Scan barcode
emeraldreviews's reviews
130 reviews
The Book of the Baku by R.L. Boyle
5.0
A nightmare inducing book that is perfect for this time of year!
The Book of Baku is an absolute triumph in the world of horror stories. R.L. Boyle has created a nightmarishly evil entity that is set to haunt your dreams alongside it’s demonic counterparts.
Sean, as main characters go, is fantastic. During the read I really felt a deep connection with him. As a result I felt the pain inflicted upon him, the dread that surrounded him and the happy memories that flooded his mind. Sean’s story is fraught with hardship, untapped talent and kind-heartedness. This is possibly what makes him a target for the Baku!
R.L. Boyle is a new author to me and in general I really struggle with new authors, some writing styles can fail to capture me and keep me interested but this is something that Boyle did not have an issue with. I read the first ‘chapter’ and I was hooked. Visions of an overcast dreary England formed in my mind, instantly forming an attachment to the story being a proud Englishman myself. The ideas of the Dulwood estate were notions that I could totally understand as I have known of many of these kinds of places in my life. I was able to envision the friend circle that Sean kept and the ‘gangs’ that plagued the estate. I was also able to store in my mind a majestic house in which Sean’s grandad lived, full of the décor that adorned my house when I was little. I pictured the beautiful library and the plentiful garden. With all this in my mind the scene was set and my infatuation with the story began. All this is testament to Boyle’s artistry and spectacular storytelling.
The horrors you will endure whilst reading this book will have goosebumps forming on your arms and chills running up and down your spine. The descriptive prowess of Boyle renders the reader a trembling husk of their former selves. These are all massive plus points for any good horror novel, the very least you want is to be scared of turning off the lights and checking those shadows in the peripheral of your vision. From a mirror eyed man to a deranged clown, there is guaranteed to be something in this novel to give you the heebie-jeebies.
Cutting away from the review for a moment, whilst writing this, I asked Siri how to spell heebie-jeebies and all she kept repeatedly saying was “eleven”. Naturally I was a bit confused but also curious. I turn to day 11 in The Book of Baku and no word of a lie, day 11 describes a nightmare that the Baku has consumed. These opening pages follow the nightmare of Mandy Simpson. Now me and Mandy share a common fear…clowns. Tell me this isn’t freaky. I am not making this up, it actually happened and my wife witnessed it first hand! *physically shivers*
Returning to my review, I wanted to make a special note aimed at the final few chapters of the book. Stop reading as you could consider these mild spoilers, skip this paragraph and you’ll be safe. The way the story begins to twist and turn back on its beginnings is incredibly written. I was totally ready for a horror story stock ending, but that didn’t happen. R.L. Boyle pulled a power slide to a totally different direction that was massively unexpected. Just as I was ready to feel like my review would be an average to good rating, I was propelled into the realms of exceptional, the family aspects and the revelations about the truth of Sean’s upbringing turned the story on its head that was so scary in itself, I am truly impressed.
I urge any horror novel fan to read this book. As a matter of fact, avid book readers of any genre will enjoy this absolutely splendid story. Packed full of heartfelt family love and deeply ingrained horror, you are sure to enjoy this book so much! I am definitely looking forward to reading more of R.L. Boyle’s works.
Remember…don’t feed the Baku.
The Book of Baku is an absolute triumph in the world of horror stories. R.L. Boyle has created a nightmarishly evil entity that is set to haunt your dreams alongside it’s demonic counterparts.
Sean, as main characters go, is fantastic. During the read I really felt a deep connection with him. As a result I felt the pain inflicted upon him, the dread that surrounded him and the happy memories that flooded his mind. Sean’s story is fraught with hardship, untapped talent and kind-heartedness. This is possibly what makes him a target for the Baku!
