Book Review: Blink by Rick R. Reed

Title:  Blink

Series: N/A

Author: Rick R. Reed

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: January 23, 2015

Heat Level: 3/5

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 200 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24672251-blink

Synopsis:

Life can change in the blink of an eye. That's a truth Andy Slater learns as a young man in 1982, taking the Chicago 'L' to work every morning. Andy's life is laid out before him: a good job, marriage to his female college sweetheart, and the white picket fence existence he believes in. But when he sees Carlos Castillo for the first time, Carlos's dark eyes and Latin appeal mesmerize him. Fate continues to throw them together until the two finally agree to meet up. At Andy's apartment, the pent-up passion of both young men is ignited but is snuffed out by an inopportune and poorly-timed phone call.

Flash forward to present day. Andy is alone, having married, divorced, and become the father of a gay son. He's comfortable but alone and has never forgotten the powerful pull of Carlos's gaze on the 'L' train. He vows to find him once more, hoping for a second chance. If life can change in the blink of an eye, what will the passage of thirty years do? To find out, Andy begins a search that might lead to heartache and disappointment or a love that will last forever...

My Review:

This is the second Rick R. Reed book I've read this year, and the consistency continues! There's one thing that threads the two together, and I suspect would be a common element throughout all of Mr. Reed's thirty different novels. I have already selected a handful of them on Goodreads to the 'to read' category, and as much as Reed excels in the Contemporary M/M Romance category, I suspect his horror novels are equally as well written.

Here's the thing: Reed's books aren't what I would call fluffy. And fluffy is not bad - I like fluffy - those books where you settle in comfortably, the read is easy, and the story is sweet (even if there are obstacles to overcome by the main characters). That's not these novels. Reed makes you ponder about the tales he tells. He makes you struggle along with the main characters. He has a unique ability to get the reader deep into the mind space of the story he's weaving.

Let me explain.

In this tale, Andy struggles as a young man with his sexuality, and a chance encounter on the subway leads to a one night encounter. The strife experienced by Andy was tangible. I could relate. I have been there. I'm attracted to men...what does that mean...what about my plans for a family...everyone will hate me...I can't do this...but I can't NOT do it. Andy's struggles at the beginning of this book took me back to my early twenties when I was experiencing the exact same thing.

And then, as we bounce back and forth between the perspectives of Andy and Carlos, we get to see and experience how each of the people involved in this brief encounter views the one-night-stand, and how it shapes them.

Have you ever had that experience in your life? That moment that defined a part of you? A moment in time that burned a memory so deep into you that it formed a part of who you are? That tiny moment, a blink in your existence surely, but an occurrence so important that it framed who you were going to grow into? That is this book. It's the exploration of that moment for Andy and how he carried the one night encounter all throughout his adulthood until he was finally able to accept his sexuality.

And then we see that encounter from Carlos's eyes.  In the end, for him, as much as he felt sorry for Andy, it didn't have the same impact. Stunning revelation. What triggers one person to become someone new or different, or embeds a lasting memory, is a passing moment in time for another.

I'm sure we all 'know' that's true, but this story paints it out in bright vivid colours.

It's also a romance about second chances. So those who are looking for that kind of story - this is for you.

I think I have to make more room for Mr. Reed's novels in my library.  They are definitely memorable. Once again, the #ownvoices shines through. Those who live the lives and experiences have a certain knack, a magic, and the knowledge for retelling life's journeys. They make new stories that will resonate with every one of us who have experienced something similar.

Rating:

Available At:

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Kobo

Meet the Author:

Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. Rick is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 50 works of published fiction and has been recognized by Lambda Literary as "a writer that doesn't disappoint." Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his beloved husband and their Boston terrier.

Catch up with Rick Reed here...

Website | Twitter | Amazon Page | Goodreads

Short Review: Paint by E.M. Hamill

Title:  Paint

Series: ---

Author: E.M. Hamill

Publisher:  Star Bard Books

Release Date: November 04, 2018

Heat Level: 2 - just a quick taste

Pairing: M/M

Length: 7 pages
Genre: Paranormal

Tags: Dark, Paranormal, Gay, Urban Fantasy

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42953523-paint

Synopsis:

A broken heart leads to sensual, dark magic. A fantasy short

My Review:

I love E.M. Hamill's writing. She's one of the few authors I've come across in the last couple of years that captures me with her tales effortlessly. So, it's no surprise that I love everything she pens. This quick little tale is no different.

