Book Review: "Friend of the Devil" by Stpehen Lloyd

 

From acclaimed television writer Stephen Lloyd comes a devilishly good debut: a lightning-fast horror/noir mash-up for fans of Jim Butcher and Joe Hill.

It's the 1980s and Sam Gregory, a substance-abusing war veteran turned insurance investigator, arrives at the galactically elite Danforth Putnam boarding school off the coast of New England to find a stolen manuscript of incalculable value. He soon senses that something far stranger than missing books is afoot--and when students begin vanishing from campus, he realizes how serious it is.

At the same time, a reporter is keeping an eye on Sam. Harriet, a physically fragile but spiritually indomitable writer for the school paper, is trying to figure out precisely what he's up to.

As events at the school become increasingly terrifying, Sam and Harriet both venture into increasingly dark territory to crack the mystery. In the end, they uncover a truth more horrible than they could have imagined.

Put the novels of Raymond Chandler and Bram Stoker in a blender, splash in a couple drops of Stranger Things, and pour yourself a nice tall glass of Friend of the Devil. - from Goodreads.com

Not sure where I found this one, but when it showed up in reading list, I was curious. Definitely a good read! I enjoyed the snarky comments, and the 'following the trail' as this insurance claims detective is trying to find the culprit that stole an ancient manuscript at a private school. As the story unfilds, we find out more about our detective, the girl reporter that is trying to get back at the 'jocks' that bully her and her friends. The plot thickens, and I had a hard time putting it down until the end.

I felt the writing was right for what I enjoy reading. There was snarky humor, an interesting tale, some blood and gore, and some real life instances. Showing one possible alternative to students and staff at any given private school. I think the author has given some validity to how people in that setting could be and things they do. Add in a bit of the supernatural into the mix, and this story is certainly entertainably funny.

Book Review: "The Initiate" by Jenny Sandiford

 

Dark magic always comes with a price…

Desperate for a cure for her Shadow Magic that’s spiraling out of control, eighteen-year-old Azalea Sharp steps into the hidden forest deep within the English countryside.

What she finds is the opposite, a way to control magic, and from an unlikely source—her dead father. But she must be willing to pay the price and raise him from the dead.

With her father’s enemies on her doorstep, she is driven into hiding among a secret community of Mages in the Tower of London. There, Azalea quickly learns that not all magic is equal.

But with more than her own life at stake, will the help of a notorious Shadow Mage be enough?

Or will darkness unleash its brutal force on London, leaving no one safe? - from Booksirens.com

Thank you to Booksirens.com and the publisher/author, for allowing me an ARC  for me to provide a honest opinion of this book.

This is Book one of the The Shadow Atlas series, and the plot synopsis sounded good to me. However, once I started reading, I was let down. Right from the beginning, our main character is ahving issues with her magic, has ashort "meeting" with her dead father, who says she can help him return from teh dead with her magic....and then I put the book down. I was only maybe 40 page turns in, but I just could not get into the story. I felt that this being listed as an adult fantasy was not true - reading it I felt like I was back in high school. Characters had no depth at all, and it was like the author was telling the happenings from a dream, that just flitted from place to place.

I did not finish the book, even after trying to go back to it after a few days, therefore, no rating will be given. I do like the plot synopsis, and would like to see some more in-depth story-telling about the characters, and the world. I may not have gotten in far enough to see what the different types of magic were like ro able to do, but that is another aspect to consider as well.

---

Initiate is a spellbinding new adult urban fantasy and the first book in the Shadow Atlas series.

A must-read fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, entwined lives, and forbidden magic. Perfect for those seeking a darker, university aged Harry Potter and for fans of The Mortal Instruments.

Book Review: "The Die Back" by Grayson Steele

 

Ritual death. Young life. Can the one woman from the outside curb the bloodletting liturgy?