R.L. Boyle is a new author to me and in general I really struggle with new authors, some writing styles can fail to capture me and keep me interested but this is something that Boyle did not have an issue with. I read the first ‘chapter’ and I was hooked. Visions of an overcast dreary England formed in my mind, instantly forming an attachment to the story being a proud Englishman myself. The ideas of the Dulwood estate were notions that I could totally understand as I have known of many of these kinds of places in my life. I was able to envision the friend circle that Sean kept and the ‘gangs’ that plagued the estate. I was also able to store in my mind a majestic house in which Sean’s grandad lived, full of the décor that adorned my house when I was little. I pictured the beautiful library and the plentiful garden. With all this in my mind the scene was set and my infatuation with the story began. All this is testament to Boyle’s artistry and spectacular storytelling.
The horrors you will endure whilst reading this book will have goosebumps forming on your arms and chills running up and down your spine. The descriptive prowess of Boyle renders the reader a trembling husk of their former selves. These are all massive plus points for any good horror novel, the very least you want is to be scared of turning off the lights and checking those shadows in the peripheral of your vision. From a mirror eyed man to a deranged clown, there is guaranteed to be something in this novel to give you the heebie-jeebies.
Cutting away from the review for a moment, whilst writing this, I asked Siri how to spell heebie-jeebies and all she kept repeatedly saying was “eleven”. Naturally I was a bit confused but also curious. I turn to day 11 in The Book of Baku and no word of a lie, day 11 describes a nightmare that the Baku has consumed. These opening pages follow the nightmare of Mandy Simpson. Now me and Mandy share a common fear…clowns. Tell me this isn’t freaky. I am not making this up, it actually happened and my wife witnessed it first hand! *physically shivers*
Returning to my review, I wanted to make a special note aimed at the final few chapters of the book. Stop reading as you could consider these mild spoilers, skip this paragraph and you’ll be safe. The way the story begins to twist and turn back on its beginnings is incredibly written. I was totally ready for a horror story stock ending, but that didn’t happen. R.L. Boyle pulled a power slide to a totally different direction that was massively unexpected. Just as I was ready to feel like my review would be an average to good rating, I was propelled into the realms of exceptional, the family aspects and the revelations about the truth of Sean’s upbringing turned the story on its head that was so scary in itself, I am truly impressed.
I urge any horror novel fan to read this book. As a matter of fact, avid book readers of any genre will enjoy this absolutely splendid story. Packed full of heartfelt family love and deeply ingrained horror, you are sure to enjoy this book so much! I am definitely looking forward to reading more of R.L. Boyle’s works.
Remember…don’t feed the Baku.
Pennyblade by James Worrad, J.L. Worrad
4.0
A fantasy adventure full of violence, passion, chaos and betrayal. A world balanced on the edge of a knife and a rich cast of characters teetering on the edge of loyalties and prejudice.
J.L. Worrad has built a fascinating world of humans and Commrach. Commrach in this world is essentially who we would understand to be ‘elves’ although this seems to amount to a racial slur to the Commrach in Worrad’s world. These Commrach are perceived to be a glorious, alpha race and the humans a stain upon existence. The humans are more set in medieval ways, mostly verbalising with cockney-esqe accents and dabbling in all sorts of forms of depravity.
The structure of the book is exquisite. The chapters alternate throughout the book between the current timeline and the timeline of the past which ultimately leads to the current. These alternating chapters ensure that the main story moves forward consistently but also along the way you are steadily building the background to the story, answering the questions that appear throughout the main timeline. These can be quite fair apart on some occasions but please bear with it. There are no real questions that remain unanswered, well, none that have a massive impact on the story. Leftover questions for me mainly consisted of the normal ‘I wonder what happened to this character’ type questions that normally plague my mind after a good novel, whilst these can be frustrating, it goes to show how much of an impact the novel has on me.
Kyra Cal’Adra is a superb main character, cold and complicated but also warm, funny and loyal. Kyra is a Commrach and destined for a life of being nothing more than a vessel for the blood which the Commrach are attempting to ‘perfect’. A chance meeting with her future love interest, Shen, diverts her story in a huge way. A way that will change Kyra forever and force her into the life of a Pennyblade on the main.
