The House of Prophecy (The Chronicles of Chaos Book 3) by Glen Dahlgren
About Me
- Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer
- Cecelia has a Master of Letters from the University of New England. She is available as a literacy tutor in the Adelaide area, and also available for review writing.
Sunday, October 23, 2022
RF Reviews: Epic Fantasy
Saturday, October 22, 2022
RF Reviews: Young Adult
The Inked by Kristina Streva sympathizes with the minority.
Darkest Rose by Vera Morgana modernizes the story of ill-fated lovers.
Status Human: Book Two of The Upsilon Series by Daniel Weisbeck presents two novellas featuring robotic beings with remnants of human consciousness.
Victorian by Jordan Elizabet is almost as dark and brooding as it is spooky.
Christmas Magic by Catherine Kean shows love can go comically wrong once a spell is invoked.
Where the Magic Lies by Hermione Lee demonstrates all is not well in Fairyland.
The First Buds of Spring also by Hermione Lee brings magic into the classroom and draws a mortal into the other realm.
RF Reviews: Western
A SouthWestern Adventure: In the Footsteps of First Peoples: Mogollon, Hohokam, Salado and Sinagua by Michael Royea was non-fiction, but it set the background beautifully.
Wild Montana Winds by MK McClintock was a sweet Western romance.
Kincaid: A Mountain Man's Treachery provided a classic, action-based Western adventure.
The Siege: The Mimosa Tales: Book One by Linda Thackeray was absolutely action-based with shocking villains and heroic defenders.
A Perfect Storm of Injustice by Jack A. Saarela was like a docu-drama in that it presented a fictionalized, but realistic account of a falsely accused man. It also dealt with real social issues.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
RS: More Gaming Fiction: Nera Vivaldi
Cookmancer Online by Nera Vivaldi
I wasn’t sure what to think when I saw the cover and read the blurb. I wondered what sort of LitRPG would use cooking – and the talk of scoring points - was the heroine participating in a reality television show like Master Chef?
However, when I got past the uniqueness of the concept, I found Cookmancer Online was an absorbing read. Genuine gaming fiction, with a few twists. Apparently, Earth ought to have become uninhabitable, but it was saved by an artificial intelligence. The opposite of the TERMINATOR plot – but a certain amount of cyber paranoia remains. Is the artificial intelligence truly neutralised – and is it genuinely benign?
The villain is an ex-boyfriend, creating drama and tension. I immensely enjoyed my review copy accessed through Book Sirens.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
RS: Charming Holiday Fiction: Link by Link Edited by Meg Dailey & Thankfully in Love by Anna J. Stewart
Link by Link Edited by Meg Dailey
A charming collection that proves not all
ghosts are scary. Most of the ghosts in this story have returned to right
wrongs and support loved ones. One or two I’m not sure are ghosts; they are
supernatural creatures that only certain individuals or animals can see. The
volume is value-packed, with each tale being so complete that it deserves an
individual mention.
Between the Quiet by Candace Robinson –is a
sweet tale where a friend cares enough to attempt matchmaking from beyond the
grave. The Spirit of You by Elle Beaumont – another sweet tale featuring a
boyfriend who cares enough for a lingering farewell. I Saw Her Again by Lauren
Emily Whalen – is an inclusive story about lost love and regret. Yesterday’s
News by Leslie Rush – explores the ability of a message from the past to alter
the future.
Paw Prints by Kristin Jacques – is an
incredibly cute tale that asks whether pets might actually know best? Coffee
Talk by M. Dalto – is a charming love story. But who are the invisible mentors?
Bound by What by Jess Moore – a morality tale where a woman is tasked with the
burden of preventing a tragedy her selfishness caused. Charing Cross by Pam S.
Dunn –is a unique detective story with “gaslamp” fantasy overtones. The Recipe
for Cornbread by C. Vonzale Lewis – is a tale where Grandmother appears to help
prepare the festive meal. This one dug deep emotionally and I think it was my
favorite.
I read an advance review copy provided by
Book Sirens, and I write reviews because I really enjoy reading.
Thankfully in Love by Anna J. Stewart
Thankfully good! Four excellent holiday romances: they are clean romances, but you can feel the emotions better that way.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME by Anna J. Stewart – verged on being a holiday thriller.
SECOND CHANCES by Kayla Perrin – combined a holiday break up with the dream of “the one that got away”.
DOG-GONE HOLIDAY by Melinda Curtis - employed a bit of magical realism.
LOVE GUIDES THE WAY by Cari Lynn – I don’t know about you, but I found this one to be a tear-jerker.
I read a review copy supplied by Book Sirens, and am happy to recommend any of these stories to someone wanting positively themed festive entertainment.
Monday, October 12, 2020
Readers' Favorite Reviews: Non Fiction
The Wandering Investor by Brendan Hughes contains a survey of
the tourist attractions and economics of several countries. It is partially
investment advice, part travelogue. Countries surveyed included New Zealand,
Australia, Belize, and Iceland. The middle sections cover Peru, South Africa,
Zimbabwe, and Chile. Botswana sounds surprisingly good despite the drawback of
a large desert. The latter half discusses Canada, Colombia, India, Cuba,
Singapore, and Malaysia. Hughes makes Colombia sound frightening, but
apparently, it has good economic prospects. Singapore apparently has strong
manufacturing, health care, and education; as well as tourism. It seems to be
booming. Malaysia has diversified into manufacturing and is growing. Finally,
Indonesia is rated for its strong tourism and domestic activity. Then Hughes
brought things together in the analytical sections: “Travel Lessons Learned”
and “What Makes a Successful Economy?”
The Wandering
Investor is a unique
volume. It was stimulating to read about Hughes’ visit to my own country; and
all his adventures in other countries. Every chapter is introduced by an
account of the Hughes escapades in that particular country. I liked the fact
that the end of each chapter was illustrated with black and white photographs.
I used to read finance magazines, so I was interested in what Hughes had to
say. Hughes’ assessments were generally shrewd; although the situation in
Australia required him to write an “update” section. Some people will want to
read about Hughes' travel, while others will want to read about investments.
There is something in The Wandering Investor for everyone.
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