Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

Okay so me crew raves about this author.  I haven't read any of his work.  So when I saw this book which "introduces a new universe, new armies, and new monsters," I thought I would check out his writing before I made the leap into his long and established Powder Mage series.  And I loved it.

The story follows Teado who is part of a military campaign that has been going on for generations.  Each side is always claiming victory is around the corner.  But Teado isn't buying it.  His platoon is isolated, starving, and hanging on by a thread.  So when command fails to restock provisions again, Teado's unit takes a desperate gamble for survival.

I was completely engrossed in Teado's struggle and watching the events unfold.  What is interesting about this war story is that it has an older feel to it.  The war machinery feels like something out of WWI.  There are prop planes and motorbikes and such.  But the addition is magic.  For example, Teado is a shape-shifter and can become a super-human fighting machine.  Others make illusions.  It be awesome.

The only problem with this is that it be a novella.  I didn't realize that and was startled when I ran out of book.  I want more!  The story that has been set up is fascinating and I hope we get more tales set in this universe.  In the meantime, I have some Powder Mage books to catch up on!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Merged review:

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

Okay so me crew raves about this author.  I haven't read any of his work.  So when I saw this book which "introduces a new universe, new armies, and new monsters," I thought I would check out his writing before I made the leap into his long and established Powder Mage series.  And I loved it.

The story follows Teado who is part of a military campaign that has been going on for generations.  Each side is always claiming victory is around the corner.  But Teado isn't buying it.  His platoon is isolated, starving, and hanging on by a thread.  So when command fails to restock provisions again, Teado's unit takes a desperate gamble for survival.

I was completely engrossed in Teado's struggle and watching the events unfold.  What is interesting about this war story is that it has an older feel to it.  The war machinery feels like something out of WWI.  There are prop planes and motorbikes and such.  But the addition is magic.  For example, Teado is a shape-shifter and can become a super-human fighting machine.  Others make illusions.  It be awesome.

The only problem with this is that it be a novella.  I didn't realize that and was startled when I ran out of book.  I want more!  The story that has been set up is fascinating and I hope we get more tales set in this universe.  In the meantime, I have some Powder Mage books to catch up on!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

I have been a Jane Yolen fan for eons.  So when I saw this amazingly beautiful cover, I had to know what it was about. 

This is a truly wonderful story about two young kids, who unbeknownst to each other, each catch a glimpse of a ghostly white creature in the woods.  Richard is convinced it is a unicorn.  Heather is convinced is a white deer.  Both want to tame it.  They don't count on running into each other by the crystal, shimmering pool in the forest.  Danger is lurking for the beast.  Heather and Richard slowly realize that they must work together to not only determine what the creature is but also in order to save it.

Jane Yolen is one of those magical writers whose stories are rich in imagery and defy neat categorization.  This complexly woven tale is delightful.  It doesn't necessarily feel complicated when reading it.  Younger readers will be drawn into the mystery of the creature, the evolving relationship between the two teens, and the adventure that ensues.  Older readers will love the unicorn history sprinkled in the tale, the rife symbolism, and the beautiful writing style. 

I was completely immersed in the tale and was left in a lovely state of mind pondering the outcome of the story when I finished.  I will certainly reread this in the future.

If ye want to find out what the beast in the woods turned out to be, then pick up this fantastic tale.  Arrr! 

So lastly . . .

Thank you Tachyon Publications!

Side Note: Special thanks to James DeMaiolo, Marketing and Publicity of Tachyon Publications who kindly sent me a copy of this novella when I missed the deadline for downloading it on NetGalley after I was approved.  I be forever indebted.  This story be beautiful!

Check out me other reviews on https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Update 11/27/2020 - Ambivalent? Did I really say that? I hate what I read of this and it still brings up feelings of immense frustration. I be absolutely adverse to finishing this book. The reviews only make me more disappointed at this mess. Boring pirates! Ugh.
----------------------
I am a huge fan of the author's work and so was excited for this excerpt. After reading it, I have to admit that I am ambivalent about this story. I really enjoy the three main characters. But the plot is confusing me. Multi-worlds. Weird empress. Dead worlds. A cloud that seems to control this world. I am not adverse to finishing this book to see what the payout might be. But I can't say that I be excited to do so either. I will be interested in seeing what the reviews of the full book will be. Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

Well, yet again, an interesting cover led me to take a look at this book. Gender-fluid protagonist who is bonded with a giant golden tiger? Yes, please. This book certainly was a quick read at 180 pages. I read it in one evening. It was an enjoyable read for me but not a fantastic one.

The pros:

- Gender-fluid protagonist. Hooray for diversity! Also Tashi is accepted by society and their friends. If only our world could be this way for everyone.
- The protagonist is conflicted. Tashi does cry and get confused and make uninformed decisions. I like that the main character has emotions.
- Tashi didn’t just magically become a kick-ass warrior in a second because suddenly there is war.
- Tashi’s spy training is laughable in a good way because their society has been at peace for so long that Tashi thought those studies weren’t extremely important.
- I loved the best friend Pharo. He is stubborn and rash and lovable and caring.
- Bonds with animals. Awesome of course. I loved all the unique animals that humans could bond with. I also enjoyed the consequences for possessing the animal bond. Not all fun and games but no spoilers here!

