Crystal Queen by John M. Olsen, Book Review

The Kingdom of Riland survived the first thrusts of war against it. The King of the Graven Kingdom and Baron Stoutheart of their own kingdom failed in their attempt to take over and left Riland hard pressed for what may come. Gavin, the Baron’s son, did what he had to do to save his people, which meant breaking the Accords of the Crystal Kingdoms.

That’s where John M. Olsen led us by the end of the first book of the Riland Throne series, Crystal King (link to my review). Now, the author leads us forward with Crystal Queen.

Plot

Princess Lilia Talendor is to marry Gavin to unite the kingdoms of Graven and Riland. At least that’s what the treaty drafted at the end of the two kingdom’s conflict sets forth. Her father Ithan, the defeated king, has his own plans. He is not alone in his workings. Lilia’s mother, Queen Belinda, also has her plans based on the treaty and other information she has been gathering through her own sources.

And, we all know that the best laid plans never go as expected. We must reassess what to do. Incorporate the new information and create new plans.

John M. Olsen continues his adventure of the Crystal Kingdoms by giving more insight into the northern kingdom, Graven. The main part of the story is about Lilia Talendor and how she meets Gavin. Of course it is clear from the beginning she is expected to become the Queen of Riland. This is the story of how she gets there, physically and mentally.

The characters from Crystal King, continue on their journeys as well in Crystal Queen. This is not just the story of one person’s adventure, but the growth of the king, Gavin, and the rest of the people he brought along on his journey to the throne of the Kingdom of Riland.

As with the first book, at the end we learn more about the greater world and the forces watching and directing events. This provides with foreshadowing of future events for the Crystal Kingdoms and how it will impact the Riland Throne.

Characters

Crystal Queen has strong, relatable characters. Where Crystal King is Gavin’s coming of age story, Crystal Queen is Lilia’s. Their world is different than ours with different challenges, however, we all must learn what it means to become an adult.

Beloved characters from Crystal King are present. Each continues facing their own struggles to become better people. New characters are introduced into the fray of the growing struggles of the kingdoms as they deal with their own internal challenges.

Style

Crystal Queen continues in the same manner as book one of the Riland Throne series. The language is easy to follow and there is nothing inappropriate for younger readers. Crystal Queen can be read on its own or shared in a group reading.

Olsen does a great job of reflecting life struggles with his characters. The characters are relatable. We might not be facing the same struggles, hopefully not, but we can relate to facing and overcoming adversities to show those around us we are ready to be a part of the adult world.

Theme

Crystal Queen is about becoming better people. Rising above expectations to become something greater than what we even know about ourselves. There might be a certain honor in doing what is expected, but, there is also another level of honor in going beyond the expectations to achieve something better. When that is accomplished there are unexpected rewards.

A person’s past doesn’t have to dictate their future. No one knowns the true past of another, and Gavin maintains a belief that every person should be given a chance to become better. Because of the way he shows respect to others they usually rise to the situation in an honorable way. Gavin’s is a story of not just trusting other people, but also accepting others for who they are, even when his hopes for them are not achieved.

Overall

Crystal Queen is a feel good book about becoming better people on a personal and societal level. The book is about growing from a past of expected conflict and having a drive for power and control, to a state of acceptance and understanding between people.

The story in Crystal Queen flowed better and created an easier read than the first of the series.  I think it is better book.

Crystal Queen is based for older young adult readers. The number of storylines is well maintained and the pace moves the reader steadily through the book.

I give Crystal Queen 4 out 5.

Crystal Queen is published by Immortal Works.

Crystal Queen is available from Amazon (link).

I received a copy of Crystal Queen for review purposes.

About the Author (from the book)

Motivated by his lifelong love of reading, John M. Olsen writes about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and hopes to entertain and inspire others. His father’s library started him on this journey as a teenager, and he now owns and expands that library to pass his passion on to the next generation of avid readers.

He loves to create things, whether writing novels or short stories or working in his secret lab equipped with dangerous power tools. In all cases, he applies engineering principles and processes to the task at hand, often in unpredictable ways. He usually prefers “Renaissance Man” to “Mad Scientist” as a goal and aesthetic.

He lives in Utah with his lovely wife and a variable number of mostly grown children and a constantly changing subset of extended family.

You can join John’s musings at his blog: johnmolsen.blogspot.com.

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The Finger Trap by Johnny Worthen, Book Review

Have you ever wondered where new private investigators come from? What did they have to learn to earn the right credentials? What makes them the type of person you would want to hire if you needed a private investigator?

If you picture a private investigator needing to be an ex hard-nosed cop who turned to the private sector, then Tony Flaner is not the guy you’d be looking to hire. But, like the book cover says, “When the only way out is deeper in, and your back’s against the wall, even slackers get ambitious.” And, that's what Tony has to do.

