Phantom Harvest by C.R. Richards (SPOTLIGHT)

Title: Phantom Harvest

Author: C.R. Richards

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press

Length: 368 pages

Sub-Genres: science fiction/fantasy



Blurb: Gideon, a half-breed mutant with a surly temper and rotten luck, struggles to scrape a living as a tracker in the desolate territory near the gateway to the human world. Business seems to be picking up when Gideon is approached by a powerful dark elf with deep pockets and a serious problem. Human miners at the dark elf's plant are being taken by an elusive predator. Gideon is pressured to find the killer before word of the disappearances reaches the human world, endangering the tense relationship between their two races. But, nothing is simple this close to the conduit between worlds. Archangel, a ruthless mercenary operating in the secret sectors of mutant society, has set his own deadly game in motion. Surrounded by savage wilderness and cut off from contact with civilization, Gideon must find a way to protect his friends and survive to collect his bounty.

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About The Author:

Cynthia's literary career began when she interned as a part-time columnist for a small entertainment newspaper. She wore several hats: food critic, entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. A co-author of horror and urban fantasy novels, her first solo fiction project - The Mutant Casebook Series - was published by Whiskey Creek Press in 2013. Cynthia is an active member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and lives in Colorado.



FB: authorcrrichards

Twitter: CR_Richards

Author Website: www.crrichards.com

Publisher Website: www.whiskeycreekpress.com

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Book of Death by S. Evan Townsend (REVIEW)

Mixing genres is always a dangerous literary exercise, more often prone to disaster than to success, and the more distinct the genres, the more volatile the mixture is bound to be. With the notable exceptions of Brian Lumley and F. Paul Wilson, very few authors have managed to successfully merge a historical spy thriller with the supernatural. So, with that in mind, I was curious about the Book of Death . . . but also more than a little cautious.



Fortunately, S. Evan Townsend keeps the camp low and the adventure high, managing to tell a tale that intrigues even as it entertains.



On the one side of the tale we have a decent spy thriller laced with some military adventure. It all begins with a covert investigation of a seemingly innocuous Communist ball bearing plant that just happens to be in close proximity to the castle of Vlad Dracul. On the other side of the tale we have a solid horror story laced with vampires and dark magic. As if Dracula himself weren’t enough, Townsend works in a guild of necromancers to add some thrills and chills.



While I would have preferred either a clear declaration of the villain early on, or a bit more mystery as to his identity, the melodramatic foreshadowing does fit with the tale. Overall, I quite liked the style of Townsend’s writing, and the way in which he pays narrative homage to both genres. The pacing is strong, the action well-choreographed, and the gadgets well-balanced with the gore. There’s a slow unveiling of Peter’s back-story, rounding out his character quite nicely, and the plot is significantly more complicated than I expected it to be – even with the CIA and FBI involved.



I was hoping for something different with Book of Death, and I'm pleased to say it delivered.

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S. Evan Townsend has been called 'America's Unique Speculative Fiction Voice.' Evan is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and has three grown sons. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.



You can check him out at:



Website: www.sevantownsend.com

Blog: http://sevantownsend.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @SEvanTownsend

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/S-Evan-Townsend/120699138076862

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Yx9cFijsA8Q

Series Trailer: http://youtu.be/KDynSa08pe8

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ARIA: Left Luggage by Geoff Nelder (REVIEW)

Science fiction is a genre that generally falls into two widely different scopes (the epic, action-packed, space opera; and the intimate, character-focused, story of ideas), and two equally diverse themes (that of the truly 'alien' threat from beyond the stars; and that of the the 'human' threat, emerging from much closer to home).



With ARIA: Left Luggage, Geoff Nelder opts for the more intimate scope, but pairs it with the alien threat. It's a combination that's particularly difficult to pull off, but he manages to do an admirable job.



Taking his cue from the Greeks, Nelder pulls a Trojan Horse ploy, depositing an innocuous looking piece of alien luggage on a human space station. Due to a mixture of arrogance and curiosity, the contents of that luggage - Alien Retrograde Infectious Amnesia (ARIA) - are soon shared with all of humanity. Before long, people are having their memory erased quickly and progressively. Lost, confused, angry, and scared, the world finds itself in dire straits . . . but there may just be hope.



The contagion itself that is the initial draw here, and Nelder does a superb job of exploring the intimate, personal details. We see precisely how individuals suffer under its infection, and watch how their lives are destroyed. He also extrapolates the impact of a mass case of alien dementia, giving us the bigger picture of a society falling into ruin. Its fascinating, terrifying, and heart-breaking as well.



