Of Darkness and Light by Lily Crussell

When Elora starts being followed everywhere she goes, she assumes it's paranoia, afterall, if you can't see it, it can't be real...can it? Things grow increasingly weird in Elora's world; the sound of wings, footsteps and physical attacks with no one in sight. Could she be losing her mind? 

When an attractive stranger saves her from her assailant, she can't help but think he might be in on it. 

Who can she trust when she doesn't even feel able to trust herself.

This is a fantasy and romance book aimed at the young adult market. I usually stay away from that target as so much of it is very juvenile but there are a few well written gems aimed at the older sector of YA such as Stephanie Meyers Twilight sagas and Rachelle Meads Vampire Academy that have found their way into my keepers list. Of light and Darkness isn't up there with them but for a new author its very well written with a storyline that is engaging and flows well, and I feel as she hones her craft Lily is going to be an author to watch out for. She's added a new spin to the fantasy genre with Angels instead of the market saturated Vampires ( I love vampire novels but sadly there are so many that seem to think all a story needs is a few dark brooding vamps to be a success – its not – a well written plot and storyline is essential). She describes her characters well and we can see them as real fully dimensional people from her writing.

The story is narrated in the first person by Elora – the main character – who is quite an isolated figure; she has few friends and feels different from her peers. She has an odd background and upbringing and lives alone, as her parents have always had her looked after by nannies, and now she's older they work away and have infrequent contact. She appears to be in her last year at school, she has a part time job and much of the setting takes place in and around her home, job and home town. At the start of the book she begins to imagine she is being followed everywhere and thinks maybe she's being paranoid, but she feels as if wings and feathers surround her with danger although she can see nothing. She then gets saved from an attack by an attractive stranger. The stranger who turns out to be the angel Raziel knows something of the danger but cannot tell her about it. He stays to protect her though and helps her through a couple of difficult attacks, and they quickly fall in love. He later gets captured himself along with his brother angel Barachiel who has been helping Elora try to find Raziel. Barachiel isn't anything like Raziel, and yet he and Elora have gradually found a mutual respect and become good friends too. Desperate to find them Elora enlists the help of none other than Lucifer who has been chatting to her letting her know a bit about what’s happening – now the Lucifer in this story is the Devil but has such handsome appearances (apart from one incident when he shows his tail and hooves) and way of deliberately attracting people Elora lets down her guard and chats to him as if he was a friend. Fortunately for her he isn't out to harm her but also wants the angels found, explaining that its all an amusing game to him, and it suits his purpose to guide her this time to find them. I have to say he has some of the very best lines – he comes across as a really funny guy and the scene where Elora introduces him to her best friend Thomas in the coffee shop is fabulous. Poor Thomas comes from a very god-fearing family and holds out his cross to Lucifer babbling out the Lords Prayer at the same time. Lucifer picks up the cross and admires the workmanship remarking to Elora he gets this sort of response all the time....

Of course the end comes with Elora heroically saving the day and her angels safely at her side, and the opening left for a further book with the announcement of a new cult springing up that appears to be connected to the people who captured Raziel and Barachiel and attacked Elora.

The story was easy to follow but there were some odd segments, such as her best friend Thomas family. His mum feels Elora is a bad influence and he seems very under her thumb – not something I'd think typical of a teenage boy and yet his sister Sarah is allowed far greater freedom even leaving home to live with her boyfriend. We here a lot about Sarah and her boyfriend but never really meet them ( we may have met Sarah – I can't recall so it must have been brief) So much was made of her mystery boyfriend that I had thought maybe he'd have some connection to the attackers but that never showed up and other than moving in with him as we heard via Thomas we never read any more of them. It feels as if the author had intended to use them in the storyline but changed her mind – it would have been better I think to either use them or leave them out, as it is their inclusion is just word filling and they serve no additional purpose in the story.

I enjoyed this book and would be interested enough to read the sequel – its like many YA books, very easy to follow, no heavy story lines and no great drama but some gentle adventures and romance but enough to hold the readers interest. I'd recommend it for YA readers definitely and for older readers who are happy to pay the current 99p price tag for a few hours light reading.

Its a self published novel of decent length at 643 KB and currently only available on kindle. As far as star rating goes I’d give it 4 stars – its not gripping or high drama but I enjoyed it and of course I'm not the target audience, maybe a young reader would give it 4.5 - 5 stars.


~ Midnight Ruby
                                            4 Stars

You may purchase "Of Darkness and Light": here : DarkissReads Bookstore

You may find Lily Crussell here : https://twitter.com/#!/@LilyCrussell
                                                   :http://lilycrussell.wordpress.com/
Reviewed by Midnight Ruby 

The Broken and the Damned (The Legend of Silvermane) by R.J Turpin

In the darker days of The Southern Continent, where religion is everything and belief counts for little, an old faith or rather The Faith, is arising. Headed by a woman known only as the High Priestess, it has filtered through the Ravonian Empire, taking control and ensnaring the emperor. However the High Priestess has more sinister motives than merely becoming master of all. 