A story packed full of fantastical locations, terrifying enemies and awesome battles. All toped off with a magnificent twist! Pennyblade is a novel of pure fantasy brilliance that will have you begging for a continuation immediately after you finish the last page. A rich story ingrained with interesting lore and spectacular characters, Pennyblade promises to dazzle all fans of fantasy books.
J.L. Worrad has built a fascinating world of humans and Commrach. Commrach in this world is essentially who we would understand to be ‘elves’ although this seems to amount to a racial slur to the Commrach in Worrad’s world. These Commrach are perceived to be a glorious, alpha race and the humans a stain upon existence. The humans are more set in medieval ways, mostly verbalising with cockney-esqe accents and dabbling in all sorts of forms of depravity.
The structure of the book is exquisite. The chapters alternate throughout the book between the current timeline and the timeline of the past which ultimately leads to the current. These alternating chapters ensure that the main story moves forward consistently but also along the way you are steadily building the background to the story, answering the questions that appear throughout the main timeline. These can be quite fair apart on some occasions but please bear with it. There are no real questions that remain unanswered, well, none that have a massive impact on the story. Leftover questions for me mainly consisted of the normal ‘I wonder what happened to this character’ type questions that normally plague my mind after a good novel, whilst these can be frustrating, it goes to show how much of an impact the novel has on me.
Kyra Cal’Adra is a superb main character, cold and complicated but also warm, funny and loyal. Kyra is a Commrach and destined for a life of being nothing more than a vessel for the blood which the Commrach are attempting to ‘perfect’. A chance meeting with her future love interest, Shen, diverts her story in a huge way. A way that will change Kyra forever and force her into the life of a Pennyblade on the main.
A story packed full of fantastical locations, terrifying enemies and awesome battles. All toped off with a magnificent twist! Pennyblade is a novel of pure fantasy brilliance that will have you begging for a continuation immediately after you finish the last page. A rich story ingrained with interesting lore and spectacular characters, Pennyblade promises to dazzle all fans of fantasy books.
Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells
5.0
Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells is a hysterically funny, fantasy adventure that is an absolute joy to read. I had so much fun reading this comic, it was the perfect escapism of humour, adventure, action and sarcasm that came into my comic life right when I needed it.
I first discovered this comic on NetGalley. I was the cover, became intrigued and investigated further, the description grabbed me and I requested to read there and then. Thankfully I was accepted, this filled me with excitement. I was not disappointed when I finished reading this book. Kendra is an exceptionally talented person, not only in writing this delightfully awesome story but also in providing the expressive artwork. Whilst this was an advanced readers copy with the potential to ‘iron out’ some of the art, the art style and direction is fantastic and compliments the story and writing style beautifully.
My favourite aspect of this story is that it is different to other comics on the market right now. Yes, there are plenty of fantasy comics but none, for me, have this magically crafted recipe of humour, action, intrigue and general naughtiness. As someone from the UK I really did appreciate the jokes and sarcasm throughout! It’s right up my street and I honestly laughed out loud during certain panels.
I need more stories that include this group of rough around the edges ‘heroes’. I had such a happy feeling in my mind reading this comic and I want that to continue. I’m hoping Kendra may read my review and answer my prayers with a new story! I’m down for being a guest character too! Haha! In all honesty you need to check this comic out whether you are a fantasy fan, D&D fan or just a lover of good, well made comics.
“Why is this gremlin shooing me, it was a draw, not a loss.” - Eugen Edouard Emmanuel D’Pascha, Crown Prince And Heir Apparent Of The Kingdom Of Marble
I first discovered this comic on NetGalley. I was the cover, became intrigued and investigated further, the description grabbed me and I requested to read there and then. Thankfully I was accepted, this filled me with excitement. I was not disappointed when I finished reading this book. Kendra is an exceptionally talented person, not only in writing this delightfully awesome story but also in providing the expressive artwork. Whilst this was an advanced readers copy with the potential to ‘iron out’ some of the art, the art style and direction is fantastic and compliments the story and writing style beautifully.