Of course, exploring the impact of ARIA can - or make that should - only be taken so far. Like a plague-ridden post-apocalyptic nightmare, the horror can quickly wear thin, trying the reader's patience and causing them to lose interest. That's where Nelder wisely turns to a story of heroism and hope, as a small group of survivors attempt to understand where the infection came from, why humanity has been targeted, and what can be done to halt the infection in its tracks.



The characters are strong, more than capable of carrying a tale that moves along at a good pace. Even those minor characters who come and go so quickly are well-drawn, human beings with human sufferings. The story does lag in a few places, as Nelder catches us up on the 'how' and 'why', but for the most part he keeps the pace moving. The core mystery is handled exceptionally well, never overburdening the story, but never getting lost in the chaos either.



Considering all that's going on, I expected a more confused and convoluted tale, but was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to follow (and relate) to events. It's not quite a door-stopper, but Nelder has written a science fiction novel that offers a good, solid read, with plenty to absorb and enjoy. More importantly, he has written a story with a great deal to think about, wrapped up in a story that makes you want to think.

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Geoff Nelder has a wife, two grown-up kids, an increasing number of grandkids, and lives in rural England within an easy cycle ride of the Welsh mountains. He taught Geography and Information Technology for years until writing took over his life. Geoff is a competition short-fiction judge, and a freelance editor.

Publications include several non-fiction books on climate reflecting his other persona as a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society; over 50 published short stories in various magazines and anthologies; thriller, humour, science fiction, and fantasy novels.

2005: Humorous thriller Escaping Reality. Republished 2012.

2008: Award-winning science fiction mystery with hot-blooded heroine, Exit, Pursued by a Bee.

2010: Another thriller received an Award d’Or from an Arts Academy in the Netherlands. Its third edition will be published in 2012, Hot Air.

2012: ARIA: Left Luggage science fiction apocalypse. An urban and historical magic realism fantasy, Xaghra’s Revenge, is in the hands of a literary agency.

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Shadows of Kings by Jack Whitsel (REVIEW)

A welcome throwback to the days of high fantasy - complete with idealized medieval communities, kings and queens, monstrous races, dragons, and magic - Shadows of Kings is a rousing adventure that makes the most of its brevity. Coming in at just under 250 pages, Jack Whitsel's tale engages the reader early on and then manages to sustain the interest (not to mention the pace), until the very end.



This is a mature tale, one which doesn't shy away from its more adult elements. The violence is graphic (although not gratuitous), with a very real risk losing limbs, heads and lives, and the romances are pragmatic (although not explicit), with marriages of convenience warring silently with mistresses of desire. Jack doesn't necessarily glorify the excesses of men at war, but neither does he shy away from exploring the acts of necessity that often accompany such campaigns.



Similarly, the duelling magical systems employed in the tale manage to be innovative and exciting, even while maintaining a semblance of familiarity. Jack doesn't demand that the reader go through any mental gymnastics to grasp how his magic works, but neither does he rely on the reader to fill in the blanks. Whether it's the magic of necromancy or that of dragons, he allows his imagination to run free, filling the story with fantastic moments of magical extravagance. What ultimately makes it all work, however, is the characters to which the magic is attached. They are well-rounded and dynamic, drawing the reader in and forcing us to choose sides, even if we may not be entirely comfortable with the potential for betrayal.



In terms of the narrative, I will admit that the tendency to change perspectives within the same scene bothered me, but once I got used to it, I settled in fine. There are several viewpoint characters to the story, on both sides of the war, and they all get their chance to shine. Fortunately, Jack doesn't allow us to get too far inside their heads, maintaining the suspense needed to drive the central mystery that underlies the story. The twists work well when they come, presenting the reader with some genuine surprises while, in hindsight, being entirely justified.



A refreshing addition to the genre, we can only hope Shadows of Kings will be followed by the second book of the Dragon Rising soon.

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Author Bio:

Jack is a native Californian, but has made Oregon his home since 1982. He holds a Bachelor's Degree of Finance from Portland State University, but studies medieval history in his spare time. His favorite genres are fantasy and historical fiction with a medieval emphasis. Shadows of Kings, the first novel of the Dragon Rising Series is the love child born of these two passions.



"I love the elements of fantasy when mixed with the gritty aspects of a medieval society. In the worlds I create, there are neither citadels of shimmering glass nor any utopian realms."

The final contributing catalyst to Jack's creative process comes from his boys, Josiah and Noah They remind him how important an active imagination can be, and are the first to hear his tales of diabolical wizards and valiant knights.



"Because of my boys, I still believe in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy."



Author Links:

     Website: http://www.jackwhitsel.com

     Blog: http://jwhitsel.wordpress.com

     Facebook Fanpage: : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadows-of-Kings-Book-one-of-the-Dragon-Rising-Series/119975978113722

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