my favorite), magick, and some mystery thrown in.

Favorite Quotes
"Hearts are treacherous things. At times they can beat so proudly it feels as though they will burst from your rib cage at any moment. They can drum a tune to run to, or fight to, or love to. But they are not to be trusted, for every heart will skip or slump, sickeningly so, and always when you need it not to."

"It was his first acceptance of failure, of frailty and the inexorable. He hated himself in that moment. But hate can make men, and thirteen-year-old boys, do marvellous things."

About the Author

Ben Galley is a best-selling purveyor of tall tales and dark fantasy from the UK. He is the author behind the gritty and epic Emaneska Series, as well as the upcoming western fantasy series, the Scarlet Star Trilogy.

Aside from writing and dreaming up lies to tell his readers, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant and Guardian Masterclass tutor, helping fellow authors from all over the world to publish and sell books. His guide Shelf Help will tell you all you need to know about DIY self-publishing.

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