The Finger Trap is darkly humorous and hard to put down.

I picked up a copy of The Finger Trap by Johnny Worthen from the author at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018.

This is the third novel, along with a couple of short stories, written by Johnny Worthen I’ve reviewed—the first one that’s not horror. I know Johnny teaches horror and mystery writing at the University of Utah. I wanted to find out if he writes mystery as well as the horror stories I’ve read. I was not disappointed.

The Finger Trap is a noir style detective story set in the present day.

Plot

Tony Flaner has lived an easy life. He’s had the opportunity of following a path of least resistance and chosen to take it. It’s a style that has worked until recently. Tony was accused of committing murder. The police and the district attorney, along with his public defender, see it as a simple case and they are not willing to put in the work to find out more information. That leaves it to Tony to become the detective to prove his innocence.

Tony’s previous life path meant he never stuck with a job, or hobby. He allowed life to push and pull him in new directions almost as assuredly as the changing of the seasons. This ends up making him a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. An unenvied skill set, except when you need to find the clues to prove you didn’t kill someone.

Tony’s plight pulls him into a subculture he never thought he would be involved with. Instead of quitting, he has to push in deeper so he can get out. Tony Flaner breaks more laws, in crime noir fashion, to get to the truth and serve justice. He knows he’ll be in trouble for what he’s doing, but what’s worse than being convicted of murder?

Style

The Finger Trap is narrated by Tony. It starts when he discovers the body. Then we are taken back in time to give the history of how he ended up at the scene of the murder. After that, we are included on his ride of how he proves his innocence.

The book builds from a methodical start and increases pace the more pages you turn. It keeps building as the rollercoaster ride goes from one near catastrophe to another. The pacing works for setting the information at the beginning to be dealt with later. By the end you realize everything was there. I enjoyed having the clues, even if I didn’t recognize them. It gave cohesion to the story. I didn’t come across any breaks in the storyline that left me hanging. Or, revelations the author explains away by having some off the page character came up with the answer.

The Finger Trap is full of humor. Tony Flaner does standup comedy and views the world satirically. Being accused of murder without anyone believing or caring if he did it or not, doesn’t help his outlook. Tony carries his standup quick wit with him as he creates his own private investigator persona developed from the crime detective novels he’s enjoyed.

Theme

Johnny Worthen builds the theme of the title throughout the book. This gives the story a tight feel. Tony admits early on how his life of moving from one thing to the next is because he always responded to the pushes and pulls of life. Always taking the easy path and never seeing anything through to the end.

He is now in his own finger trap. He is caught and unless he is willing to push, he will not be able to pull himself out.

Throughout The Finger Trap we see the mechanics of push and pull of the trap at work. And, for the first time in Tony’s life, he needs to respond to the situation by being an active participant instead of flotsam being pushed around.

Other Points of Interest

The Finger Trap is the Diamond Quill Winner, Best Published Book (2017), from the League of Utah Writers.

Overall

The Finger Trap is a fun read.

We are introduced to Tony Flaner before he’s the detective he has to become. This is his origin story and he gives insights into the type of person he knows himself to be. We are given points of fantasy as he sees them and the brutal honesty as he understands it. Tony was never a hard-nosed cop who hung a shingle out for himself. In his previous life, he wouldn’t have made it through the academy.

Here is a guy we have all met or heard about. He is the guy who has survived by wit and sarcasm without doing anything constructive. The guy who has so much going for him and hasn’t accomplished anything.

I found myself creating time to read a few more pages to see what Tony came up with next.

I give The Finger Trap 5 out of 5.

The Finger Trap is currently changing publishers (08/26/18). However, copies are available on Amazon (link).

Other books by Johnny Worthen I’ve reviewed.

Dr. Stuart’s Heart (link)

What Immortal Hand (link)

Beatrysel (link)

About The Author (from the book)

Johnnty Worthen is an award-winning, best-selling author of books and stories. Trained in modern literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket multi-genre fiction, symbolized by his love of tie-dye and good words. “I wear tie-dye for my friends. I write what I like to read,” he says. “This guarantees me at least one fan.”

Johnny lives in Sandy, Utah, with his wife and sons.

Visit him at http://www.johnnyworthen.com/www.johnnyworthen.com

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Lovecraft’s Pillow by K. Scott Forman, Anthology Review

I don’t remember if I read my first H. P. Lovecraft story in elementary or junior high school. But, when given a chance to review a book entitled Lovecraft’s Pillow and Other Weird Tales I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it. I didn’t want to ruin the relationship. However, I’ve had the chance to read some of K. Scott Forman’s other work including his story in The Hunger (link to review). I thought Lovecraft would be treated well.

I picked up a copy of Lovecraft’s Pillow and Other Weird Tales at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018 event for review purposes.