She is a creature not of the world of men but something more. While subduing mankind, she seeks the eradication of all those who would be able to oppose her powers. These are a dying race of people much akin to herself and chief amongst them is Silvermane; a guardian waiting to be awakened at times of great need. Somehow forgotten, she steals his power and then his life. Book description.

I’ve always loved & enjoyed fantasy, but for the last few years it has all seemed the same and very generic, so I was apprehensive to be going back to it.

Well I was more than glad that I decided to read this story. I won’t be able to do it justice in this review as it was for me superb. The story as you would expect is set in a world that is very Medieval to us, using characters from myths that we would recognise. The similarity ends there as the characters traits and personas move off  in unexpected but exciting ways. The writing is exciting, well-constructed and draws you into the story as though you were there yourself, full of intrigue that keeps you guessing and actually quite well researched. The whole package just fits together seamlessly, and the storyline has enough differences that take it above the norm. The main characters and the supporting cast are interesting in the extreme with just enough information to make them fully rounded and tantalizing enough to make you want to know more. There are enough unanswered threads to make this a world for further expansion. I think my only complaint would be that it was too short; I wanted to know more about certain scenes.

I told you that I wouldn’t be able to do it full justice, a definite highly recommended read & I for one have just ordered the physical book (my preferred reading method). It has made me reconsider reading more fantasy than I have been lately. Hopefully this is just the start for this author and world.

Cardmon

Review Rating : 5 Stars

Reviewed by Cardmon

You may purchase "The Broken and the Damned ( The legend of Silivermane) here : DarkissReads Bookstore

A Lady of the Realm by Sharon Mamolo

Book 1 of the House of DeDe series

Bethany Boudreaux is tired of being a damn peasant. Her mother, a born again human who rejects her witch bloodline, has kept Beth secluded and ignorant for most of her life. Beth wants to eat, preferably twice a day. She’d like a grand home, with a fully stocked bar. She’s tired of eking out an existence while the rich freaks get all the breaks. She’ll do anything to claim what is, by law, hers. She needs help, lots of it, because paperwork can be a bitch.

When Beth learns Lord Aleksander is coming to visit her club, she grabs a stiff drink and waits. The dark elf of Losalfar is the perfect solution to her current legal problems. He’s obscenely rich, a top member of the hierarchy, about to inherit region two, including New Orleans, but most importantly to her … he’s a man. Men are so easy, regardless of race. With his help, she can attain the privileges and powers only those with a title are born with. All she needs to do to gain his assistance is agree to three measly conditions. Book description. 

A Lady of the Realm wasn't at all like I thought it would be – its a true fantasy novel but somehow I’d got the impression it was some kind of historical romance a la Georgette Heyer or mills and boon style – not my preferred reading genre but i enjoy some. I recall my mums M&B reading – I had a free one off kindle a few weeks ago – wow - not at all like i remember! It would have shocked my poor mum but much more to my taste. I’m sure the really sappy stuff she loved is still there for die-hards of that genre though...

 Anyway A Lady of the Realm was much, much better than I’d imagined and I really thoroughly enjoyed it. I've already bought the sequel and read it and am waiting for the third instalment – I’m hooked into Lady Beth’s world (hurry up and get writing Sharon- please!!). I’ll really have to stop speed reading and skimming previews about books and read them properly so I don't miss another book that I'd like as I almost did this one, it would have been a real loss.

 I knew from the first page I’d got it wrong when Bethany is in a pole dancing club and gets the hots for lord Alek who’s an elf! Hmmnnn... I thought – nope, definitely not a simple historical romance! Anyway the Realm is a world in a kind of parallel dimension quite feudal in type and with witches, elves,fairies, shape-shifters, demons and part bred humans – oh and talking animals. Much of the action is set within new Orleans and surrounding areas. Bethany discovers she is a witch and as the last DeDe witch entitled to be a Lady in that world – a real step up from the struggling to survive, starving, penniless human she is in the normal one. Her mother had renouced the Realm and lived and brought Beth up as a human, and she only found out by chance that she was also a DeDe witch. She needs to enlist the help of Lord Alek the filthy rich, deliciously sexy elf to claim her title as she will be one of his subjects and have to pay him a tithe. He has a Shadow – a kind of constant partner who aids and advises him – Lord Malachi( a fairy/elf half breed ) another very wealthy, spicy hot character who is a lawyer, and they have been together for several centuries.