My favourite aspect of this story is that it is different to other comics on the market right now. Yes, there are plenty of fantasy comics but none, for me, have this magically crafted recipe of humour, action, intrigue and general naughtiness. As someone from the UK I really did appreciate the jokes and sarcasm throughout! It’s right up my street and I honestly laughed out loud during certain panels.
I need more stories that include this group of rough around the edges ‘heroes’. I had such a happy feeling in my mind reading this comic and I want that to continue. I’m hoping Kendra may read my review and answer my prayers with a new story! I’m down for being a guest character too! Haha! In all honesty you need to check this comic out whether you are a fantasy fan, D&D fan or just a lover of good, well made comics.
“Why is this gremlin shooing me, it was a draw, not a loss.” - Eugen Edouard Emmanuel D’Pascha, Crown Prince And Heir Apparent Of The Kingdom Of Marble
Stars and Bones by Gareth L. Powell
5.0
A lightning paced, space thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat, refusing to stop reading!
Stars and Bones by Gareth L. Powell had me gripped from the beginning. The story is so enticing, finding its place in current human fears and problems that are facing the world, whether that be the fear of nuclear war or environmental destruction or both! Throughout every chapter Gareth had me considering the world we live in and how we must do better as a species or risk total annihilation or expulsion! Who knows what lurks out in the farthest reaches of space! Maybe our own real life angels of benevolence are watching us with intrigue, awaiting a moment in which they must take action.
The lead character Eryn is superb, with such a rich backstory and intriguing personality traits, Eyrn scouts her way into your heart and stays there throughout each page! I really enjoyed Eryn’s relationship with the Furious Ocelot scout ship. Dream linking is such an interesting aspect to their dynamic. With such a personal connection, I couldn’t help but be as drawn in and connected to Furious Ocelot as I was with Eryn. Their relationship growing throughout the story underpinned the entirety of the experience for me.
I won’t go into too much detail about the perils and enemies Eryn et al will face. I felt so many emotions as the story and dangers grew, that it would be wrong for me to spoil it for people who haven’t read it yet.
The layout of the chapters was fantastic too, It was interesting to see the story through multiple characters' eyes with varying perspectives of each situation. They were also fairly short which I always approve of because it allows me to read a chapter here and there and not have to worry about having to stop mid chapter. That isn’t to say I wanted to stop though, this space epic grips you and refuses to let go.
Gareth L. Powell surely has a sci-fi best seller on his hands with what is sure to be a classic in the genre. Please make sure you read this whether you are a fan of sci-fi or not. The characters, their relationships and the message regarding humanity's arrogant existence is key to this novel and will have you thinking about life as we know it.
Stars and Bones by Gareth L. Powell had me gripped from the beginning. The story is so enticing, finding its place in current human fears and problems that are facing the world, whether that be the fear of nuclear war or environmental destruction or both! Throughout every chapter Gareth had me considering the world we live in and how we must do better as a species or risk total annihilation or expulsion! Who knows what lurks out in the farthest reaches of space! Maybe our own real life angels of benevolence are watching us with intrigue, awaiting a moment in which they must take action.
The lead character Eryn is superb, with such a rich backstory and intriguing personality traits, Eyrn scouts her way into your heart and stays there throughout each page! I really enjoyed Eryn’s relationship with the Furious Ocelot scout ship. Dream linking is such an interesting aspect to their dynamic. With such a personal connection, I couldn’t help but be as drawn in and connected to Furious Ocelot as I was with Eryn. Their relationship growing throughout the story underpinned the entirety of the experience for me.