The Selection

Lovecraft’s Pillow and Other Weird Tales by K. Scott Forman is a collection of horror stories as one would expect. The author selected thirteen of his short works to reprint. I am sure Forman purposefully selected thirteen because he also wrote the foreword on Friday, April 13, 2018.

These tales are a showcase of Forman’s ability to tell a good horror story. Settings are from the past, the present, and into the future. These tales range from lighter horror stories crafted to make you think about the possibilities to those reminiscent of the book’s namesake with the teller slipping into realms of insanity.

The Progression

The first story, “The House That Jack Built,” is told in the style of H. P. Lovecraft. By the end you are left wondering if the person is sane or if there is something greater to be concerned about. “Lovecraft’s Pillow” brackets the book at the end, tying the just over 100 page book nicely together.

In between the brackets be prepared to take a ride that will slide you to one side and then jerk you back the other way.

Forman’s book structure creates a wonderful arc taking the reader on a journey. The stories are stand-alone tales that build on the theme, taking you from recollection of the style to a final resting place that keeps you thinking about what may come next.

Overall

Lovecraft’s Pillowis an excellent collection for anyone who enjoys horror shorts. I found this to be a wonderfully decrepit read.

Lovecraft’s Pillow and Other Weird Tales is published by Fear Knocks Press, which is where Forman also maintains a blog (website).

The book is also available on Amazon (link).

I give Lovecraft’s Pillow 4 ½ out of 5.

About the Author (From the Book)

K. Scott Forman is a writer and editor. He co-edited and contributed to the first three volumes of Fast Forward: A Collection of Flash Fiction along with working on three more volumes, a novel, and a flash novel for Fast Forward Press. He also edited It Came From the Great Salt Lake: A Collection of Utah Horror and has published several short stories and poems. He was the recipient of the Robert Creeley Scholarship in 2007 at Naropa University, and graduated with a Master in Fine Arts degree in 2009. Scott teaches English Composition at Weber State University, and was an adjunct faculty member at the National Cryptologic School. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and enjoys long walks in inclement weather, sunsets with blood in them, and Metallica at volumes determined unsafe by the Surgeon General. He currently is at work on the Great American Novel. He makes his home in the Rocky Mountains with his family and a collection of guitars.

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The Aeronaut by Bryan Young, Book Review

Robert Preston left the United States to fight for France. It was being called the War to End All Wars. He believed in the cause. But, he went to lose the rest of himself after his heart was broken. Instead he finds himself and his heart through the people he meets and the challenges he overcomes.

The Aeronautby Bryan Young is a memoir style telling of a World War I adventure of fighting, romance, and espionage. Woven into the story are elements of steampunk to draw interest to the events, providing additional levels to the intrigue and suspense. I picked up a copy of The Aeronaut from the author at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018 event for review purposes.

Plot

Robert Preston shares his story. He is The Aeronaut telling of his time being a member of the French Army. He joined their battle against the German forces because he knew it was the right thing to do and because he was heartbroken and believed he had nothing further to lose. What he didn’t count on was how much he had to gain.

As comrades in arms fighting for a common cause, Preston becomes friends with LeBeau, then, Renault, and eventually Sara. LeBeau and Renault are soldiers he meets on the lines of battle, while Sara is an English nurse Preston meets while recovering from wounds he sustained while becoming what many consider a hero.

The main part of The Aeronaut takes place after Preston and Sara meet. Their love grows but they are still a part of the war even though their feelings for each other give them some times of being apart from the war. But the war still rages, and Preston is still a soldier who is required to do his part.

Preston is recruited for a clandestine mission behind enemy lines. It is something he doesn’t want to do, but is physically the perfect man for the job. Being in a position of not being able to reject his assignment, Preston pushes forward.

Style

The Aeronaut is a first person memoir. Robert Preston is telling you his story. Included are his perceptions and feelings. Some are presented to be a little raw. There are scenes sharing the violence man can do against man, but not with horrific descriptions. As a memoir, the foreshadowing is well structured and is brought together nicely at the end.

The adding of steampunk elements allows for easier relatability with modern day readers. Instead of seeing the battle from a soldier climbing up over the wire to charge into no man’s land, there is the view of the battle from Preston as he uses his jetpack to jump forward, perform his part in the assault, then jump back over the contested zone of lingering death.

Steampunk adds to the story without overpowering it. Bryan Young creates a personal story and stays with it throughout The Aeronaut. The steampunk elements weave into his tale, supporting the story. I have read other works where the fantastical element become the mainstay, overpowering the characters and the main story arc. Here there is enough description to explain how and why the elements are there to support the story.