Paint, is a short yarn, something that could easily be read on a ten-minute coffee break. But don't let that deter you. Once again Hamill has managed to weave a beautiful tapestry, twisted, dark and most assuredly a walk into the deepest shadow.

Imagine a lover who's jealousy is so profound they take the "If I can't have you, neither can anyone else," to its extreme.

Immerse yourself in the feeling of being trapped forever, and surrounded by others who were also once lovers of a supernaturally talented artist. Confined and locked in a permanent state of bloody, exquisite torment.

Honestly, this is short to the extreme. But if you let your mind wander deep into a state of empathy for the lovers who once were, the full ramifications of this heinous tale linger with you for a long time.

Well done, Hamill. 

Rating:

Available At:

Amazon 

Meet The Author:

E.M. (Elisabeth) Hamill writes adult science fiction and fantasy somewhere in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas. A nurse by day, wordsmith by night, she is happy to give her geeky imagination free reign and has sworn never to grow up and get boring.

Frequently under the influence of caffeinated beverages, she also writes as Elisabeth Hamill for young adult readers in fantasy with the award-winning Songmaker series.

She lives in eastern Kansas with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

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Book Review: Vice Enforcer by S.A. Stovall

Title:  Vice Enforcer

Series: Vice City #2

Author: S.A. Stovall

Publisher:  DSP Publications

Release Date: April 03, 2018

Heat Level: 3 - a romping good time

Pairing: M/M

Length: 250 pages
Genre: Mystery & Detective, Thrillers

Tags: Mob Crime, Private Investigator, Cops, Detective

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37796640-vice-enforcer

Synopsis:

Holding on to a life worth living can be hard when the nightmares of the past come knocking.

Eight months ago, Nicholas Pierce, ex-mob enforcer, faked his death and assumed a new identity to escape sadistic mob boss Jeremy Vice. With no contacts outside the underworld, Pierce finds work with a washed-up PI. It's an easy enough gig - until investigating a human trafficking ring drags him back to his old stomping grounds.

Miles Devonport, Pierce's partner, is top of his class at the police academy while single-handedly holding his family together. But when one lieutenant questions Pierce's past and his involvement in the investigation, Miles must put his future on the line to keep Pierce's secrets.

The situation becomes dire when it's discovered the traffickers have connections to the Vice family. The lives of everyone Pierce cares about are in danger - not least of all his own if Jeremy Vice learns he's back from the dead. Pierce and Miles face a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels - one that will gladly destroy them to keep operating. As Pierce uses every dirty trick he learned from organized crime to protect the new life he's building, he realizes that no matter how hard he tries, he might never escape his past.

But he's not going down without a fight.

My Review:

Back in 2017, I had a chance to read Vice City, which is the first book in this series. You can see what I said here. Not an elaborate breakdown for sure, but it didn't matter. I had read that book in a few short days and was instantly hooked with the gritty and dark underground of Stovall's crime-ridden, mob family novel.

I'm not a detective fiction kind of guy, but the main character, Pierce, just seemed to latch onto me - and the fact that a mob enforcer was also gay? Here...take my money.

And now we have book two! Stovall does a fantastic job creating her crime underworld - complete with bad neighborhoods, rotten cops, even more, rotten criminals, and derelict cityscapes. Pierce, once a brutal enforcer for a violent mob family, is now trying to make it 'straight' by becoming a Private Investigator. He clings onto the scraps of what's left of his human decency, an honor code if you will, of his own making, that served him well in book one, and also in book two. However, in this new installment, Pierce begins to grow as a respectable human being by questioning his past, what it means for him now, how that might influence his future. Most notably, Pierce constantly judges his relationship with his boyfriend Miles and the possible ramifications of his sordid past sullying Miles potential career as a cop.

But Miles is the glue. He holds everything together, confident and yet, still young and learning how to spread his own wings and be his own person. Miles is the 'don't worry, everything will be okay' kind of guy, and he's fiercely loyal. Pierce is trying so hard to be 'the good guy', but inevitably falling short. There are a few times throughout the story where his self deprecating evaluation of his abilities and worth gets to be a bit much - but then, it truly makes you feel for the guy. And that's commendable. After all - how do actually feel bad for someone whose special skill was back alley assassinations and sharp shooting gun fights? 

And yet, here I am, rooting for Pierce, the once bad guy now turned sort-of good guy, the gay anti-hero, an ex-mob enforcer who loves his guy and will sacrifice himself to ensure a better life for his better half.