After setting three conditions Lord Alec agrees he and Malachi will help Beth and they enlist the aid of Sigmund the demon to tutor her, as she needs to learn how to be accepted and run her estate in the realm, as she knows nothing about that world. They're all very, very good at the games of politics after so many centuries and guide Beth through what could be a minefield. Its not a great, gasping, breathless adventure where the heroine lurches from crisis to crisis, being rescued all the while although Beth has a few sticky moments, but mainly its about her quest to claim the title and how she lives in the sometimes funny but mainly sticky, political minefield that embraces all the actions of the characters in the realm. Not so far from out own world sometimes that ….I really enjoyed learning along with her – the characters are great, well fleshed out and easy to warm to or dislike according to how Sharon wants us to perceive them. There are main plots and little sub-plots that lead onto bigger ones further down the line and into the next book. Its always full of some kind of gentle drama and the storyline flows very well.

 Its a fun fantasy read, witty, sexy and entertaining throughout. Beth soon ends up sleeping with both Alek and Malachi, (well – if they don't mind why should she have to forgo their pleasures?) It seems they're so close they're used to sharing their women and they ensure she always has one of them with her at night to protect her – its a tough and often dangerous world in politics and there are those who would rather Beth wasn't in it. Both Lords are deliciously sexy but in different ways, Malachi being more tender and romantic while Alek is more an Alpha male assertive type. Having been together so many years they have a strong mental link and this helps them know when Beth or each other need help. Brief Warning: If the idea casual sex offends you then you might not like this book as many of the characters all seem to be swapping bedmates constantly, although it fits the way the book is written and its not graphic sex scenes but in parts very tender. I think its very well done and adds to the book but I know some readers are offended by this type of novel.

 Star rating – the story is fabulous and I love it! Well written, entertaining and gripping and I would give it five stars but for two things; firstly it needs some work on spelling and punctuation, there are numerous errant apostrophes sprinkled throughout like fairy dust , and simple spelling errors – she runs mouse not mousse through her hair for example, and the their/there is often confused. Second problem is that I've found it hard in several scenes to understand what Beths' motivation is, for example why she is so angry with Alek or Malachi sometimes – they don't seem to have done anything to me but Beth loses her temper and I just wonder why, what is the significance of the mate contract etc – little things that could do with being clearer. The book is written from Beths' point of view so much could have been explained via her thoughts on her own and other people actions. Also Alek and Malachis' unspoken conversations are fine for them of course, but when they look at each other silently for several minutes, then nod heads and smile I’m left wondering “well... what was all that about?” Sometimes it becomes clear later but not always and occasionally is quite a vital point. On the second reading as I knew what the story line was it was not such an irritation but a little more clarity on some points would have helped the story flow more. Overall I'd give it 4 stars taking half off for each of the two things that I felt detracted from the novel.

 This book and the sequel seem to be all Sharon has written so far so I hope the third installment isn't too far away – there's a brief peek at the end of book two and ends on a real cliffhanger moment. I'm really looking forward to immersing myself into the Realm and its people again. I think Sharon has a real talent for fantasy story telling, and for a first novel this was a real treat and I'm looking forward to reading any further books she produces. Its a shame I couldn't give it the full five stars but I think the points I have picked up on are valid comments and hopefully will be taken into account on succeeding novels.

Midnight Ruby

                                           4 Stars!

 You may Purchase A Lady of the Realm here : DarkissReads Bookstore

Reviewed by Midnight Ruby

Viridis by Calista Taylor

In steampunk Victorian London, where airships dot the sky and tinkerings abound, Lady Phoebe Hughes develops an herbal elixir, Viridis, unlike any other. London's elite flock to her club to experience the euphoria and heightened senses the drink brings, an orgasm brought on by a single kiss. But when Lord Hawthorne is murdered after leaving her club, Phoebe is shocked to find that not only was he working for the Special Services to infiltrate the Cause, a movement fighting for the city's poor, he was also in possession of her secret formulation for Viridis.

Adding to her difficulties is the unexpected return of Mr. Seth Elliott, a brilliant tinkerer who stole her heart and imagination, only to abandon her when she needed him most. Unable to ignore all that is between them, Phoebe finds herself falling for Seth once again, only to have a powerful rival for her affections wrongly accuse Seth of attempted murder. As Phoebe struggles with a way to free her love, revolution, conspiracy and murder threaten to ruin it all. Book description

I found myself in the mood for another Steampunk novel, and I found “Viridis” by Calista Taylor in the free section of the Kindle store. Much to my surprise I really enjoyed this book. Granted it brings nothing new to the romance genre, but what it does have is the “Steampunk” element with lots of gadgets, tinkering’s and steam, which I enjoyed immensely.

