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brittanymwillows's reviews
95 reviews
Rim War: Subversion by Kadin Seton
3.0
I was given a free review copy of this book.
Man, I love Kadin's stories. After reading Eye of the Draco: Darkfall a couple of years back, I could not wait to see what she might cook up next, and I was not disappointed! I do have a few gripes, but let's start with the good stuff.
The worldbuilding was excellent. Explanations of medical and technological elements were clean and don't leave you feeling overwhelmed, as is the pit many scifi authors often fall in to. I loved the concept of reverse aging technology, and following these old folks as they transformed into spry younger versions of themselves was certainly a ride (and a cringe-worthy one at that. Let's just say . . . the process is not pretty).
I also fell hard for the cast. All were unique and came from various walks of life (including life of the alien variety). My favorite character, aside from Millie, has got to be Dr. Cennu Andar Uleht—a Valorian doctor aboard the SpaceLion.
You throw an interesting alien into your cast, and you bet your butt I'm gonna be all over them.
Now, on to my gripes.
- Personally, I would've liked a little more description of the various species' physical appearances (for example, facial and body structure. Most were simply described with regard to their hair and skin color). Mind you, I seem to stand out from he crowd that way. Many prefer vague descriptions that allow them to build the character's image themselves.
- Romance felt a smidge out of place, as did cussing. Although the language fit some characters perfectly, it felt forced from others.
- The story felt somewhat disjointed to me. The characters didn't seem to be shooting towards a clear goal, and the book seemed to end before it was ready to.
Gripes aside, I really enjoyed RIM WAR: SUBVERSION, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series. I'm excited to see where it goes!
Man, I love Kadin's stories. After reading Eye of the Draco: Darkfall a couple of years back, I could not wait to see what she might cook up next, and I was not disappointed! I do have a few gripes, but let's start with the good stuff.
The worldbuilding was excellent. Explanations of medical and technological elements were clean and don't leave you feeling overwhelmed, as is the pit many scifi authors often fall in to. I loved the concept of reverse aging technology, and following these old folks as they transformed into spry younger versions of themselves was certainly a ride (and a cringe-worthy one at that. Let's just say . . . the process is not pretty).
I also fell hard for the cast. All were unique and came from various walks of life (including life of the alien variety). My favorite character, aside from Millie, has got to be Dr. Cennu Andar Uleht—a Valorian doctor aboard the SpaceLion.
You throw an interesting alien into your cast, and you bet your butt I'm gonna be all over them.
Now, on to my gripes.
- Personally, I would've liked a little more description of the various species' physical appearances (for example, facial and body structure. Most were simply described with regard to their hair and skin color). Mind you, I seem to stand out from he crowd that way. Many prefer vague descriptions that allow them to build the character's image themselves.
- Romance felt a smidge out of place, as did cussing. Although the language fit some characters perfectly, it felt forced from others.
- The story felt somewhat disjointed to me. The characters didn't seem to be shooting towards a clear goal, and the book seemed to end before it was ready to.
Gripes aside, I really enjoyed RIM WAR: SUBVERSION, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series. I'm excited to see where it goes!
Orbs by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
3.0
I'm a sucker for anything in the science fiction genre that includes aliens. Especially if those aliens are blue, bioluminescent monsters with unique designs and an even more unique method of harvesting the water from our little blue planet. I've seen many sci-fi movies where extraterrestrial beings come down seeking to steal humanity's most important resource, but the way these "Organics" go about it is much more terrifying and gut-wrenching than anything I've seen, or rather read, before.
ORBS, while it does have a few faults here and there as many books do, is a wonderfully written piece of fiction that provides a reasonably fast-paced, easy read that will grip you from the very start. There was even a few changes in point-of-view and tense during one characters time in the spotlight -- from third-person past-tense to first-person present-tense -- and it did not yank me out of the story even a little bit. It fit surprisingly well considering the change, and I give props to Nicholas for being able to pull that off flawlessly.
Speaking of characters, Nicholas' cast are enjoyable and well-developed bunch, though perhaps not as diverse as I would have liked. However, I was glad to see their individuality starting to show much more near the end of the book. And if I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Sophie. She reminds me very much of one of my own characters -- Headstrong, doesn't take shit from anybody, and is very confident in her talents. Coming close in second would be Ash Overton. Admittedly, when he first appeared I was worried he would become one of these stereo-typical soldiers you see often encounter in science fiction, but he quickly erased all of my worries.
To round off my review, I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie -- even more so after being given the chance by Nicholas to create some illustrations related to it. I really do hope to see it on the big screen some day, because I'm confident it would be a massive hit!
ORBS, while it does have a few faults here and there as many books do, is a wonderfully written piece of fiction that provides a reasonably fast-paced, easy read that will grip you from the very start. There was even a few changes in point-of-view and tense during one characters time in the spotlight -- from third-person past-tense to first-person present-tense -- and it did not yank me out of the story even a little bit. It fit surprisingly well considering the change, and I give props to Nicholas for being able to pull that off flawlessly.