And then there's the whole human trafficking thing woven through this tale too! Honestly, Stovall did such a good job of making this seem as dirty and creepy and utterly disgusting as it really is...and makes me wonder - how DO you do research for that kind of story-telling? How do you become an expert in that? 

This is not a warm and fuzzy read. This is gritty, dark, and violent (even the sex between Pierce and Miles is rough). But WOW, what a ride, and what a story.

Pick this up, and its predecessor. You won't be disappointed. Promise.

Rating:

Available At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet The Author:

S.A. Stovall grew up in California's central valley with a single mother and a little brother. Despite no one in her family having a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.

As a child, Stovall's favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before - and it was the moment Stovall realized that storytelling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game, or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world, and she hopes you enjoy.

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Book Review: Undertow by Brooklyn Ray

Title:  Undertow

Series: Port Lewis Witches, #2

Author: Brooklyn Ray

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: September 10, 2018

Heat Level: 4- A good amount of sex

Pairing: M/M

Length: 58000
Genre: Paranormal

Tags: Witches, Dark, Paranormal, Transgender

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38102484-undertow

Synopsis:

Port Lewis, a coastal town perched on the Washington cliffs, is home to Crescent Cafe, a slew of micro-breweries, a downtown packed with antique boutiques, and violent, ancient sotrms.  Thunder shakes roogtops and lightning cuts through dark skies, but Liam Montgomery has never been afraid.

Until now.

One night, Liam hears the scream of a kelpie, a Water horse whose cry foretells the beginning of a prophecy. Kelpies have not set foot on shore for decades, but as Liam digs into his magic and his family's history, he uncovers a mysterious secret that could ripple into the lives of everyone around him.

Liam's tea-leaves spell out murder. The life of someone he loves is on the line. An unwelcome kelpie speaks in riddles. The Queen of Water demands a sacrifice.

The Montgomery name is soaked in blood and secrets. Liam's fate is sealed, but he'll do whatever it takes to change it - even if it risks his circle, his magic, and his life.

My Review:

Hold on kids, this is darkness at it's best.

I HAVE to APOLOGIZE - this review was supposed to go out in September - but you know what life is like sometimes. So...yeah, there it is. My deepest apologies to Brooklyn Ray.

Now, no secret - I have a twisted dark side. I suspect Brooklyn Ray has a similar shadowy self that they dwell within while writing the Port Lewis witch series.  Unbroken, the third in the series, and Predatory, the fourth, are both set to be released in 2019 - AND I WILL BE BUYING THEM.

Holy Hot Damn on a Cracker Batman. 

Fair warning, these short novels are intense, hot, steamy, and dark. If you have any issues with blood-letting or questionable gray magic, these stories are not for you. But, if you desire to experience some intense sex scenes, dive deep into the wetness of water magic, to search your shadow side and siphon energy from others, get this book. Get it now.

In the first novel, Darkling (see my review here), we were introduced to Ryder, who is an elemental fire witch, but also a necromancer - a powerful combination. Ryder is also transgender. In this novel, we get to see Liam, Ryder's boyfriend, as he grapples with looming, and grim prophecies of a catastrophic event that is about to unfurl - like the tentacles of an angry octopus.

One of the biggest draws for me in this story is the take on the Kelpie, a water fae that is a shapeshifter, a trickster, dangerous (like most fae), and usually takes the form of a horse with a fishtail.

(Kelpie by Krizdole was taken from the website: https://wendyjargonncom.blogspot.com/2013/03/kelpie-celtic-water-horse.html)

I think most of us have read tales about werewolves, vampires, unicorns - you know, the usual urban fantasy fare. But here, Ray takes us into the lesser known realm of the fae, and I loved it.

Ray is able to weave words together in such a way...it envelopes the reader. I feel as if the spells cast in the book are happening besides me, and I can see the wispy trails of magic swirling around my feet, spiraling up, wrapping and gripping a stranglehold on me. Her stories are like that too. Unapologetically, the sentences act just like the magic spell. They grab you, and drag you through the story, experiencing the tale through comparisons and clever wordplay that I've not seen done by any other author.

I ate this book in a couple of sittings, and the entire time I read it, I felt damp, and cold, and could smell the salt breeze, and hear the ocean waves as they roared with ferocity. So far, this is a brilliant series and one I will always suggest to those who enjoy wallowing in the not-so-light-and-fairy-twinkle-lights of most paranormal/urban fantasy books.