Set in Victorian London, the story follows Lady Phoebe Hughes, who is a driven and determined young woman. Driven by the death of her sister she creates an herbal elixir which stimulates pleasure.  Hence the name for her Club “Virdis” where the elite of London Society release their inhibitions with one drink. Within the setting of the club, we see Phoebe being drawn into an elaborate plan of murder and mystery that threatens the very people she holds dear, for her and her friend’s involvement in the cause is considered treason.  

You can’t help but like the Characters in this story, the story is centered around Phoebe, who is strong willed, intelligent and at the same time very vulnerable, which of course is we see her in the midst of a love triangle between Seth her fiancé and Gavin his best friend. Both wanting to see her safe we see the tension between all three escalate, but in the end the friendship bond they have overrules everything.  There were several supporting characters that really stood out, William the officer who was investigating a murder who did things by the book, and Phoebe’s brother Gabriel whose role in the story was downplayed and I felt could have been explored with more depth. One thing I would have liked seen the author explore more was the background story between Phoebe, Seth and Gavin, you get a sense that they have been through a lot, but that is only briefly explored and left me wanting to know more. With this being the first book in the series, I can only hope to learn more about what brings them together.

The book was well written though sometimes I felt the chapters weren’t complete and a bit short which made the plot line feel choppy which was distracting. The author did a very good job of bring several plot lines together into a dramatic ending, though as I mentioned before the character of Gabriel places a very important role in this story that was never fully developed and I think things would have made a bit more sense in the end if they had been. Though as a reader I did finally understand his role, I just think it would have brought more to the story.  There is a strong sensual tone to this book and this is most definitely a book for adults. The steamy scenes were well written and a bit predictable but done in a way that you feel what the characters are feeling vs. graphic descriptions which sometimes can take away from the story itself.

All in all this book was an easy and fun read, I finished it quickly and for getting it free from Kindle it was a very nice surprise and I look forward to reading the second book in the series "Devil on a Sparrow's Wing" So if you are in the mood for a Steampunk murder mystery then this book is for you!  With that said I give it a 3.5 stars.

                                            3.5 Stars

You may purchase "Virdis" here : DarkissReads Bookstore

You may find Calista Taylor here : http://asteampunkreverie.blogspot.com/

Reviewed by Witchofthemists. 

The Wrath of Fate by "Captain" Robert Brown

There will come a time...

When freedom is considered too dangerous. Cities are walled, and citizens are chained to round-the-clock jobs to keep them controlled. Change and progress are outlawed.

There will come a time...
When clockworks wake up, only to find they are not allowed to be awake. They hide in fear, not daring to break their chains of slavery.

There will come a time...
When freedom is outlawed. The last free people must scrape a living in the dirt of the prairies, or in the skies above them. These hardened men and women fight for their lives and their freedom against beasts of the plains, police in the cities, and pirates in the sky. When freedom is outlawed, only the outlaws are free.

This time will come, and it will be my fault. 

Sorry about that

Book Description

Every once in a while there is a book that both Darkiss and I both want to review, and “The Wrath of Fate” by Captain Robert Brown is one of those books. This review will be divided into two parts, the first being from Darkiss and the second mine….Enjoy!

Darkiss

I have had mixed feeling about reviewing this novel. Steampunk is a passion of mine and it was the band Abney Park that led me into this genre. For those not familiar with Abney Park, they are a Steampunk band, but they have become so much more. They are a leading light in the Steampunk sub-culture, their music which is an eclectic mix of styles is all wrapped up in the identity of Airship Pirates. No Steampunk event is truly complete without an appearance by the band and they produce their own range of merchandise and even sell their own Steampunk themed role-playing game.

Now Robert H Brown, otherwise known as Captain Robert, lead singer and creative force behind the Abney Park phenomenon, has written a Steampunk novel. And here lies my mixed feelings. I have so looked forward to this book while at the same time dreading it. Captain Robert is a talented singer/song writer/entrepreneur, what are the chances of him also being a talented writer. Reading this book as a reviewer instead of as a fan means I will be more critical of it than if I was reading it for pleasure alone. It is no easy task to give an honest review of something that I am already a fan of. Also, would I be disappointed in this venture and if so would the mystique that is Abney Park be tarnished? In the end all that I can do is give an honest representation of my feelings and thoughts on the book. After all that is the limit any reviewer is under.

So what are my thoughts on this book........

Well my fears were unfounded. It would seem that Captain Robert’s talents know no bounds. This is a thoroughly enjoyable jaunt through the Steampunk imaginings of a highly creative mind.

The story is divided into two main parts, the first of which see Captain Robert, Kristina his wife and the crew of the Ophelia travel through time with unexpected results. Then the second part of the story sees the Captain Robert and co settle down into the various roles while dealing with a world they helped to create.