I won’t go into too much detail about the perils and enemies Eryn et al will face. I felt so many emotions as the story and dangers grew, that it would be wrong for me to spoil it for people who haven’t read it yet.
The layout of the chapters was fantastic too, It was interesting to see the story through multiple characters' eyes with varying perspectives of each situation. They were also fairly short which I always approve of because it allows me to read a chapter here and there and not have to worry about having to stop mid chapter. That isn’t to say I wanted to stop though, this space epic grips you and refuses to let go.
Gareth L. Powell surely has a sci-fi best seller on his hands with what is sure to be a classic in the genre. Please make sure you read this whether you are a fan of sci-fi or not. The characters, their relationships and the message regarding humanity's arrogant existence is key to this novel and will have you thinking about life as we know it.
The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young
4.0
Adrienne Young takes us on a fantastical journey through the backstreets of Bastian, accompanying Bryn as she fights to prove herself in the eyes of her uncle and honour the legacy of her parents.
The world of The Last Legacy is a dark, mysterious realm in which powerful family dynamics rule the roost. Adrienne Young has developed this in the mind of readers with tremendous results. I was absorbed into a musty, gritty underworld that is Bastian as soon as Bryn arrived on the dock. Adrienne’s descriptive prowess is something to behold. As Bryn learns more about Bastian, the picture in my mind grows, it is a fantastic experience of world building that is rare to find.
The character of Bryn is a character of depth and intrigue. A multi-layered person with increasing dimensions throughout the story, Bryn is a powerful lead with a balance of intelligence and common sense which aids her development and standing within the Roth family. The family around Bryn all have very distinct personalities and it is testament to Adrienne’s writing that the reader is easily able to distinguish between them all. This aids the reading of this book as it makes the depth of the story brilliant but also very easy to understand and follow.
An excellent standalone story in Adrienne Young’s universe that has developed a want to journey further into this world for me. Give The Last Legacy a go, it really is a brilliant book.
The world of The Last Legacy is a dark, mysterious realm in which powerful family dynamics rule the roost. Adrienne Young has developed this in the mind of readers with tremendous results. I was absorbed into a musty, gritty underworld that is Bastian as soon as Bryn arrived on the dock. Adrienne’s descriptive prowess is something to behold. As Bryn learns more about Bastian, the picture in my mind grows, it is a fantastic experience of world building that is rare to find.
The character of Bryn is a character of depth and intrigue. A multi-layered person with increasing dimensions throughout the story, Bryn is a powerful lead with a balance of intelligence and common sense which aids her development and standing within the Roth family. The family around Bryn all have very distinct personalities and it is testament to Adrienne’s writing that the reader is easily able to distinguish between them all. This aids the reading of this book as it makes the depth of the story brilliant but also very easy to understand and follow.
An excellent standalone story in Adrienne Young’s universe that has developed a want to journey further into this world for me. Give The Last Legacy a go, it really is a brilliant book.
The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning
5.0
A nostalgic trip through popular culture and geek heaven!
Josh Winning has created a distinct and unique new fantasy adventure that had me captivated from the very first page. Whether it be the strange sense of nostalgia, I say strange as I was born in ‘92… or whether it's the fantasy world building before my eyes, Josh ensured that there is plenty to keep readers satisfied throughout each chapter.
The Shadow Glass is a story of family at its core. The estranged father and son are at the heart of the story and with Jack not wanting to follow his fathers legacy. After his fathers death, Jack returns to his childhood home and during a thunderstorm, the wild fantasy adventure of his youth begins to come alive! Let’s face it, when we were younger, we all had crazy visions of the impossible becoming possible. For me… I wanted to be the green power ranger, For others it was their childhood toys coming alive. That’s exactly what The Shadow Glass is about. It is also about becoming who you are meant to be, accepting your destiny and achieving the greatness you were born to reach.
Josh Winning’s writing is magnificent. From the descriptive prowess of mystical realms and creatures to the heartstring tugging moments involving family and friends, Josh is clearly looking to become one of the fantasy greats and with The Shadow Glass, he is doing just that.