Overall

The Aeronaut is a well-structured war story. The point-of view allows for the sharing of not only the scenes that are taking place, but some of the personal turmoil the lead character goes through. It is known that Robert Preston survives, because it is his story. From early on in the telling you know there is more to the story than just surviving, which gives interest to continue reading to the end.

The level of description is good for adults and young adult readers. Experienced readers may find some of the events more easily predicted. However, that doesn’t take away from the solid storytelling. The details shows the author has a strong understanding of the historical events portrayed

The Aeronaut by Bryan Young is published by Silence in the Library Publishing (website).

I give The Aeronaut4 out 5.

About the Author

I’ve met Bryan Young at other writing events and know he also considered an expert concerning the Star Wars Universe and writes articles about historical events and items along with his other novels. You can find more about him at his author’s page, brianyoung fiction.com and on Twitter (@swankmotron)

You can find The Aeronaut on Amazon (link).

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Tales from the Storm: Volume One by C.R.Langille, Book Review

Anthologies from a single author can be a great way of highlighting their work. C.R. Langille's collection, Tales from the Storm: Volume One succeeds at showcasing his ability to write horror. He has brought together seven of his short stories, ranging from his first published work to items published in 2017, in this self-published work. They're not in chronological order, instead they are in an order to take you on a journey through place and time.

I was given a copy of Tales from the Storm: Volume One from the author at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018 event for review purposes.

Style

Each of the stories are complete and self-contained, but with enough left at the end to keep you wondering about what was still to come. These endings made me pause before continuing on to the next tale. This is the style of anthology I really enjoy; being able to read an entry and then set it aside for a bit to allow you time to ruminate.

The settings are different for each story. This made for a fun read. I was taken from early Mesoamerica, to the old west, into the present, and off to a post-apocalyptic future. The variety of locations provided a sampler of C.R. Langille’s creative ability. In these tales, there are touches of Lovecraft and Poe.

The stories came in different voices and point of views. The stories flowed through the narrative without being forced. Tales are told in both first and third person. Each was appropriate for the tale being told.

Tales from the Stormare stories for mature readers. The stories deal with allusions to the darker side of human nature. They are all fantastical in nature to set them far enough out of the everyday possibilities, but a parent may want to make sure the reading is suitable for their younger readers.

Overall

Tales from the Stormis a collection of horror shorts that will make you think.

I enjoy well written horror stories, and I enjoyed every one of the stories in this collection. I’m looking forward to volume two.

I give Tales from the Storm Volume One 5 out of 5.

Tales from the Storm is available on Amazon (link).

About the Author (From the Book)

C.R. Langille spent many a Saturday afternoon watching monster movies with his mother. It wasn't long before he started crafting nightmares to share with his readers. An avid hunter and amateur survivalist, C.R. Langille incorporates the Utah outdoors in many of his tales. He is an affiliated member of the Horror Writer's Association and received his MFA: Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hall University.

Follow his exploits at www.crlangille.com.

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The Voyage of the Entdecker by B.A. Simmons, Book Review

Rob grew up on Engle Island. It was home, but it wasn’t enough to hold his interest. He learned about other islands from his teacher and wanted to travel like his mentor had. When the opportunity to acquire a boat presented itself, he made a daring step to talk to his parents about leaving the family farm, which starts an adventure for himself and five other young adults.

The Voyage of the Entdecker by B.A. Simmons is the first book in the Archipelago Series. The story takes place in our future on another world. I was given a copy of The Voyage of the Entdecker at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018 Event for review purposes.

The Voyage of the Entdecker is nice blend of science fiction and fantasy. I was reminded of tales I read in my youth about colonized planets that had to adapt to a world that technology couldn’t conquer. Simmons weaves in words and phrases, which are now slightly off, showing the world of Archipelago once had ties to Earth. The ties are no longer and the lost technology isn’t understood, but used when possible. Since science fiction does include new creatures, The Voyage of the Entdecker could be considered purely a work in that genre. I’ve included it in both due to the regression of technology.

We are introduced to the world of Archipelago. The name by itself gives so much. A place of open seas and scattered islands. We learn the seas are dangerous because of the creatures calling it their home. There are kingdoms across many islands, but there are also independent places as well.

Rob, Mark (his brother), Tom and Pete (cousins), and Anna and Edwin (brother and sister from another family of Engle Island) set off together on a small sailing craft they name the Entdecker. It is from an ancient human language (German) they are told means explorer. Rob is looking for the adventure the new name of their boat is portending. His brother is going along as he promised his parents, to keep his younger brother safe. Their cousins are familiar with boats and are joining the early part of the journey to teach the others how to sail. Anna and Edwin are running away from their father and the goals he has for them.

The grand adventure begins across a sea that is full of monsters that have taken on names most of us can easily recognize even though, again, they are slightly altered. They find there are many things to be afraid of, most of which are other people, who believe in different things.