This is gloomy and dark. Unsettling and morally gray.

Get it. Read it.

You will not be disappointed.

Rating:

Available At:

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet The Author:

Brooklyn Ray is a tea connoisseur and an occult junkie. She writes queer speculative fiction layered with magic, rituals and found families.

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Book Review: The Fox, the Dog, and the King by Matt Doyle

Title:  The Fox, the Dog, and the King

Series: The Cassie Tam Files #2

Author: Matt Doyle

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: July 23, 2018

Heat Level: 1- No sex

Pairing: No Romance

Length: 58000

Genre: Science Fiction, Futuristic, Lesbian, Private Detective, Sci-Fi

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40719106-the-fox-the-dog-and-the-king

Synopsis:

New Hopeland City may have been built to be the centerpiece of the technological age, but some remnants of the old world still linger. The tools of the trade have changed, but the corruption remains the same, even in the criminal underworld …

When PI Cassie Tam and her girlfriend Lori try to make up for their recent busy schedules with a night out at the theatre to watch the Tech Shift performer Kitsune, the last thing they expected was for Cassie to get a job offer. But some people are never off the clock, and by the end of the evening, Cassie has been drawn into a mundane but highly paid missing pet case. Unfortunately, in New Hopeland City, even something as simple as a little lost dog can lead you down some dark paths.

Until now, Cassie wasn’t aware that there even was a rabbit hole, let alone how far down it goes.

My Review:

Cassie Tam is a perpetually grumpy, stubborn, slightly ornery PI, and her gruff nature has once again shone through in the second Cassie Tam book, The Fox, the Dog, and the King. She reminds me of the loveable curmudgeon from Pixar's movie "Up" - you know the type - cane-wielding, arm shaking, "You kids get off my lawn," yelling senior citizen - this to me sums up Cassie perfectly. But in this sequel to Addict, we get to see a bit of a softer side as Cassie's relationship with Lori - the Tech Shifter from the first book starts to develop.

Now having said that, the relationship is not the point of the novel, more of a side arc. The mystery is the tracking down of a Japanese Anime inspired Performance Artist named Kitsune, who is convinced that their dog has been abducted.

As Cassie traces down her leads, she soon realizes that the large number of dog-nappings that have occurred lately throughout New Hopeland is only the proverbial 'tip of the iceberg'. After uncovering a dog-fighting ring, Cassie discovers a much deeper revelation.

Now that you're sitting on the edge of your seat, I couldn't possibly reveal that - you'll have to read the book yourself!

What I will say is this: The plot is clever. Although mysteries are not my usual fare, there was some careful story weaving in order to convey this tale. And what's the one thing I always say?  "Give me a clever story." So, to that end, I say, well done Mr. Doyle! The intricacies and detail, and once again the attention to the tech detail were incredible. The back of the book even contains an "Owner's Manual" for the Tech Shifting suits. Fantastic!

Pet Owners and Animal Lovers beware! I have to say, I'm fairly dark and twisted, and I can subject myself to a rather wide range of topics and not have it linger within my soul. This story did though...one scene, in particular, took me out of reality and placed me right in the ring...the dogfighting ring. That bothered me, a lot. As a dog owner, this scene rattled my bones and disturbed me because I was able to easily place my little chihuahuas in place of Fish - the abducted dog. I know my sweet little pups wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds in that environment, and that violent imagery left me haunted. Now, some of you may be thinking how terrible that was, and you'd be right, it wasn't pleasant. BUT, and this is a monumental BUT - the author was able to create several pages of detail that made me remove myself from reality - step into their world - and live it so deeply that it made me have emotions outside of their world.

And that, my reading friends, is called true storytelling, and I wish every book I picked up would transport me like this moment did. 

Well done. Very well done. Bring on Cassie Tam #3 - which I understand has been completed...and so we wait. What trouble will the PI who can straddle both worlds of Light and Dark get herself into next?

Rating:

Available At:

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet The Author:

Matt Doyle lives in the South East of England and shares his home with a wide variety of people and animals, as well as a fine selection of teas. He has spent his life chasing dreams, a habit which has seen him gain success in a great number of fields. To date, this has included spending ten years as a professional wrestler, completing a range of cosplay projects, and publishing multiple works of fiction.

These days, Matt can be found working on far too many novels at once, blogging about anime, comics, and games, and plotting and planning what other things he’ll be doing to take up what little free time he has.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | eMail

My Love of Demons

This is going to sound so silly, but from a Twitter pitch to today, if you had asked me two years ago where my life would be with my writing, I certainly wouldn’t have said it was being a published author with NineStar Press (See my author page here!).