Dakota Jones lives and breathes the strange. Unorthodox and willing to follow clues no matter where they lead, the forthright detective is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. So when a member of a remote society off Tasmania’s coast washes ashore dead under suspicious circumstances, the determined detective goes undercover to bring the victim justice.

Delving deep into the isolated culture only to find it more of an unwelcoming cult, Dakota discovers the body belonged to an intended sacrifice who tried to get away. And when she learns the rebellious teen next in line for the murderous ceremony is planning a daring escape, she’s in a race against the clock to uncover a dark revelation.

Can the driven detective save the girl and herself before they’re sucked into a zealot’s maw? - from BookSirens.com

Thanks to Booksirens.com and the publisher/author for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This appears to be the first book of possibly a small series, regaling the cases of Det. Dakota Jones. This particular first story takes place off of Tasmania. I know nothing about that place, so in my head, I pictured it being a remote area of Southern Canada. Anyways, it takes place on the shores of a large lake, with a town on one side, and on the other, a lighthouse (maybe it is a sea inlet?) and a secluded village that has been around for 200 years. 

The plot description for this story caught my eye. A little detective stuff, a little paranormal maybe. A little modern-day ghost tale, perhaps. As I started in on reading it, I did get drawn in, waiting to see how this detective was going to solve the causes behind a couple 'drownings', by working in this secluded community. This community is described as cult-like, with archaic speech patterns, and lifestyle. The key point being no contact with anyone or anything outside their town.

Shortly into the story, we read about 'the die back', a ritual performed in this community, that kills off selected members, who in turn believe they are going to heaven. A bit drastic, but still somewhat believable for me. Let's add in some weird water from the lake, in select areas, that has supposed healing properties, as well as helping prolong a normal life span. Hmmm, still hanging on.

Then, I lost it. My interest just went downhill at maybe mid point of the book. There was not much regarding the background of any of our characters. Just one or two snippets about a childhood memory or past love. It was almost like just reading the walk-through actions of a robot. Even with the thought that police officers are sometimes this way, dealing with the types of death and numerous types of people they have to deal with on cases. Let's add in this town. I get secluded, cult-like, anti-social. I get not wanting people to come there, and refusing to talk to outsiders (even the police) as they feel they govern themselves. But for 200 years? Speaking an old version of the 'english'? All across from an inlet, that has a ferry come to them to transport goods to be traded out to the 'real world'. Sigh. There is more I want to rant about, but am trying not to ruin the tale.

Bottom line: character development and background was not very well done. Worldbuilding was decent - I liked the description of the area, and it gave me a physical location in my mind to picture the story. Like most fantasy-near-real-life stories, there are things that happen that either make you scream in delight, or throw the book away, and this one left me in the low middle. Some of the story did not make any sense to me, and I felt a bit like the author was trying to just find something to fill the gaps, specifically all the crap about Fibonacci number and nature. But, maybe it si just me. Either way, the book was easy to read and understand (even believable for fantasy). Would say a YA reader would easily read this story, though some concepts used may be above their heads (cult, secluded community).

Book Review: "The Martyr" by Anthony Ryan

 

Times have changed for Alwyn Scribe. Once an outlaw, he’s now a spymaster and sworn protector of Lady Evadine Courlain, whose visions of a demonic apocalypse have earned her the fanatical devotion of the faithful. 

Yet Evadine’s growing fame has put her at odds with both Crown and Covenant. As trouble brews in the kingdom, both seek to exploit her position for their own ends. 

Sent to the Duchy of Alundia to put down a rebellion, Alwyn must rely on old instincts to fight for his new cause. Deadly feuds and ancient secrets are laid bare as war erupts, a war that will decide the fate of the Kingdom of Albermaine and, perhaps, prevent the coming of the prophesied Second Scourge. - from Netgalley.com

Thanks to Netgalley.com and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

This is the second book of this trilogy regaling the life of Alwyn Scribe. It follows in a simple timeline after The Pariah, advancing the story of the main character. Anthony Ryan has done a wonderful job (again) of creating an epic story and taking the readers on a fantastical journey. Most of this story reminds me of the Arthurian days of legend, where religion and politics fought for control of the country, with large battles against a Duke, or Earl, that did not agree with whatever policy. Ryan does a great job of describing these issues from the viewpoint of our main character, though at this point in the tale he is higher ranking than most.