The Voyage of the Entdecker is a good young adult book. There are heroes and heroines working together to overcome the struggles they face as a group and within themselves. There is coming of age and rites of passage. And, there is hope the young adventures are able to move forward into the future to help themselves and the people they care about. The tale includes moral struggles and how to deal with them. But, none are at the level of being pushy or in your face. It all comes together in a story of adventure.

It is clear there is more story to be told even early on in the book. This is a world to explore with a past as deep as the ocean they are sailing across. The foreshadowing of the greater story starts early without overpowering the current tale being told. As this tale ended I found myself wondering about the next part of the journey and what would happen without the author having to tell me there was going to be more.

Overall

The Voyage of the Entdecker is a good read and a fun adventure tale.

It is appropriate for young adult or even a middle grader readers. The strongest sexual content is suggested nudity, with no description. The violence is told in general terms without specifics. There is no magic, just the lost understanding of some technology.

The Voyage of the Entdecker by B.A. Simmons (Facebook) is published by Glass Spider Publishing (website).

I give The Voyage of the Entdecker 4 out of 5.

The Voyage of the Entdecker is available on Amazon (link).

B. A. Simmons

About the Author (From the Book)

B.A. Simmons grew up roaming the mountains of the western United States. He still finds time to explore the outdoors, mainly by running the trails. He started writing when only 11 years old and hasn’t stopped since. His love of science fiction is only rivaled by his love of history... or perhaps food.

He attended Utah State University from which he graduated with a degree in English Education in 2011.

He teaches junior high school English and social studies. He is a self-described sesquipedalian ludditish renaissance man.

He currently resides in Ogden, Utah with his amazing wife and kids, two dogs, a cat, and myriad imaginary worlds.

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Dr. Stuart’s Heart by Johnny Worthen, Book Review

I’ll start off by saying I usually don’t review standalone short stories. This is an exception because Dr. Stuart’s Heart by Johnny Worthen builds on a story presented in a novel I reviewed, Beatrysel (review).

Dr. Stuart’s Heartprovides more backstory to a scene presented in Beatrysel. It wasn’t explained in the novel, nor did it need to be for the novel to work. However, this provides interesting information for those who enjoyed the book.

Dr. Stuart’s Heartnot only provides backstory to the larger story, but is a wonderful little horror tale on its own. You don’t need to have read Beatrysel to get what is happening here. You also don’t need to read Dr. Stuart’s Heart to plug a hole in the novel. It’s just some additional good dark fun.

Here is a tale of a professor with a broken heart who has been desperately working to reconnect with his lost love. He thinks he has found a way by helping a graduate student who has surpassed him in knowledge and ability of the occult.

If you’ve read Beatryselyou will enjoy Dr. Stuart’s Heart. This short piece is also a wonderful introduction into Johnny’s work (personal website).

I received a copy of Dr. Stuart’s Heart from the author for review purposes.

Dr. Stuart’s Heartis published by Omnium Gatherum (website).

Dr. Stuart's Heart is available on Amazon (link).

About the Author (from the book)

Johnny Worthen is a lifetime student of the occult and supernatural. Raised in a secluded suburb of Salt Lake City, he gravitated to the more obscure paths of spiritual knowledge. He is a Freemason, twice Past Master of his Lodge, youngest ever at the time.

Johnny received a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a Classics minor before earning a Master’s Degree in American Studies from the University of Utah. He lived in Oregon until the rain drove him back to the dry high deserts of Utah. He married his junior-prom date and together they have two sons.

After many varied and interesting careers, Johnny writes full time now.

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Donn’s Hill by Caryn Larrinaga, Book Review

Donn’s Hill, by Caryn Larrinaga, is a wonderfully told, haunting tale of Mackenzie Clair. A women in her late twenties who decides she needs a new start, after returning from her father’s funeral and finding her boyfriend in bed with another women. Mac has fond memories of the town of Donn’s Hill, a place her mother took her every year for the Afterlife Festival. The memories gave her hope. A place to start a new life away from the one she hadn’t really wanted herself, but had become a part of by following her now ex-boyfriend, Josh, after graduating from college.

I was given a copy of Donn’s Hill by the author at a recent writers’ event sponsored by the League of Utah Writers (website) for review purposes. Donn’s Hill received the award of Silver Quill from the League of Utah Writers in the Adult Book category and a finalist in The Dragon Awards for Horror category in 2017. Donn’s Hill and Caryn Larrinaga deserves both of these honors.

Plot

Donn’s Hill was a peaceful place from Mackenzie’s past. It was where she had happy memories of a time when it was her and her mother. She didn’t know her dad then, only after her mom passed away did she meet him. Now that her father had also passed away, and other parts of Mac’s life fell apart, she wanted a new start. She wanted a peaceful place.