Speaking of characters, Nicholas' cast are enjoyable and well-developed bunch, though perhaps not as diverse as I would have liked. However, I was glad to see their individuality starting to show much more near the end of the book. And if I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Sophie. She reminds me very much of one of my own characters -- Headstrong, doesn't take shit from anybody, and is very confident in her talents. Coming close in second would be Ash Overton. Admittedly, when he first appeared I was worried he would become one of these stereo-typical soldiers you see often encounter in science fiction, but he quickly erased all of my worries.
To round off my review, I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie -- even more so after being given the chance by Nicholas to create some illustrations related to it. I really do hope to see it on the big screen some day, because I'm confident it would be a massive hit!
Eye of the Draco: Darkfall by Kadin Seton
3.0
Eye of the Draco: Darkfall has to be one of the best science fiction novels I have read in an incredibly long time. Kadin Seton is a highly talented writer who knows how to handle a cast of young characters properly, and without making them seem like a bunch of goofy kids. The situation feels serious, it feels real. So many books lack that nowadays and I find it's a very important quality, because if the story doesn't feel real, I start to lose interest.
Overall, this book was just a breath of fresh air. A somewhat different take on an alien invasions I'm used to reading about, an absolutely wonderful cast of characters you get attached to super fast. good pacing, and easy to read with just the right amount of science-y goodness.
Eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment of the series!
Overall, this book was just a breath of fresh air. A somewhat different take on an alien invasions I'm used to reading about, an absolutely wonderful cast of characters you get attached to super fast. good pacing, and easy to read with just the right amount of science-y goodness.
Eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment of the series!
Apocalyptic Empire: The Hatchery Compound by Chris Blake
3.0
Alright, I was given this story to review in a book swap. I’ve never read one of these apocalyptic zombie novels before, so it was a nice experience and I will try to go as in depth on this review as possible. I would also like to say that this is my very first review, so I’m new to this but will certainly try my best!
STORY
The story behind this book is compelling and has truly great potential. I don’t have a lot to say about it here, as I expand upon the problems I encountered within it below.
WRITING
In the beginning of this novel, the writing seems somewhat “bumpy” and disjointed. Looking through other reviews, I saw Chris had mentioned he’d hired a professional editor for the job, and after discovering that . . . well, I would honestly suggest he finds a new editor.
That said, the writing in this is not terrible by any means and it clearly improves as the story moves along. I won’t lie, though; it could certainly use some work and I would definitely suggest putting it by several beta readers before entering the final editing process – this may have been done, but I can't be certain. Anyhow, as I learned recently, beta readers can be extremely helpful. My beta readers helped to improve my book in wonderful ways.
CHARACTER
While a few of the characters are quite interesting, many of them are lacking a bit in development – especially with the women in the story. I’ll also say that I personally did not have much of a problem with the protagonist’s age, however I would have imagined him being older considering his level of maturity. (Then again, some 24-year-olds are surprisingly mature these days.) He was quite a good character, though; I liked him.
COVER
Most people don’t share their opinions on the cover of a book in the reviews, but being an artist my self, I shall because I feel it is quite important to the success of any book. While not all people will judge a book by its cover, there are still quite a number of us who feel that a poor cover equals poor story content.
My opinion of the cover designed by Sharon Watkins is that it’s off-putting. If I had come across the book myself, I would have looked the other way. This is mainly due to the color scheme and the lettering. I feel that the silhouettes should have been black, and that a monotone color scheme would have suited it much better than the bright greens and reds.
Please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion. Chris may be happy with the cover, other people may love it as well – but I just don’t. I am an extremely picky person about color and design and proper execution, which is why I strive to improve my own work each and ever day.
___________________________________________
Overall, I think this book deserves three stars for an enjoyable, well-thought-out story and pretty decent writing! I would give a 3.5, but that isn't an option. I hope this review is helpful, and I hope I didn’t come off as rude at any point as that was not my intention. <3
Kind regards, (and much luck on your future endeavors, Chris)
Brittany M.
STORY
The story behind this book is compelling and has truly great potential. I don’t have a lot to say about it here, as I expand upon the problems I encountered within it below.
WRITING
In the beginning of this novel, the writing seems somewhat “bumpy” and disjointed. Looking through other reviews, I saw Chris had mentioned he’d hired a professional editor for the job, and after discovering that . . . well, I would honestly suggest he finds a new editor.
That said, the writing in this is not terrible by any means and it clearly improves as the story moves along. I won’t lie, though; it could certainly use some work and I would definitely suggest putting it by several beta readers before entering the final editing process – this may have been done, but I can't be certain. Anyhow, as I learned recently, beta readers can be extremely helpful. My beta readers helped to improve my book in wonderful ways.