January 13, 2017, the email arrived. “We are pleased to offer you…” Well, let me assure you there was much schoolgirl screaming and jumping up and down from a bearish two hundred pound (don’t judge) gay guy. And yes, I was at my day job. And yes, they think I’m crazier now than before. But it’s all good.

Who would have thought that anyone, anywhere, would have enjoyed my rampaging demons? Not everyone appreciates apocalyptic mean-spirited, violent creatures. I mean, sure, I do…and yes my cubicle at work has a magnet that says “I don’t wrestle with my demons, I whisper sweet nothings to them.”

Turns out NineStar loved them as much as I do!

So then fast forward through several months of editing (and more editing, and then some more… and then wait, yes, one more time), the creation of cover art (and can I say, WOW), here I sit, a little over a year since my debut novel Daimonion: Book One of the Apocalypse was released. And then…this past July, Magic or Die (Inner Demons #1) was also released, and that too has some nasty demons residing within the characters of that story.

(Books Available Here)

I have been asked, “Where does your love for demons come from?”

Oh, say, that’s a tricky question. Do I really love my demons? No. I don’t actually. They terrify the living bejesus out of me.

When I wrote Daimonion I deleted probably more than I kept. Some of the blood splatter and terribly nasty words, and actions just seemed to be too over the top. I pulled back. I put a filter on it. And I’m sure glad I did because reviews that have come in for Daimonion have expounded on the brutality and darkness in that world. And that makes me really happy because that’s exactly what I wanted. Demons are vicious. They are more than mean; they are the epitome of hedonistic delights. If it feels good, do it, and be damned the consequences or lives that are destroyed along the way.

They are every violent thought you’ve ever had acted out. They are the darkness within our souls personified.

Let’s face it – despite how cheery and sunshine filled your “Happy Good Morning, How Are You!” cubicle mate is at work, or that perky barista at the coffee shop, there’s something twisted lurking in every single one of us. There’s a great line from the Adam’s Family (1991) movie. Wednesday Adams went out trick or treating for Halloween, but she looked like she always did. So she was asked where her costume was. Her response? “I’m a homicidal maniac, they look just like everyone else.”

And therein lies the key to my demons. I want them human looking. I think the most disturbing thing in the world is for one human to hurt another, and we all do it, every day. Sometimes in little ways, sometimes in big ways. Regardless, we are the demons.

Now having said that, rampaging humans isn’t nearly as interesting as human looking demons who morph and change when they need to, and so out comes the wings, and tails, and horns, and odd colored eyes. If we’re going to make monsters out of ourselves, let’s add in a good heaping tablespoon of non-human characteristics. For me, that shift, the change from human to demon represents the body’s degradation. This is what happens when you let the monster out.

Confession: I cannot watch horror movies. I’ve tried. They give me terrible nightmares, and thank you, but I don’t need any more assistance in creating horrifying things.

And yet, here I am writing about blood thirsty vampires, horses of the apocalypse, soulless witches and succubae.

There’s something thrilling about the dark. Now I’ve met some folks who are very comfortable completely immersed into the shadows. That’s not me. The dark is scary and anxiety-ridden. But I like to sit on the periphery, and watch. Straddling the line between dark and light, you see some interesting things. The faeries dance along that line…sometimes they’ll help you, and sometimes they’ll eat you. Occasionally you’ll find a ghost passing by who’s terribly lost and looking for the right direction. And when you’re least expecting it, the head of the beast pokes out from the darkest spot in the corner of the closet.

Scares the living shit out of you.

But I find they usually just sniff around, maybe attempt a couple of licks to taste the flesh, and then they melt back into the pit.

Wasn’t that fun? Did your mind just create some horrifying beastie that might keep you up tonight? Being scared is titillating. Endorphins surge through us and make us feel alive.

So, do I love my demons? No. I have a healthy respect for them. They entertain me, and they make me feel alive. They also give me permission to lift up the rocks that are buried at the bottom of my soul and inspect the creepy things that crawl out.

Don’t get me wrong, demons are great, and they seem to lurk at the periphery of all my writing. But I won’t forget about the others. There are so many creatures running amok, and if you look closely enough, you’ll see them. That girl on the train, she’s not human. She’s a Sylph. That guy at the end of the bar who’s really shy and has been looking at his mug of beer all night? Don’t kid yourself, he’s been watching you. He’s half djinn.