Some townspeople remembered Mac’s mother and were quick to identify her because of their close physical resemblance. But her first greeting as she passed the town’s sign was a tortoiseshell cat. But, Striker, the cat, was not the first resident to seek out Mac.

While Mac works to create a new life for herself, she comes to understand she has the same gift her mother had, she’s psychic. And she is now an important part of solving a murder that happened before she arrived in town.

Style

Donn’s Hill is a great combination of mystery and the paranormal. The book is suitable for young adult readers with enough complexity for older readers. The location is well developed. The first person point of view lends itself to the telling, and the story elements are well handled.

Caryn Larrinaga does a wonderful job of creating the fictional location. The town of Donn’s Hill is known for its Afterlife Festival and its history of dealing with the supernatural. It is also listed as one of the most haunted locations in the states. With all of this going for it, the townspeople know truths about the supernatural that most people scoff at.

Mac tells her own story. Key points of her backstory are nicely interwoven with the events she’s now facing. This keeps the pace moving without bogging it down from an overload of details not important to the current situation.

Foreshadowing was given, an important aspect of mysteries, which helped build the story and deliver the climactic scene. The twist was still relevant without being overly exposed. Hardcore mystery readers will probably figure it out earlier, but it is still a fun read to see how Mac pulls the clues together.

Characters

There are great characters through Donn’s Hill. Mac has depth that is presented throughout the book. The characters are heroine interacts with have their own motivations as well. They are not stagnant characters as they move through the storyline on the sidelines of Macs activities. By the end of the book there are others who we have met that you will want to find out more about.

This is a good book to recommend for young adult readers. There are strong female characters throughout Donn’s Hill. We start by meeting Mackenzie, but along with her we have Penelope Bishop, the Deputy Mayor, Dr. Lee, the town veterinarian, Kit Dyedov, a new friend, Gabrielle, owner of the Nine Lives Book Exchange and old friend of Mac’s mom, and Deputy Wallace. These reminded me of women in my own life and it was good getting to know them.

The portrayal of Striker was a fun interlude between the points of tension. Anyone who’s had a close pet knows how they sense the mood of the people around them. Caryn uses Striker as a great counterbalance to relieve tension in the story, which pets naturally do.

Overall

Donn’s Hill was a good read that kept me interested. I quickly went through the 328 pages and was left thinking about what comes next for Mackenzie Clair.

The story is strong and has emphasizes the mystery. The horror element is present in the use of the supernatural and in solving the mystery. Since it is about a murder, there are some details written in.

Characters are alive and personable. They have depth even when they only come to the page a few times.

I look forward to reading more from Caryn Larrinaga (website).

I rate Donn’s Hill5 out of 5.

Donn’s Hill is available from Immortal Works (website).

Donn's Hill is available on Amazon (link).

About the Author (from the book)

Caryn Larrinaga is a Basque-American mystery, horror, and fantasy writer living in Utah with her husband and cats. Despite obtaining a degree in Anthropology (which is much cooler that you might think), she explored several career paths before deciding that she had to follow her passion. Suddenly, writing fiction was the only thing that made sense.

Watching scary movies through split fingers terrified Caryn as a child and inspires her to write now. She lives in a 90-year-old house with a colorful history, and the creaking walls and narrow hallways send her running (never walking) up the stairs from her basement whenever she has no other choice but to go down there. Exploring her fears through writing makes Caryn feel a little bit less foolish for wanting a buddy to accompany her into the tool shed.

When her fingers aren’t glued to her laptop keyboard, Caryn also enjoys binge-watching superhero television shows, reading, playing video games, and filling up her phone’s flash memory with pictures of her cats. She loves music, and plays the bass guitar.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter (@GuildMstrGmng).

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The Hunger, Anthology, Book Review

If you like your horror in smaller bites, The Hungerprovides a menu worth perusing. This is a collection of short stories and poetry provided by the Utah Chapter of the Horror Writers Association (website). All of the inclusions are from Utah writers, and most have a dash of local flavor enhancing the fare.

The Hunger is presented in a menu format, providing three courses of consumption. As the reader, you have 24 selections you can work through by finding particular items appealing to your appetite. Or, like me, you can be gluttonous and devour everything from start to finish.

Entree

There are 14 entrees. The selections range from 3 to 19 pages, providing something fitting for anyone looking for anything from a small plate to a full serving. The range of tastes is also quite exquisite. Each is titled to give a hint of what it brings to the table. But, to get the full enjoyment of the plate, I suggest you just dig into one. And, then have a serving of another.

Intermezzo

Here we have 6 pieces of poetry providing palate cleansing. As the diner, you may choose to intermix these smaller delectables between your selections of entrees. Some prefer these selections together so they may savor the flavoring of witty word play.