At first look this novel would just seem like nothing more than an adventure novel designed to keep you on the edge of your seat turning page after page. But a deeper look at the story shows the author has things to say and issues to raise about the world we live in and the priorities that our society force feeds us. This is a common theme we also see in Robert’s song writing. Often issues of real world significance are explored in the realm of Steampunk. This same trait can be seen here within The Wrath of Fate. It is skilfully executed and in no way distracts from the storyline or the pace of events. In fact I read this book in one sitting and was left wanting more.

Apart from a few chapters at the beginning of the book, the story is told through the perspective of Captain Robert himself. Here is my only criticism of the book and it’s only really a minor one. I was left wanting more depth to all the supporting characters in the novel, this is especially true of Kristina. She follows Robert throughout his adventures and we rarely discover her take or thoughts. But as this is hopefully the start of the HMS Ophelia’s story then I am sure that we will read more of all the supporting cast.

Throughout the book are wonderfully enchanting black and white illustrations which definitely add something to the reading experience. I was worried that they would be left out of the Kindle edition, but thankfully they are present.

Much of the storyline connect seamlessly with the music of Abney Park with many of their song lyrics appearing within the narrative. This means that you can add a sound track to reading experience. If you have not heard the music of Abney Park then hopefully this will pique your interest enough to go out and explore the bands offerings.

If you are a fan of Abney Park or Steampunk then this book is a must read. For those who are unfamiliar with Abney Park or have not explored the worlds of Steampunk then this is highly recommended. I liked this so much that although I have a copy of the book kindly sent to us by Captain Robert himself to review, I have purchased another copy for my Kindle so that I have it with me whenever I need a literary pick me up.

I award this an excellent 5 stars

                                           5 Stars! 

Witchofthemists

Abney Park was my first exposure to the genre of Steampunk, their music captivated and inspired my imagination and has become ingrained into my inner soundtrack as I move throughout my days. So when I heard that Captain Robert had written a book I could hardly contain my excitement.

“The Wrath of Fates” is a fantastic time travel Steampunk adventure that blends history and science fiction in a very unique way. The story follows Captain Robert Brown and his wife Kristina as they find themselves aboard the HMS Ophelia in a very chaotic situation. Taking control Captain Robert leads the HMS Ophelia and its crew on an epic journey through time and back again.

The tale is written from the point of view of Captain Robert, which gives the reader a glimpse into the workings of his mind and the motives behind the decisions that he makes. We see his confidence grow as he takes on the role of Captain and the struggles that he and his crew face with each adventure. One of the things I found myself wanting a bit more depth to the crew of the HMS Ophelia, there some very colorful characters that I wanted more of.  As this is book one in “The Airship Pirate Chronicles” then I am sure we will see the supporting characters fleshed out a bit more.

As a fan of Abney Park, I was thrilled to see how cleverly Captain Robert blended the music of Abney Park and the storyline of the book. This was the first time reading a book that I found myself singing as I read, for me this was a unique experience.  Abney Park’s music is the perfect background for this swashbuckling adventure!

As if the book didn’t need anything else to make better, the illustrations by Juan Pablo Valdecantos Anfuso are just amazing and add another layer of creativity to this tale, which go hand in hand with the music and writing of Captain Robert Brown.

All in all this book that Abney Park fans will devour, and a  MUST read for those who are fans of the Steampunk Genre as well as those who love a good old fashioned adventure story.  I for one am looking forward to reading more from Captain Robert and his adventures aboard the HMS Ophelia. I give this book 5 stars!  

                                           5 Stars!

The Wrath of Fate - Chapter 1 - Read by Captain Robert Brown 

The Wrath of Fate Chapter 1 - Read by Captain Robert Brown 

You may purchase "The Wrath of Fate" here : DarkissReads Bookstore

You may find Captain Robert and Abney Park here : 

http://www.abneypark.com/

http://airshippirates.abneypark.com/index.html

Brighton Sucks by Jarek Adams

Freya is attacked by vampires. When no one believes her, she is committed to a mental hospital. She escapes and seeks sanctuary with her friend, a gay vicar, in the quirky English seaside town of Brighton, but she soon finds herself surrounded by undead people who want to kill her. Two gorgeous men offer her protection, but she isn’t sure if she can trust either of them, and their animosity towards each other creates a complicated lust triangle. As her life spirals out of control, Freya learns secrets about her past, and is thrust into a desperate battle for survival. Brighton Sucks is an Urban Fantasy with plenty of action, some tongue-in-cheek ideas on vampirism, and a healthy smattering of steamy sex. Book Description.