There’s beauty all around us, and there’s magic too, if you know where to look for it. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the trees talking to you, and you’ll find a garden gnome who will keep the slugs off your hostas if you’ll pay him with chocolate chip cookies once a week.

Our world is two sided, for everything that is sexy gorgeous, there’s something rank and dirty. If you’re willing to dig, if you’re not afraid to find the truth, you’ll see both sides in everything.

Trust me.

It’s there.

Book Review: A Mage's Power by Casey Wolfe

Title:  A Mage's Power

Series: The Inquisition Trilogy, Book One

Author: Casey Wolfe

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: July 16, 2018

Heat Level: 2 - Fade to Black Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 70800

Genre: Paranormal, mages, witches, shifters, dark, magic

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40719062-a-mage-s-power

Synopsis

Built on the bones of an ancient city, modern-day Everstrand is where master mage, Rowan, has set up his enchantment shop. When not hanging out with his werewolf best friend, Caleb, or studying, he dabbles in herbology and the controversial practice of blood magic. A prodigy who has already earned two masters, Rowan’s bound and determined to reach the distinction of grandmaster, a mage who obtains a masters in all five Schools of Magic.

Shaw works for the Inquisition, the organization charged with policing the magical races collectively known as magicae. Recently, it has come under scrutiny as magicae begin to disappear and reports of violence increase. With secrets of his own on the line, Shaw is willing to risk everything to find out just what is going on behind all the locked doors.

When Rowan and Shaw are entangled in each other’s worlds, it becomes evident that their hearts are as much at risk as their lives. They must find the truth and stop a conspiracy before it’s too late.

My Review:

A Mage's Power is a fun, quick read with a lot going on. Rowan, the main character, is studying to become a grandmaster - a mage who holds a masters degree in all five schools of magic. There is also a dark mage running amok. Caleb, his best friend, is an incorrigible werewolf who is utterly delightful and perhaps more animal than human - I quite liked Caleb.  And then there's Shaw. A mysterious fellow, who works for the bad guys and who is not what he seems at first.

These three end up on a whirlwind adventure to stop a subversive element within the Inquisition.

The magic system in this world is well thought out, and while I found it to be fairly standard and acceptable within the parameters of most fantasy/urban fantasy novels, there were enough quirks and spins to make it interesting. Some of the best writing in the story for me were the depictions of spells, enchantments, and battles with magic. It felt like the author enjoyed writing those scenes as the imagery easily transported me away, filling my vision with swirling faeries lights, bursts of power, and wisps of odd herbological aromas. To the author, I say, "Well done!"

I was also surprised at the world building. In the first few pages of the book the story had the feel of a fantasy world something akin to Lord of the Rings, where we knew there were different species of sentient life, but every now and then Wolfe would drop the use of modern-day technology into the tale.  Use of cell phones, computers, cars, and weapons took the fantasy and overlapped it with the modern day.  So how is that different from any other urban fantasy novel? Well, I find most Urban Fantasy is very much set in the here and now. The city life that we are all well versed in is the backdrop, and slowly, elements of magic and fae are dropped into the story. A Mage's Power seemed to do the exact opposite. A fantasy world, made up and built well, with modern day elements dropped into it. I have to say, an interesting spin!

As the author takes you on the story's journey, there are breaks in the timeline which the author expects you to fill in. At times I found those leaps took me a minute to put together, and the story starts off very sweet and fantastical, but at the end, it takes a sudden and dramatic violent twist.

Now I'm not squeamish about a little blood n guts, but I was actually shocked at the sudden change. Granted, given the scenario, and the characters involved (No, I can't say much more than that, otherwise we get spoilery and I won't do that - so you'll just have to read it for yourself to understand! ;o) ), this abrupt one-eighty in the book's style and flavor was, at first, really out of place. But upon further reflection, made sense. Just fair warning for others who pick this up - expect a little of the unexpected!

One a side note - loved the individual charms - I want one! And I loved the Merfolk. I want one too.

Great tale, and I'll be picking up the next in the series when it comes out.

Rating:

Available At:

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author:

Author of gay romantic fiction, from contemporary to paranormal and everything in between.

For Casey, existence equals writing. History nerd, film enthusiast, music lover, avid gamer, and just an all-around geek. Add in an unapologetic addiction to loose-leaf tea and you get the general picture. Married, with furry four-legged children, Casey lives happily in the middle of nowhere Ohio.

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