Forgotten Sin (Avenging Fate Book 1) By Brian Hershey

“Every once in a while I stumble across a book that quite literally blows me away in every sense of the word. Forgotten Sin by Brian Hershey is a fast-paced thriller that is stark and harrowing, with a troubled protagonist looking to escape her horrible past that is magnified with a phenomenal evil she has little control over.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

Doctor Mya Bishop has a well-established career at the University of Cambridge as a lecturer on medieval mythology and a very promising future ahead of her, but she is plagued with a harrowing secret from her past and cursed with lycanthrope, where she has the ability to shape shift into a wolf. Mya is in fact over two-hundred years old and successfully manages to hide her secret identity from the world, but she is also desperate to be free from her curse and seeks the help from an animal specialist, Marcus Holland, who Mya offers a substantial amount of money to come and observe her in her animal form.  Initially Marcus is disturbed to learn what Mya is and is reluctant to stay until he has a change of heart and decides to try and find a cure as everything he witnesses with Mya´s wolf form defies all logic.  After an experiment goes horribly wrong Mya´s real identity is discovered by a prominent member of parliament who is hell-bent on hunting her down and killing her while using his position of wealth as a means of getting tasks completed.  All of which leads to a deadly hunt where the hopes of survival on each opposing side are slim.

It’s not often I come across a book where each chapter is from the perspective of alternating characters’ and I have to say I found it highly immersing and a refreshing change to some of the werewolf fiction I have read before. I expect an exciting sequel awaiting this female heroine.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

 

The Eye of Control: By Majid Salim

“The Eye of Control is an interesting espionage novel set in World War II.  What makes this story great it that it makes sense historically and could have taken place in 1940s London as it was thought that intelligence was the key to victory.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

In summary, “The Eye of Control” is an exceptionally well written espionage thriller with a number of un-predictable twist and turns that will leave the reader turning those pages well in to the night to discover what happens to these wonderfully strong, well-developed and likable characters.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

An exceptionally well written espionage thriller!

Mother Moon: By Bob Goddard

“Goddard’s elegantly constructed novel evokes some of the finest traditions in science fiction, with a near future setting where the fate of humankind rests in the hands of a small colony of lunar-based scientists.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

Mother Moon is primarily set in the year 2087 and also on Earth in 1504.  These two unique stories run parallel along each other and although it is difficult to imagine at first how these two different stories link together through time and space, they do however reach a fascinating outcome, one that I didn’t see coming and I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy thought-provoking fiction.

I found the writing to be beautifully crafted with many remarkable, imaginative and breathtaking scenes. Goddard combines a gripping story with strong characterizations while maintaining an adventurous plot that deals with science and technology that is and will be used in the near future.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

A Promising Thriller with an Engaging Premise

What Goes Around

By Helen Donovan

“What Goes Around is a promising thriller with an engaging premise, a likable heroine and a clever combination of characters that you can care about despite their fundamental flaws.”  https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows main protagonist Phoebe, a recent college graduate who scores a position as a researcher at the Chicago Chronicle.  Phoebe promises herself two things with her first pay check, first to treat her mom to a special dinner and the second to follow her heart and hire a detective to uncover her roots on her journey of self-discovery.  Phoebe is initially elated when the detective discovers two living relatives and envisions a wonderful reunion and jubilant future…

However, events take more of a sinister turn when Phoebe discovers she has a sister who is a suspected murder and is also the granddaughter of a convicted murder and is dragged into a world of murder, deceit and greed.

Author Helen Donovan successfully manages to combine a mixture of mystery and suspense all in one go.  This is a taunt, gripping, thriller; make no mistake and it leaves little to the imagination as the pages are turned.

I’d be interested in reading a sequel to this book and would definitely recommend it to my readers and friends.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

The Adventures of George: By Blair Gowrie

“The Adventures of George is a fascinating and entertaining narrative poem that is written entirely in verse and chronicles the adventures and struggles of George, a chef who works in an exclusive New York restaurant along with his five cooks.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

These thirty-one hilarious connected short stories introduce the reader to a number of kaleidoscopic and peculiar characters, which resemble national leaders, terrorists and celebrities who are described in a humorous and satirical way.  I would highly recommend this book to people who are interested in politics and international affairs, knowledge of recent history and have a great sense of humour.