The cons:

- The protagonist is whiny. I don’t mind that Tashi cries sometimes or is scared. I did mind that they kept wanting someone else to save them. And yet they would rush into danger at the drop of a hat at other moments.
- An eventual love-triangle thing. It wasn’t instantaneous and there is a love-side and a lust-side. But why! So unnecessary.
- The politics and world-building are not really handled well. Cool concepts but not enough explanation. Plus Tashi becomes both a spy and a trusted companion in a really pathetic way.
- The plot is confusing. What plot there is seems to be driven by the love-triangle. Tashi’s lust gets in the way of rational thought. And plot points occur because they are not thinking. For example, the perspective on the lust-interest is a ‘He tortures people! He is so dreamy!’ kinda thing. Ugh.
- The ending! It was very abrupt and the protagonist makes a really dumb choice. Going from one extreme to another with no real thought. It is kinda explained but is a rather flimsy excuse for me taste.

I would have liked Tashi to use intelligence and wits to overcome their fear and uncertainty. I would have loved Tashi to have become an awesome spy. I would have loved for Tashi to make choices based on others instead of their own simple yet conflicted feelings and desires. That said I did enjoy many parts of this book. I just wanted more. The next novel apparently is from the different perspective of Pharo. It may be interesting to see the world from another perspective We shall see . . .

So lastly . . .

Thank you Harmony Ink Press!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Merged review:

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

Well, yet again, an interesting cover led me to take a look at this book. Gender-fluid protagonist who is bonded with a giant golden tiger? Yes, please. This book certainly was a quick read at 180 pages. I read it in one evening. It was an enjoyable read for me but not a fantastic one.

The pros:

- Gender-fluid protagonist. Hooray for diversity! Also Tashi is accepted by society and their friends. If only our world could be this way for everyone.
- The protagonist is conflicted. Tashi does cry and get confused and make uninformed decisions. I like that the main character has emotions.
- Tashi didn’t just magically become a kick-ass warrior in a second because suddenly there is war.
- Tashi’s spy training is laughable in a good way because their society has been at peace for so long that Tashi thought those studies weren’t extremely important.
- I loved the best friend Pharo. He is stubborn and rash and lovable and caring.
- Bonds with animals. Awesome of course. I loved all the unique animals that humans could bond with. I also enjoyed the consequences for possessing the animal bond. Not all fun and games but no spoilers here!

The cons:

- The protagonist is whiny. I don’t mind that Tashi cries sometimes or is scared. I did mind that they kept wanting someone else to save them. And yet they would rush into danger at the drop of a hat at other moments.
- An eventual love-triangle thing. It wasn’t instantaneous and there is a love-side and a lust-side. But why! So unnecessary.
- The politics and world-building are not really handled well. Cool concepts but not enough explanation. Plus Tashi becomes both a spy and a trusted companion in a really pathetic way.
- The plot is confusing. What plot there is seems to be driven by the love-triangle. Tashi’s lust gets in the way of rational thought. And plot points occur because they are not thinking. For example, the perspective on the lust-interest is a ‘He tortures people! He is so dreamy!’ kinda thing. Ugh.
- The ending! It was very abrupt and the protagonist makes a really dumb choice. Going from one extreme to another with no real thought. It is kinda explained but is a rather flimsy excuse for me taste.

I would have liked Tashi to use intelligence and wits to overcome their fear and uncertainty. I would have loved Tashi to have become an awesome spy. I would have loved for Tashi to make choices based on others instead of their own simple yet conflicted feelings and desires. That said I did enjoy many parts of this book. I just wanted more. The next novel apparently is from the different perspective of Pharo. It may be interesting to see the world from another perspective We shall see . . .

So lastly . . .

Thank you Harmony Ink Press!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Ahoy me mateys! Grab your grog! Well, all ye scalawags should be familiar with Matey Sarah’s blog and wonderful book reviews. But some of ye may not be aware that she also be a writer. (What be wrong with ye wretches?) When the first book was published years ago in 2017, I bought me a copy. And then bought the next two in the trilogy as each was released. But shame on me, I didn’t read them right away. So with this Sci-Fi Month celebration, I thought I would finally give Matey’s Sarah’s work the time it deserves in return for all those sparkly treasures she be constantly adding to me ports for plunder list.

I was thrilled with how book two ended (spoilers!) and so jumped into the last book with gleeful anticipation. I have to admit that the beginning threw me for a loop. I did not expect either the time jump or the circumstances that Lizzy be in. I seriously thought I had picked up the wrong book for a second. I can’t say I loved that choice but knowing how I was unable to predict the plot for the first two, I decided to go with the flow and find out the reasons. Glad I did.