Ryan has done a wonderful job of worldbuilding. Much of the lands he writes about is easily created in my mind, as well as characters, places and events. I enjoy the lack of reliance upon, the little availability/use of "magic", and how it is used/practiced. The battles were well described, though somewhat slowed down the story for me. Though, looking back, I see how some of it is required for the pacement of this part of the story.

Characters were well developed, and believable for the most part. From zealots, to beggars, the range of personalities, of side characters, or others of minimal interaction, add insight to the growth and developement of the story, as well as the main character. Overall was easy to read and understand, though some concepts maybe above the heads of the teen crowd.

Book Review: "The Devil's Shallows" by Debra Castaneda

 

Eight miles of mystery. One night of terror.

Residents trapped in a remote neighborhood confront the unimaginable in this horror novel from award-winning author Debra Castaneda.

The salt marsh at Devil’s Landing is home to a terrifying urban legend.

Adam Gray knows the old stories about the Slough Devil, the missing children, and the mutilated animals. But the naturalist and wilderness survival expert doesn’t believe in monsters. Not even when a tourist on his boat sees a strange creature in the tidal channel and captures it on video.

When Adam moves into a controversial housing development next to the marsh, shocking new evidence emerges, and it’s not long before he’s confronted with a series of horrifying and unexplained events.

It takes Christina, his feisty new neighbor, to get him to believe something lurks in the slough. Something disturbed by the new community.

When a massive storm maroons the residents, Adam and Christina find themselves trapped and tested in a fight for their lives. - from Booksirens.com

Thank you to Booksirens.com and the author for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*** Possible Spoilers Ahead ***

I wasn't able to sit down and get this review out right away, so some details may be lacking, but I will try to remember the best I can.

Originally I requested this story due to description sounded open and inviting - like was there a portal to a different place/time/world. The cover art left me wondering as well, as one can see what appears to be some blood, in a water shore type background. I was a litle surprsied at what happens, and though I felt a little cheated at the possible fantasy part of the story, I realized there was still plenty in stock for me.

I'm sure many of us have heard urban legends, and this story is somewhat situated around one - though I do not know if it is a "true urban legend" in our world. Our main character is one that has grown up in this area (I think it is like some smaller po-dunk in California). Many times one has heard parents  threatening the 'slough devil' that'll come and take them. The 'slough devil' lives out in the boonies near the tributary, in land most don't venture into. No one has seen them, though many claim they have, but have no proof.

So out story starts out with a new community being built a ways out of the local town, next to this tributary. Our main characters, Adam, who works as a tour guide on said tributary, and Christina, a once-been local news reporter, are both moving in as winners of some kind of lottery drawing for the limited available, lower income housing. The story is narrated through both of them, flipping between them every couple chapters. These two characters obviously like each other, and yet both have reservations about starting a relationship. Not my area of studied reading, so moving along.

One day, a tourist on the boat Adam drives, actually gets some video of the slough devil, which becomes a sensation and brings hundreds of people looking for it.  A kayaking trip up the tributary finds Adam and the group of residents from the new community facing the event of a slough devil killing one of their party. Somehow (I'm a bit foggy as to the exact event) it turns out that there are more than one slough devil, and they start becoming aggressive (perhaps because the community was built almost literally across the water from their home?). It all gets pretty intense as a nighttime attack of the devils find only three survivors from the new community.