Each story is superbly crafted, original and well-written and a real credit to the author who clearly knows how to inject the right amount of satire to make this a fun and highly entertaining read.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

 

Ice Cream Man By Evan Bollinger

“Bollinger constructs a plot similar to a jigsaw puzzle with thousands of pieces that eventually all come together towards the end in a way I never imagined.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows main protagonist, Lacy Stamford, a single mum who is trying hard to keep her life and the life of her children on track after the death of her husband several years ago. All of a sudden Lacy’s life is thrown into turmoil when she returns from a simple shopping errand to discover her house is on fire and that this is just the start of the horror she and her children will face in the coming days of the unexplainable house fires, hotter than hot temperatures, spontaneous combustion and people going missing.

Ice Cream Man is a taunt thriller that is infused with horror and sci-fi elements and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy dark themed and thought-provoking fiction.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

Daygo’s Fury: The Daygo Stream By John F. O’ Sullivan

“Daygo’s Fury is dark fantasy at its best and is a great beginning to a special series. I can’t wait to read the follow-up.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/
In the opening chapters the reader is transported into the world of Liam, an orphan and slum dweller, who believes he is destined for greater things. Liam’s story deals with powerful issues and takes the reader on a journey into a violent and dark world where every day is a struggle to survive in a poverty-stricken world that’s gone mad.

In the following chapters the reader is introduced to Niisa, a forest dweller, who lives in a tribe that thrive to have an intense relationship with Daygo, a celestial being. Niisa story also deals with powerful issues and takes the reader on a deep spiritual path of human failures and triumphs where the magic in the story is both beautiful and disturbing.

Both young man’s stories alternate throughout the book and although I can’t yet draw the comparison to Liam and Niisa because they live in different worlds, both dealing with completely different issues. I have no doubt in further instalments that these two very remarkable young man’s paths will cross at some point and it will be interesting to see what is in store for both of them.

With regards to O’ Sullivan’s writing, the narrative is gripping, the plotting is tight, yet what struck me as more amazing were the voices of these two main protagonists, as they drive the story along with both their emotional weight and power.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

The Ghosts of Ravencrest (The Ravencrest Saga Book 1) By Tamara Thorne & Alistair Cross

“The Ghosts of Ravencrest is a classic style gothic horror story, with a modern twist that I found utterly compelling and very difficult to put down.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows main protagonist, Belinda Moorland, who is a college graduate, working as a waitress in a greasy spoon café. Belinda’s fed up with her mundane lifestyle and annoying roommate and takes the job as a governess at the Ravencrest Mansion in the exclusive area of Devilswood. Belinda is unaware that the mansion has a sinister and flagitious history that includes suicide, murder, devil worship and witchcraft. It’s not long before Belinda is caught up in the middle of the Mansions family legacy and is sent on a mission that threatens to change her own destiny and the family’s history for the better or for the worse.

Overall, I found the story to be dark with sinister sexual undertones. The story is very well written and superbly crafted and is a great asset to the authors. This book merits a full five stars and I look forward to reading more of the saga and would recommend this book to adult readers who enjoy horror elements mixed with erotica.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

Could 2022 be a glimpse into our own future?

Percipience Series Book 1
By Ken Kroes

“Percipience Series is fiction at its best with a compelling factual basis. Kroes eco terrorism thriller is unsettling and puts a lot into perspective about our social structure and partnership with Mother Earth. When I read this novel, I came away with the chilling notion that it could happen sometime in the near future.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

Kroes first offering in the eco terrorism thriller genre, 2022, centres on global intimidation made by an eco terrorist constitution and the attempts to try to stop them in their tracks while setting up a large-scale experiment for sustainable living.

Perhaps the biggest element of surprise for me was the size of global themes Kroes explores. These themes not only raise awareness of important global issues we face in life, they also educate, provoke and motivate us in to doing something positive to try to save the world as we know it, before it is too late. I also admire the author’s uncanny ability to combine, espionage, murder, revenge and a hint of romance to spice up the thrillingly relentless plot.

Could 2022 be a glimpse into our own future?

I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to find out what happens and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction which explores problems that surround our precious planet.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

The Tale of the Wulks By V.K. Green

“The Tale of the Wulks is remarkable début novel filled with fascinating creatures, well-developed characters, along with an epic adventure that will in no doubt leave fans of epic fantasy breathless.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows Rilk Wulk, an autistic young man who lives high in the mountains of California among a magical tribe that help protect Mother Earth. When The Dark Lord Vanko threatens to dominate the Earth, Rilk, and his tribe must band together to try and defeat Vanko and his relentlessly powerful army of monsters that will stop at nothing to achieve the Dark Lords mission.

Green has the unique ability to draw the reader into the middle of the intense action scenes, death-defying battles and has built a world that is so vivid and engrossing that I found it difficult leave. If you are a fan of fantasy of superbly written prose, than I highly recommend this book.

My Ranking: 5 Stars