Along came a demon (Whisperings)- Linda Welch

I've always enjoyed a good paranormal adventure, so when this story was offered I grabbed at the opportunity.

Tiffany sees ghosts. And not just any ghosts. Only those that have been violently killed. This can really put a damper on life-especially when it comes to a love life. So when a new ghost appears to her naked and wet in her garden, unable to recall who killed her and desperately seeking her son, Tiff must rise to the occasion. As a consultant to the police, Tiff is now able to use her connections to broaden her investigation. However when she is assigned a partner who seems not quite human, she has to learn to separate fact from fiction regarding her assumptions about non-humans. Ghosts are not Tiff's only problem-otherworldly creatures and especially demons seem out to get her. What has she gotten herself involved in? Who can she trust? How can she help those who can't be seen?

The author's writing style is easy to read and able to be absorbed without intense concentration. I found a few editing errors like missing words or incorrect tenses which disrupted the flow of the book. And in worlds of ghosts and demons, the reader needs to suspend belief to allow for certain situations to be plausible. The heroine is a strange character-she is too sweet to ask her "housemates" to leave even though she really does not want them there, and then is willing to endure extreme physical pain or even die for the sake of others. And her haste to trust-maybe demons have magic too? The story was still a great read though-light and fun and perfect for a rainy day. 

A stir of Ash and Embers-WP VD Merwe

Having been asked to review the book without an inkling as to its contents-I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. I was truly, pleasantly surprised.

The story begins with a horrific attack on a family in the so-called security of their home. This sets the tone to the introduction of a plethora of characters and sub stories in the heated, emotional turmoil set in South Africa. Each branch of the story reflects a facet of life in South Africa-from power hungry and corrupt officials, to farm owners and workers, to university students and even mercenaries for hire. While a work of fiction, much of the angst, anger and even acceptance that is a reality in the cauldron of the country is captured vividly in the experiences of the characters. The story combines hate, love, redemption and antipathy; sometimes so interwoven that separation seems impossible. Whether you agree or disagree with their views, the writing puts you straight into their hearts and minds.

Being the author's first novel I was impressed by the style and degree of writing. Initially trying to remember all the characters was a little difficult, but the author weaves them all together. I couldn't give full stars due to the number of editing and timing issues I found in the book. I did enjoy many of the South African references, but was concerned that without translations not all of the non-English words and phrases would be understood. I had to walk away from the book a number of times due to the powerfully described raw emotions felt by many of the characters. A very thought provoking novel that has the capability to show you different sides of conflicts and allow you to immerse yourself on either side. The author holds no punches in expressing some emotions which creates a harsh and brutal look at a current situation. A gritty "what if" of racial, political and emotional tensions. Highly recommended.

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant-Drew Hayes

Well with such a mouthful how can you not want to pick up the book and find out more? I was definitely in the mood for a little light comedy and this hit the spot.

Fred's experiences are recorded in his journal which begins with him going to a high school reunion with one significant difference-he is a vampire. However the fact that he is a vampire is the only significant difference. He is still the same boring, timid wallflower that he ever was. At the reunion he meets up with an old school friend Krystal and subsequently learns she is part of the "Agency", keeping parahumans on the straight and narrow. Fred finds the backbone he never knew he had and together they plough into mysteries and adventure. New characters like zombies, weresteeds, necromancers, mages and never before heard of species join the party.

Reminiscent of a good Robert Rankin giggle, this book made me while not out and out guffaw, definitely titter. It was refreshing to see a vampire that kept all the human personality quirks and that the author didn't feel the need to turn him into one of those "sparkly vampires".  Each journal entry made for a good short story and kept the thread of it all nicely together. The imagery was hilarious and seriously-the mushroom men? "Squirt squirt" The author has an evil sense of humour.

In saying that, I found the reintroduction of characters in each entry a tad repetitive-can't see how that would happen in a journal. And the use of their instead of there-unforgivable! A couple of editing faux pas but nothing too dreadful.

A rollicking good read. Light hearted and fun with enough story to keep you focussed and entertained, but a good dose of comedy to make it that much more different from other supernatural stories.

Sing Down the Stars-LJ Hatton

With the upsurge of young adult books currently being made into movies, I decided to see what the level of offering is at the moment-and was not disappointed.