CHARACTER
While a few of the characters are quite interesting, many of them are lacking a bit in development – especially with the women in the story. I’ll also say that I personally did not have much of a problem with the protagonist’s age, however I would have imagined him being older considering his level of maturity. (Then again, some 24-year-olds are surprisingly mature these days.) He was quite a good character, though; I liked him.
COVER
Most people don’t share their opinions on the cover of a book in the reviews, but being an artist my self, I shall because I feel it is quite important to the success of any book. While not all people will judge a book by its cover, there are still quite a number of us who feel that a poor cover equals poor story content.
My opinion of the cover designed by Sharon Watkins is that it’s off-putting. If I had come across the book myself, I would have looked the other way. This is mainly due to the color scheme and the lettering. I feel that the silhouettes should have been black, and that a monotone color scheme would have suited it much better than the bright greens and reds.
Please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion. Chris may be happy with the cover, other people may love it as well – but I just don’t. I am an extremely picky person about color and design and proper execution, which is why I strive to improve my own work each and ever day.
___________________________________________
Overall, I think this book deserves three stars for an enjoyable, well-thought-out story and pretty decent writing! I would give a 3.5, but that isn't an option. I hope this review is helpful, and I hope I didn’t come off as rude at any point as that was not my intention. <3
Kind regards, (and much luck on your future endeavors, Chris)
Brittany M.
Sasha's Story: How to Find a Mate the Hard Way by Andromeda Bliss
5.0
What a lovely little story this was! It was well-written, and not just packed full of sex for the sake of it. The fact that the characters seemed to genuinely feel for each other was nice, and the chemistry between them was wonderful.
Ocen has got to be one of my favourite fictional aliens to date. Absolutely loved his personality. As I was reading I imagined him looking somewhat like the Argonians from The Elder Scrolls series.
The one thing that disappoints me was how short it was! When I reached the end, I found myself wanting more. I would have liked to find out more about the kidnappers and the experiments they were running, what the purpose was behind them.
So yeah, great read! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys alien/human couples, and I'll personally recommend it to some of my friends who loved the cross-species pairings in the Mass Effect video games.
Ocen has got to be one of my favourite fictional aliens to date. Absolutely loved his personality. As I was reading I imagined him looking somewhat like the Argonians from The Elder Scrolls series.
The one thing that disappoints me was how short it was! When I reached the end, I found myself wanting more. I would have liked to find out more about the kidnappers and the experiments they were running, what the purpose was behind them.
So yeah, great read! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys alien/human couples, and I'll personally recommend it to some of my friends who loved the cross-species pairings in the Mass Effect video games.
The Protector by Mark Matthews
4.0
I’ve read very few fantasy stories in my lifetime as I stick mainly to those within the science fiction genre, but I actually really enjoyed this story. It was lovely, not over the top like the few others I’ve checked out in this genre, and the characters were pretty well developed. However . . . I have to agree with a previous reviewer and say that the budding romance was burdened by a very childish kind of infatuation, like you would see among young teens. Not a huge issue by any means, just something I noticed that bothered me a little.
It was wonderfully written, and the authors voice is one I quite enjoy. I’m going to be nitpicky here and say the dialogue probably could have been a little more separated throughout the book, and that those paragraphs could have been shortened considerably. I prefer fewer breaks in dialogue when I’m reading, but maybe that’s just me. :)
But anyway, there’s my review! Would’ve liked to write more, but unfortunately I can’t find anything else to say. I loved the story, loved the characters. It was well-written and the world the author has created was thoroughly enjoyable. Dorian stood out among the cast, perhaps because he reminded me of one of my own characters. He was a favourite of mine, as was Zanora.
I would definitely recommend this book, and I’ll certainly be grabbing up the second book in this series!
It was wonderfully written, and the authors voice is one I quite enjoy. I’m going to be nitpicky here and say the dialogue probably could have been a little more separated throughout the book, and that those paragraphs could have been shortened considerably. I prefer fewer breaks in dialogue when I’m reading, but maybe that’s just me. :)
But anyway, there’s my review! Would’ve liked to write more, but unfortunately I can’t find anything else to say. I loved the story, loved the characters. It was well-written and the world the author has created was thoroughly enjoyable. Dorian stood out among the cast, perhaps because he reminded me of one of my own characters. He was a favourite of mine, as was Zanora.
I would definitely recommend this book, and I’ll certainly be grabbing up the second book in this series!
Seeking Dr. Magic by Scott Spotson
4.0
I have to say, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. From the first page to the very last, it held my interest and sucked me in. The story was intriguing and unique and made for many late nights, as I had trouble putting the book down (but life intervening made the journey getting through this book longer than I would have liked!). Really my only issue with the story is that, while some of the characters were fantastic and well-developed, a few of the others seemed to be lacking a little.
All in all, a great read! I will most definitely read it again in the future.
All in all, a great read! I will most definitely read it again in the future.