Because ultimately, after a mental adjustment, I had a fun time and the book flew by. The twisty turns of book one and two continue here. Lizzy doesn’t want to be in her current predicament of responsibility and stress. Yet again, her strong moral code won’t just let her abandon her station. Plus she might die if she does. I really wanted to know how Lizzy was gonna get out of this mess. Luck, hard work, and a bigger foe on the loose. Plus aliens!

Lizzy be worth readin’ about and cheerin’ for. She makes mistakes, has a wicked temper, and is naive at times but ye can’t help but want her to succeed. Lizzy cares about others and so ye end up caring about her. Part of what I like about Lizzy, is that she is strong steel underneath her insecurities. I liked that she seemed realistic. Pain, headaches, and self-doubt do exist. She also grows to understand her own limitations but does push past them at times. She works her butt off but can delegate when necessary.

Seriously I would love to talk more about the plot but can’t because all three books are filled with spoilery type events that were unexpected, fun, and need to read to be believed (and understood). I feel a bit like a broken record for talking about plot twists but that was one of the highlights of the series. Hence the vagueness. This trilogy ends with an excellent wrap up and could satisfactorily end here. But there are hints that Lizzy (or others) could have more tales in the works. I am not adverse. And I want more of the aliens! Arrrr!

Merged review:

Ahoy me mateys! Grab your grog! Well, all ye scalawags should be familiar with Matey Sarah’s blog and wonderful book reviews. But some of ye may not be aware that she also be a writer. (What be wrong with ye wretches?) When the first book was published years ago in 2017, I bought me a copy. And then bought the next two in the trilogy as each was released. But shame on me, I didn’t read them right away. So with this Sci-Fi Month celebration, I thought I would finally give Matey’s Sarah’s work the time it deserves in return for all those sparkly treasures she be constantly adding to me ports for plunder list.

I was thrilled with how book two ended (spoilers!) and so jumped into the last book with gleeful anticipation. I have to admit that the beginning threw me for a loop. I did not expect either the time jump or the circumstances that Lizzy be in. I seriously thought I had picked up the wrong book for a second. I can’t say I loved that choice but knowing how I was unable to predict the plot for the first two, I decided to go with the flow and find out the reasons. Glad I did.

Because ultimately, after a mental adjustment, I had a fun time and the book flew by. The twisty turns of book one and two continue here. Lizzy doesn’t want to be in her current predicament of responsibility and stress. Yet again, her strong moral code won’t just let her abandon her station. Plus she might die if she does. I really wanted to know how Lizzy was gonna get out of this mess. Luck, hard work, and a bigger foe on the loose. Plus aliens!

Lizzy be worth readin’ about and cheerin’ for. She makes mistakes, has a wicked temper, and is naive at times but ye can’t help but want her to succeed. Lizzy cares about others and so ye end up caring about her. Part of what I like about Lizzy, is that she is strong steel underneath her insecurities. I liked that she seemed realistic. Pain, headaches, and self-doubt do exist. She also grows to understand her own limitations but does push past them at times. She works her butt off but can delegate when necessary.

Seriously I would love to talk more about the plot but can’t because all three books are filled with spoilery type events that were unexpected, fun, and need to read to be believed (and understood). I feel a bit like a broken record for talking about plot twists but that was one of the highlights of the series. Hence the vagueness. This trilogy ends with an excellent wrap up and could satisfactorily end here. But there are hints that Lizzy (or others) could have more tales in the works. I am not adverse. And I want more of the aliens! Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  This is a sci-fi standalone that takes place in 1975 in Canberra, Australia.  Kim and his best friend Bennie are 12-years-old.  They both have "unusual" names and little sisters.  They spend their days riding their bikes and get drawn into playing a new game called Dungeons and Dragons.  Then one day they find a mysterious glowing orb that wants to connect with their minds.

Kim manages to fight it off and save his friend Bennie.  He does not manage to rescue his little sister Eila.  Kim knows the orb is dangerous.  Eila, the 10-year-old prodigy, knows she is always right.  The orb, Aster, is going to help her do great things.  How is Kim going to help free his sister and possibly save the world?

Though Kim is very worried, there is still school, daily chores, and errands to run for his parents.  The Dungeon and Dragons game is the only activity helping him get through the days while battling his anxiety and trying to come up with a solution. 

This was a cute middle grade novel even though the build up was rather slow.  Kim feels like a fleshed out character though the others are rather flimsily shown.  I loved that Kim had parents that he both respected and loved.  The climax was rather unbelievable due to the sailing elements.  However, I have to admit that the middle grade audience will likely love the climax and the rather mundane way Aster is dealt with.

This book is definitely geared toward younger kids.  The adult side of me was not super impressed but knows I would have loved this book when I was little.  If the younger reader likes aliens then they will likely enjoy this book.  Arrr!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.