Digestif

Four items are available and this section concludes the menu. Here we have those which the talented staff have selected to help in the final consumption of the meal you have been enjoying. The choices range from 4 to 14 pages and each leaves a different taste.

Overall

The range of topics around the title theme, The Hunger, is broad enough to appeal to just about every taste of horror consumer. There will always be a favorite, and one that just didn’t go down right. But, as they are placed together, they make a good menu.

The Hunger does contain some stories parents might not consider suitable for their younger eaters. Young adult diners may have already encountered some of the ideas presented and I leave that to the discretion of the adults managing their diets.

The authors include some with collections of short stories and books already on the market to new ones earning their earliest publications. It is a nice mix of established flavors and new tastes. All fit in well and are stories fitting with the theme of the completed work. This isn’t a vanity work, but a collection highlighting talented Utah authors.

I’m glad I picked up a copy of The Hunger at a recent event in Salt Lake City. After satiating the pangs welling up from the depths of my being, I am looking forward to trying some of their other servings. I am also looking forward to the after dinner discussion with friends to find out which ones they enjoyed the most.

The Hunger is edited by Caryn Larrinaga (Managing Editor), Johnny Worthen, Callie Stoker and Terri Baranowski and published by Twisted Tree Press.

Bon-appetit.

The Hunger is available on Amazon (link).

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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Book and TV Series Review, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and on Hulu

This is a guest article by Alisha Upwall.

Dystopian novels are a favorite of mine. Something about a bleak future with reminiscences of how good it used to be versus the stark reality of what a “better” utopian-esque society looks like is fascinating to me. Although Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985, the book has gained a resurgence of popularity, including a multiple award-winning TV series on Hulu that debuted in the spring of 2017 with a second season ready to debut on Hulu Wednesday, April 25^th.

The story follows the path of a woman named Offred who, like other fertile women, is forced to be a handmaid—someone whose role in society is to bear children, but not raise them. Due to an extremely high rate of infertility, the upper class chose to recreate their society based on Biblical ideas where husbands and wives who are infertile would use a handmaid to bear children for the couple. Women are forced into this role and raped monthly in a ceremony involving the entire household.

The themes are (obviously) mature, and especially with the TV series, they don’t hold back. As painful as it was to watch these scenes, most episodes included a fertility ritual—I was encouraged by how it was produced. These scenes were not sexualized at all. There is no nudity during the rape scenes and camera angles do not glorify what is happening. In the few episodes where consensual sex is shown, camera angles are completely changed becoming much more sexualized. Where there was no consent before, when there was, it was made obvious by how much differently the scenes were filmed.

Key differences between The Handmaid’s Tale versus other more recently published dystopian novels are the inclusion of flashbacks—people actively remembering how life used to be, and that the timeline for societal changes is short—within the last few years. Being the first generation to decidedly make immense changes to how their society functions, the flashbacks and memories about how the changes came to be are frequent and disturbing (especially as their society is eerily similar to current American society).

That the impetus for these changes was brought on due to concerns that presently affect our society made the premise of the story convincing—horrifying even—to consider how a small group of powerful people can change life for everyone. It also says a lot about our current society that some of our basic concerns haven’t changed as much as we might like to think in the last 30-some odd years. Women’s rights have improved considerably, but as political parties and groups vie for control even now over medical decisions for women (not to mention the ever-present rape culture, dress codes for school-age girls inching toward our more Puritan roots in some areas, and then there’s the #metoo movement) we still have progress to make. Atwood keys in on fears that power in the wrong hands could do real harm to all of us, especially for the more vulnerable in our society.

Interestingly, Atwood and the writers for the series do a phenomenal job at showing how this type of life and society harms women and families—the exact ones it says it will protect and provide for. The handmaids are revered in word, but in action they are treated as slaves. The upper-class wives are shown to deal with sharing their husbands sexually in extremely different ways (for even the same woman). From outwardly needing to show they approve of the situation they are in to those in authority or outside their social circles to inwardly and to close friends despising it—the pain these women face from sharing their husbands sexually is palpable.

Margaret Atwood

As the handmaids are trained in a center to ensure that they know proper etiquette for the monthly ceremonies they must go through, alongside having their wills broken (so that they will concede to being raped regularly), they are also called together to take vengeance upon members of the community who are found guilty of sexually assaulting a handmaid or not fulfilling her duty as a handmaid. This comes across as a cathartic release of anger as these women literally stone people to death. It also leads to a fantastic turning point in the story where these women take back power that has been wrested from them and stand up to the system that has repressed them.