This book was great fun – made me laugh at times and yet some parts had a poignancy that had me on the edge of tears. It a fantasy book about Vampires and Guardians – the people who organise the staking and clean up when vampires go rogue and kill. The main character Freya is at a park with her boyfriend and two other friends when they are attacked by vampires and Freya is the only one to escape. Of course no-one believes her story and she ends in a mental hospital. She knows what she says is true but also knows she has no way of getting believed and when a chance to escape happens after six months she takes it and flees to Brighton. There she meets up with an old friend Ryan, a gay vicar. Ryan plays a big part in the book and his character is just so good – he's just not what you expect a vicar to be – young, gay, swears ( “F*%# me Freya – is that you?” is the intro we get to him) and yet he's devoted to his church and the elderly lady stalwarts of it. I love him – he'd be the best sort of friend to have.

 In Brighton Freya meets Barton, he's gorgeous and wants to help but seems selective in what he'll tell her and his comments raise more questions than they answer, and Freya doesn't want to recognise as true what he does tell her. She then meets Danny, another hot bloke who says he wants to help – but its clear the two men don't get on, and their animosity to each other grows along with their attraction to Freya. Freya is attracted to both, both offer her help and yet she doesn't know who to trust. She finds out that here in Brighton some people are vampires and they aren't all evil, don't kill and just want to get along with their lives. She needs to take care who she talks to and trusts though in trying to avoid being send back to hospital herself.

 The story continues with twists and turns and directions that I wouldn't have envisaged and is engrossing and amusing. There are times when I want to kick Freya’s arse such as when she is supposed to be finding out more about who killed a vampire friend but goes shopping! Somehow it doesn't fit what I thought she would have done – she is a genuinely caring person so although it leads neatly into a scene essential to a later part of the story I feel Jarek could have found a better way – Freya appears callous here and yet she's not that way at all.

 I didn't guess the ending –made a successful stab at who one or two characters were along the way but was totally surprised at who some of the people turned out to be – I like a book that keeps me guessing, its dull if everything is so clear that the ending is easy to judge. I was really sad at one part of the end – a very touching scene, and also glad at the choice of men Freya finally took.

 I feel Jarek has left the opening for a sequel and do hope she continues Freya’s story, and includes Ryan as a main character – he's too good to get left behind. Jarek has a great entertaining way with words and I'd certainly buy any further books in a series if she takes that route.

 Brighton Sucks is currently only available on kindle, and at 318kb is a decent novel length for a bargain price. Personally I'd give this a star rating of 4, thoroughly enjoyed it but not quite the length and polish I'd rate a five star book. If you want a book about vampires that will make you laugh at times, sad at times and keep you entertained Brighton Sucks fits the bill perfectly.

                                           4 Stars!

You can purchase "Brighton Sucks" here : DarkissReads Bookstore

You can find Jarek Adams :http://jarekadams.blogspot.com/

 Reviewed by Midnight Ruby

Interview with L.E Fitzpatrick author of "Dark Waters"

Today I am very happy to introduce to you an L.E Fitzpatrick, whose book “Dark Waters” was recently reviewed here on DarkissReads. L.E was kind enough to grant us an author interview.

1) What has been the reaction like towards “Dark Waters”? Was it anything like you expected?
Dark Waters is the first book I have published and I only passed it to two people before inflicting it on the masses, so I really had no idea what to expect from readers. As an indie author it sometimes feels like you’ve gatecrashed the party, so I suppose I am always expecting readers to turn around and say “Hey you shouldn’t be here!” The fact that they continue to be both welcoming and encouraging will always astound my expectations.

2) Which came first, the character of Egan Wey or the Fimorri?
Wey was like the big bang for Dark Waters. Once I had him created the backdrop to the plot fell into place. Wey is the hero of the book, but he’s a tormented soul who has done a lot of terrible things in his life and continues to dance around morality throughout the story. Piracy already has massive romanticism surrounding it and I wanted to create a character that was a tragic parody of the great sea adventure. I didn’t want to glorify piracy in Dark Waters, but at the same time I didn’t want to condemn it, so to counteract the diabolical Wey, I gave him the Fimorri, a clan forced into piracy, as his starting point. Thereafter the Fimorri became everything that is noble and good about piracy; Wey became everything that is bad.


3) With the character Egan Wey, did you lead the character in the direction you wanted or did he lead you?
If I had been able to make Wey do anything he wouldn’t be the character he is. When I write stories I have a preconceived idea what is going to happen, Wey turned that all on its head and what I finished was nothing like what I had planned.


4) There are some very dark characters in your novel, for instance Captain Mercy, where did you find your inspiration to bring him to life?
I love dark fantasy and I wanted to create a character that was unequivocally evil. Having so many dubious heroes in the book Mercy had to be really bad for him to have any impact on the story. In the end he just became a shark, cold, calculating and inhuman. Mercy is driven by primal hunger, a territorial creature with no humanity. The other villains in the story have history, possibly excuses for their actions, as far as Mercy is concerned he is a simple, fearsome predator.