I will admit, this one started kind of slow. As each of the two characters started their narration, giving the background basics of both, and why they were here in this area, it slowly picked up. By around the middle of the book, I wanted to find out what was actually going to happen. Castaneda has done a fine job of writing, describing the character's world, that I felt comforrtable with my mental image. Dialogue between characters, main or other, seemd a bit stilted - but I am not a social butterfly either, so maybe it is just me thinking it could be a little more ... something. Writing style was easy to read, and though there were warnings of profanity, violence and death, I thought they were not overly excessive.

Overall, I enjoyed this as a modern day kind of horror novel, with some good possible fantasy. There is a possible explaination to the slough devil, but as in many urban legends, who really knows how it came to be.

#Booksirens #TheDevilsShallows

Updates On What I'm Reading

 I tend to not write reviews on every single book I read. I know I should, but I just don't. Like when it is in a series, especially a long series. The Rogue Angel series, I did review the batch of the first about 30 books, and I think there are like 62 in total. I have made it up to 42, then decided I needed to break from that, and went on to a couple other reviews I needed to get done.

From here, I have a few books I need to get through, to stay up to date on previous series I have read, such as: Nora Kelly (Preston &Child), Eric Carter (Stephen Blackmoore), Ordinary Magic (Devon Monk), Souls of the Road (Devon Monk), and Sylvanas (World of Warcraft). I also have a few that are stand-alones, or short series I was interested in: The Starless Crown (James Rollins), Sea of Tranquility (Emily St John Mandel), The Band (Nicholas Eames, and Red Death trilogy (Jeff Altabef). Lastly, I loaded up my reader with about 32 books of the Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor.

I may not write a review for all these as I read them, but will try to be better at getting some done. Until then, keep on reading!

PeacE

Book Reviews: "The Immortal Doc Holliday" series by M. M. Crumley

 Soul eating tattoo. Check

Self-replicating knife. Check
Two-hundred-year-old score to settle. Double check.
Meet the immortal Doc Holliday.

Lying on his deathbed, Dr. John Holliday was offered a choice; let the tuberculosis finish its work or accept immortality. Doc chose the latter, knowing full well that such “gifts” don’t come cheap, but damned if the last two hundred years haven’t been a blast. Partying, playing, fighting, killing; yes, eternal life’s been good... But the time to get serious has finally come, and the task he’s always known he was saved for is at hand.
Now in modern-day Denver, Doc will be pushed to his limits to keep his promise and save the missing descendent of the beautiful shaman who gave him everlasting life. The trouble is things aren’t going as planned, and it’s becoming clear that there is far more at stake than Doc bargained for...

Fans of edgy Urban Fantasy look no further! If you’re into badass, morally ambiguous, anti-heroes that don’t flinch at killing bad guys (and stealing their souls) then this is the book for you! It has the perfect blend of supernatural action, humor, and mystery that you crave. - from Goodreads.com

The above is the picture and description of the first book in this series. I just completed book seven, which seemed to be the last of the series. Thankfully, at the end of the story, there was a note of the next book coming out, which I found will be January 2023, and also a 9th book, set for February 2023. So there will be a bit more to this series! On to the regular stuff...

These all were a fairly quick read for me, as they are not overly long. The story takes place in modern day Denver, a place where there are Hidden areas of the city that hide those species/people with what normals would call 'magic' of some sort. Doc Holliday is a rich man (due to the years of luck and gambling I am sure) and owns a hotel, and has a missioin to accomplish. From the illustrated cover, one can see how 'dashing and handsome' he is, as if there were immortals that weren't this good looking.

There is sarcasm. There is snarky, cussing, seduction, plus so much more (and MAGIC!) in the stories. Each book continues on the same timeline, though, if there is any major time difference, it is mentioned, or it isn't necessary. Crumley has done a wonderful job of creating a story of character from the Old West, to a modern day urban fantasy. I like how he has created Doc as a character with a completely different "magic set" than others, and yet retains his snark-isms, as I picture from the movie of Wyatt Earp - the one with Val Kilmer in it. Throw in some love-making on the side, friends that cuss you out becasue they care, and you'll be snickering as you read, as I did.

#TheImmortalDocHolliday