While the first season of the TV series ends where the last chapter of the book does, it will be interesting to see where the writers take the story. The epilogue of the book, however, is where my reading was frustrated. Although the contents of the book are horrifying, there is hope that Offred will make it, that she will persevere and find freedom. In the epilogue though, it’s revealed that Offred’s story is from a collection of tapes found by historians years into the future. The writing style is so incredibly different—which makes sense as it’s part of a paper presented at a conference. The real problem I had was that in the end, Offred’s story is not her own. It is told by men who have carried on sexist cultural customs. It was disappointing that things hadn’t seemed to change much in society for women in the future.

What I did appreciate about the book and TV series was that the oppressed people in Gilead knew what they had left behind. They remembered because they either were of the elite who chose to create their society, or they were caught up in the gradual changes before they realized the ramifications, and it was too late. Although the changes the elite made were destructive to American ideals and society, there is an under girth of hope that things will change because they remember that life used to be different. Atwood makes a case for people choosing to take an active role in government to make life better for everyone.

Alisha Upwall is a writer and editor living in Riverton, Utah. She works when she should be sleeping, and spends her days reading, entertaining her daughter (with the help of caffeine), and making gourmet food for herself when everyone else is away.

The Handmaid's Tale is available on Amazon (link).

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Witchy Winter, Book Review

Witchy Winter, by D.J. Butler, continues the story started in Witchy Eye (review) of Sarah Elytharias Penn as she journeys up the Mississippi to reclaim the throne of her father. She started out as the adopted daughter of The Elector Calhoun of Tennessee. But, after finding out her heritage from a firstborn priest, Sarah began her journey to reclaim what was lost. And, with the help from those who believe in her, is making her way north into the heartland of the Cahokian lands to regain the Serpent Throne.

D.J. Butler weaves an intriguing story of Sarah as her adventure continues. Sarah’s story is expanded as we learn about her, her family, and her heritage. Along with Sarah, we find out about those who are traveling with her and others who would support and deny her claim. Numerous storylines unfold as Sarah makes her way north and through the year to get to the Winter Solstice.

Besides what Sarah knows she needs to do as she travels, she learns about her siblings and is reaching out to find them. And, because of what happened to her, she knows, even if they don’t, they are in danger. Her brother Nathaniel is in Johnsland and Jacob Hop is sent, while Calvin, Bill, and Cathy stay with Sarah.

The other people we met in Witchy Eye have a part to tell in Witchy Winter. The old villains are still active as they learn about their new state of being. Others are involved in different conspiracies involving the coming of Simon Sword.

New people are introduced, giving us a broader view into the overall story and the land in which it takes place.

Witchy Wintergives us more of the world Butler has created. The story takes place in North America, but this is a land where the United States is not. Instead, there is an empire. A land where political play is as common as the magic used. There is the power of nature and the power of religion. All of it is real and touches everyone’s lives in one way or another.

Plot

D.J. Butler gives us a complex plot. There are a lot of events happening to a lot of people in this book of just under 600 pages. He uses multiple points of view to allow us to see what is happening across the eastern part of the North American continent in at least five major storylines with multiple points of view.

The pacing made it compelling to keep reading. With the number of threads Butler is able to weave into the pattern of his story there was anticipation building from early in the book through to the end.

We know there is going to be more. As the story builds, it is clear there are events that cannot be completed in this book, it is building to a major confrontation and not all of the main players are yet in place. However, the story of this book is a complete telling that left me feeling good about what I had read, and still left me looking forward for what is to come.

Characters

The separate voices of the characters telling the story are maintained in such a great way that it was easy to identify whose point of view was being presented. The thoughts, expressions, and views of events happening around the character were character specific. It is clear each character was an individual who has their own story to tell.

Throughout Witchy Winter we are given wonderful tidbits about the characters. They expand upon the personalities and provide a fuller portrait of the overall story of Sarah and what has been happening over time and space. We are given pieces of historical facts along with what is being seen as events unfold in other places.

Overall

Witchy Winter by D.J. Butler is a grand sequel to Witchy Eye.

Witchy Winter is a historical urban fantasy written for adult readers. This is due more to its complexity than in the material presented. Some will shy away because it touches on murder and other ravages humans do to each other. None of these are presented in detail, but they are present. Personally, I think they built on the story to give depth without unneeded levels of description.

I enjoyed Witchy Winter, as mentioned, and already anticipating what comes next.

Witchy Winter is available on Amazon (link).

About the Author (from Witchy Eye)

D.J. (Dave) Butler grew up in swamps, deserts, and mountains. After messing around for years with the practice of law, he finally got serious and turned to his lifelong passion of storytelling. He now writes adventure stories for readers of all ages, plays guitar, and spends as much time as he can with his family. Witchy Eye is his first novel from Baen Books. Read more about Dave and his writing at http://davidjohnbutler.com, and follow him on Twitter: @davidjohnbutler.

I received an advance review copy of Witchy Winter from the author at Life, the Universe and Everything (LTUE) (website) 2018.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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