If you enjoy nostalgia. If you are a fantasy fan. If you love incredibly well designed and written stories… then you must read The Shadow Glass. A VHS box stuffed with heart, violence, mystical journeys, heroism and family. For sure to remain one of my favourite fantasy stories of recent times.
Josh Winning has created a distinct and unique new fantasy adventure that had me captivated from the very first page. Whether it be the strange sense of nostalgia, I say strange as I was born in ‘92… or whether it's the fantasy world building before my eyes, Josh ensured that there is plenty to keep readers satisfied throughout each chapter.
The Shadow Glass is a story of family at its core. The estranged father and son are at the heart of the story and with Jack not wanting to follow his fathers legacy. After his fathers death, Jack returns to his childhood home and during a thunderstorm, the wild fantasy adventure of his youth begins to come alive! Let’s face it, when we were younger, we all had crazy visions of the impossible becoming possible. For me… I wanted to be the green power ranger, For others it was their childhood toys coming alive. That’s exactly what The Shadow Glass is about. It is also about becoming who you are meant to be, accepting your destiny and achieving the greatness you were born to reach.
Josh Winning’s writing is magnificent. From the descriptive prowess of mystical realms and creatures to the heartstring tugging moments involving family and friends, Josh is clearly looking to become one of the fantasy greats and with The Shadow Glass, he is doing just that.
If you enjoy nostalgia. If you are a fantasy fan. If you love incredibly well designed and written stories… then you must read The Shadow Glass. A VHS box stuffed with heart, violence, mystical journeys, heroism and family. For sure to remain one of my favourite fantasy stories of recent times.
When It Rains by Mark Allan Gunnells
5.0
This novella shines a light upon humanity and watches as it is tested to its limits. As a species, most humans tend to fear the unknown and react in polar opposite ways when the chips are down. This story portrays those reactions in superb fashion.
Mark Allan Gunnells is an author I hadn’t come across until now. I thank Crystal Lake Publishing so much for introducing me to him with this novella ARC. Mark has such incredible storytelling prowess and a distinct ability to control the narrative of the story from a multitude of directions. Following a story from the eyes of multiple characters with hugely varied personalities, situational beginnings and journeys should be confusing and hard to keep track of but Mark’s technique ensures a engrossing read.
The story itself is incredibly well thought out and designed ensuring gripping action but also intense heart and soul. The character's individuality keeps such an interesting sense of diversity throughout a singular story contained to one location. It is testament to Mark’s ability that this all blends so seamlessly.
When It Rains is a dark look into humanity's responses during a crisis that will have you considering your own reactions to fear and the unknown. Whilst not a typical horror story, the novella’s scary side lies within its realism…What happens in relation to emotion in the story is not at all far-fetched and happens daily throughout the world. Also as an added note, at this point I wouldn't be shocked if it started raining a gelatinous gunk!
Mark Allan Gunnells is an author I hadn’t come across until now. I thank Crystal Lake Publishing so much for introducing me to him with this novella ARC. Mark has such incredible storytelling prowess and a distinct ability to control the narrative of the story from a multitude of directions. Following a story from the eyes of multiple characters with hugely varied personalities, situational beginnings and journeys should be confusing and hard to keep track of but Mark’s technique ensures a engrossing read.
The story itself is incredibly well thought out and designed ensuring gripping action but also intense heart and soul. The character's individuality keeps such an interesting sense of diversity throughout a singular story contained to one location. It is testament to Mark’s ability that this all blends so seamlessly.
When It Rains is a dark look into humanity's responses during a crisis that will have you considering your own reactions to fear and the unknown. Whilst not a typical horror story, the novella’s scary side lies within its realism…What happens in relation to emotion in the story is not at all far-fetched and happens daily throughout the world. Also as an added note, at this point I wouldn't be shocked if it started raining a gelatinous gunk!