5) If you could pick on character in this book that you are most like, who would that be?
This is probably the hardest question of the lot. Most of my characters are broken in one way or another, but if I was to pick one that was the easiest to create it would be Rhoma. Her stubborn determination to try and save her people is something I like to think I have, although my determination only goes so far as getting dinner cooked, or getting the car up the hill. Perhaps I’d throw in a bit of Benton as well, the Fimorri pirate is the backbone of the battle, but isn’t as scene stealing as the other characters. They were both probably the easiest to write.


6) In your book, you have a drug called “The Red” that is such an integral part of the story, where did this idea come from?
Okay promise not to laugh. I have an inherent fear of zombies. I can’t look at zombie pictures, or watch them on TV without suffering sleepless nights. I knew when I started Dark Waters that I was going to struggle and basically the Red was as much as I could tolerate. It is still a drug that effectively turns the user into a zombie, but there’s no biting, or eating of brains. Instead the user loses his wits, becomes aggressive and pretty difficult to kill. So in other words I was too scared to do a full zombie novel so I created the Red. You can stop laughing now.


7) Since the book has so much to do with sailing the high seas, I have to ask, have you ever sailed a ship?
I have never sailed a ship and I can barely swim. I think this might be where you start laughing again. When writing I find it easier to write things that I feel strongly towards and the sea, like zombies, is something that unnerves me. Of course I did bob up and down every week in the swimming pool to add some authenticity to my work, but mostly I was interested in the ships and camaraderie of sailors so I did a lot of research into that area instead.


8) Who is your biggest literary influence and why?
There have been a lot of people who have inspired and taught me along the way. The author I identify with most is probably John Connolly, just because there is a beautifully human quality to what he writes and he has worked very hard to get where he is. In so far as Dark Waters is concerned, I had been reading the Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, his work inspired me to just roll with an idea and forget about the rest of the world.


9) Can you tell us about any new projects you are working on?
After Dark Waters I tried to knock out a sequel, it hasn’t been as forthcoming as I would have liked so I’m taking a little break and I’m in the middle of a futuristic thriller, which I hope will turn into a series.


10) Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do when you are not writing?
Well when I am not writing, I’m a juggling, acrobatic, jet-pilot… Alas I’m not that exciting. I work in an accountancy office during the day and when I am not tapping away at my keyboard I’m usually enjoying clichéd time with my partner and son. Although I am originally from Yorkshire, I live in West Wales and so most of my days are filled with walking in green fields and going nowhere very fast, which suits me just fine.

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself L.E.  Everyone at DarkissReads wishes you all the best of luck with all your future endeavors! 

When Copper Sun Falls by KaSonndra Leigh

In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected. 

Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories? 

With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease. Book Description

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel, but it far exceeded any expectations that I had. If you are like me then you have certain Authors that you always go for as you know them well and are certain that their creations always meet your expectations, well this Author and story meets all of my criteria.

The story gripped me from the first page and didn't really let go until the end. It is set in a dystopian society masquerading as a Utopian society in the not too distant future. It blends science which is achievable today with celestial entities and their associated magical capabilities seamlessly. The storyline is fast paced, complex (which I love), it never gives you pause to breath as you want to find out what it going to occur on the next page; which is not always what you think. The characters are well written and well rounded. They grow as the story progresses, and what is great is that they are not one dimensional but very multi-faceted, with believable interaction. It is a fantastic story, created in an interesting world with twist and turns all the way through. The story makes you think; it takes the old good v evil scenario and gives it a good shake.

I would highly recommend this novel and eagerly await the Authors next work. Definitely an Author to watch.

5 stars

Regards,

Cardmon

                                            5 Stars!

You may purchase "When Copper Sun Falls" Here : DarkissReads Bookstore

You may find KaSondra Leigh here : http://www.kasonndraleigh.com/

Death Wish book 1:The Vamp Saga by Danielle Blanchard

Eight years into the future... 

Vampires not only exist, they control the Pharmaceutical Industry, the Global Six, the Gaming Industry and the world. 

Manon Mourey, a Let It Ride card dealer at Transylvania Hotel, Spa & Casino in Summerlin, is nothing special when Mikkel Damgaard enters her life. 

Fortunately for Manon, she holds the key to turn not only herself but Mikkel into Day Walkers, the elite who will replace vampires at the top of the food chain. Their superior position causes a war which could consume not only the International Vampire Council but the world entire because Day Walkers don't share the same taste for mortal blood as their predecessors...Book Description.

Well I really, really wanted to enjoy this book, it had all the hallmarks of one I’d love – its a fantasy novel with vampires, werewolves, a trilogy ( I love books that run in a series) and for a change it was a decent length. There seems to be a trend in e-books to make what really is one book into a trilogy of short ones – that’s really frustrating when you get to the end and it isn't really the end but a break in a book. Death Wish doesn't do that – it hints at the next book, there are some open story lines indicating which way the author might take the story but nothing that causes frustration and feels like the whole book has led into it and then book no 2 has the answers. Well done to Danielle for not taking that route – its one thing really guaranteed to put me off. Death Wish is currently in e-book format only, I don't know if a paper copy is planned.

It started well and initially showed lots of promise of a story I'd relish with my current vampire/supernatural fixation but sadly I lost that feeling the further into it I got. I did enjoy the book to the degree that I'd look for and read book two and maybe book three depending on how the story pans out. Its well written in that there are no glaring grammatical or formatting errors – one I read recently has speech marks instead of commas and apostrophes, that was OK for the first few pages but further than that it was driving me mad and really affected how I felt about the book. E-books need to be published with the same care as print books and thankfully this one is.

The story of Death Wish centres around Manon Mourey who is a card dealer at Transylvania Hotel, Spa & Casino in Summerlin, Las Vegas, owned by vampires and with a werewolf general manager. The year is 2020. Vampires not only exist and the public have known about them for 10 years but they control the government, the pharmaceutical industry and the world. Mikkel Damgaard, owner of the hotel and an ancient vampire over 1000 years old comes to play at her table exclusively one night and she agrees to spend time listening to what he has to say. For 30,000 dollars so would I …. He tells her they are destined to be together, she believes him and she becomes a vampire within the space of a few chapters and his bride shortly after that. What I have a problem with is Manon starts off as a likeable character who cares about family and friends and has a real hatred of vampires and yet within a short while is not only one herself, but marries one of the leading members of the International Vampire Council. Mikkel starts as a charismatic, good looking, very strong character and yet once they are together Manon as a new vamp seems to decide what they will do and how and he gets little say in it – somehow for me that doesn't gel with the strong powerful vamp Mikkel started out as, and affects my perception of the book. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the traditional strong sensual and powerful vamp!

Once Manon is with Mikkel the body count begins to rise. From hating what vamps do Manon is happy to drain one dry and is tempted constantly by the smell of humans as soon as she is turned – she seems to have undergone a character and morals transformation too – some of this is explained within the story but for me its not a strong enough reason for such a massive change and I begin to find her dislikeable and I’m unable to sympathise with her. I think that’s the main problem I have with the book – its well written but the characters don’t resonate with me and I find it hard to really get engrossed in what is happening to them. Usually when I’m really into a book its as if their lives take over mine for a while, and I’m lost in the magic of another world. Here I’m still hovering on the fringes waiting for that magic spark. Manon begins to suspect that their meeting was not entirely coincidental, and pressures Mikkel for an explanation – she gets one and its quite complex but does link to many of the smaller currents running through the book. The plot unfolds but at times I'm confused about what exactly it is that is meant to be happening – there seems to be multiple plots but I can't yet see how they link together and it feels like a disjointed series of unnecessary sub-plots thrown together with very tenuous links. Maybe book two will join some of these and let them make more sense? 

Manons' existence as a vampire sparks a war that begins to consume the International Vampire Council, with many of them unhappy with the power she will hold, and many not even wanting her to become vampire, and we see that the conflict can affect the human population as well. Initially Manon would have had concerns about this but seems to revel in it in her new vampire role – I found that part of why I began to dislike her. She and Mikkel become top of the vampire chain and spark jealousies and fear among the others. There are times when she shows a little of the original caring Manon and times when Mikkel shows his strength of character, but in the main they seem to get more and more devolved from the characters they began as and I can't warm to them or any of the others enough to get lost in their lives.

I will look out for book two as I am interested enough to see how the story develops but feel that this book would have been better if it was kept simpler – there are long pages of explanations where a good story lets that unfold as it goes along. Maybe book two will be more succinct and snappier and Danielle have learned from the experience of this, or maybe its just me being overly picky and another reader will enjoy this book including the bits I didn't!! If you like fantasy books about supernatural characters its worth looking for this book – what I didn't enjoy you may – the old “one man’s meat” expression comes to mind. I've been loaned books friends swear are fab only to dislike them intensely and I've shared books with others that I love and they hated – each to his or her own. My personal rating for this book would be three and half stars, its well written technically and has potential for the story line to develop in the sequels but for me part one has too many downsides in the actual story content for higher rating.

Midnight Ruby

                                             3.5 Stars

You may find Danielle Blanchard here :http://thebeautifulpeopleawritersjourney.blogspot.com/

Reviewed by Midnight Ruby