The 5th daughter shouldn't be.  After the jellyfish-like aliens hung in the sky for a year causing human hysteria, they left; seemingly without effect. Certain children were then born with abilities. Abilities to manipulate elements. Certainly something the wardens want checked and under their control. Magnus and Iva Roma have four special daughters able to control the elements of fire, water, wind and earth. The 5th daughter that shouldn't be, Penelope, has assumed the guise of her twin brother who she accidently killed the night she was born and caused the stars to rain down. For years the girls have been hiding in plain sight performing in The Show-a circus performance that defies ordinary illusion. Now, the wardens have made their move, and in one night Penelope's life and that of her family and friends is thrown to the winds of change. To fight back she must enlist the aid of new partners and their capabilities, and tap into the celestine power she has been forced to damp down throughout the years. Unable to previously control the immense power, can Penelope unleash her abilities and safely use them to find and free those she loves?

What I really enjoyed about this book  was the author's ability to describe situations and people so descriptively, that the imagery in my head was vivid and graphic. She gave the main characters well thought out personalities (bearing in mind it's a young adults book), and was able to weave the myriad of sub plots together convincingly.  The editing was done well and the story flowed comprehensively. What's not to like about a story that has unicorns and gryphons! The only thing that didn't resonate entirely well with me was how some scenes seemed implausible. I'm not talking about scenes where magic happened and you need to suspend belief, but where a character was standing somewhere and the next minute they had gotten past guards and were hiding in another place (not due to magic). I suppose sometimes you just have to believe enough for the scene to happen.

I would highly recommend this book and praise the author on creating a tale that will be able to be stretched over a series, yet keep you enthralled in each book but still wanting more.  

Haunting Refrain-Ellis Vidler

A powerful psychic vision is always a great way to start a story with a solid punch of imagery. Enter our scatty, redheaded heroine Kate, who is testing her psychic abilities in a parapsychology group. Her intensely strong and graphic vision from touching the victim's sweatband, places her in the throes of being strangled ; but not clearly enough to see the killer's face. So begins the race to connect the dots and put a face to the killer.

The characters are generally well written and easy to relate to. Kate is a portrait photographer who experiences tinges of psychic ability. Her best friend Venice is a clairvoyant with a flair for the dramatic-whether in her appearance or theatrical presentation. John is a newspaper reporter determined to print the truth and potential love interest for Kate. Rounding out the whodunnit are the head of the parapsychology class, a helpful detective and other sideline characters that are woven into the story.

So here you have the basics of a good mystery. Unfortunately a number of things interfere with making this a well rounded story. Spoiler alert- the lack of cell phones by the characters was not a believable part of the story-the leaving of messages and people not being home to answer the phone raised serious flags. Helmut's supposed red herring part in the murder was obvious and unnecessary. The killer was evident from very early on in the story and yet so little of the story was actually dedicated to him. His quick release after being arrested on the minimum of charges seemed legally unrealistic.  The description of her house with so much glass still intact in the neighbourhood she lived in was also very suspect.   

I will give props for the editing though-no blindingly apparent mistakes. If you wanted a light read without having to think too much this is a bit of fun for the day. As soon as you start looking deeply into it however, certain behaviours and instances start grating at your consciousness. Not a bad book but definitely one I was not engrossed in.

The In-Betweener Vol. 1 by Ann Christy

Before I begin reading a book, I like to see other reviews about it to get the general public feeling and see whether I eventually agree or not. Unfortunately this can be counterproductive as there were so many rave reviews about this book but I didn't feel quite the same. I have never heard of the author before and it's definitely not a badly written book, it just didn't give me the same thrill as it seemed to give many others.

It's basically a zombie book for young adults without actually having zombies in it. The heroine is 19 year-old Emily, one of the original nanite receivers, who has to battle with a world gone south. The nanites were invented to cure disease and restructure failing bodies, but the desire to cure all comes at a price. Now she faces  in-betweeners (dead but not as dead as you think), deaders (more dead than in-betweeners) and humans (who can be the worst of the lot) in her fight for survival. The author does well in offering a back story alongside the present in order to show readers the events leading up to the world crisis. I also commend the way she started the book with one set of characters and then turned it around to weave them into the main character's story.

While I didn't love the story as much as other people did, I found it pleasant to read with good story continuity and no glaring editing errors.  A major factor is that it is too short and doesn't give enough of the story to grab me and make me want to buy the second book as I feel the same would happen in the second. I guess the "big event" at the end of the first is meant to be a lead on but since this sort of thing happens in a lot of zombie books I was expecting it to happen, so unfortunately no surprise there.  Still, an enjoyable read and good idea for a series.

12-Sean Platt and David Wright

The premise of the book immediately caught my eye-What would you do with the last 12 hours of your life? A great attention grabber. Somewhat misleading however, since none of the characters actually know that some of them only have 12 hours to live.

In saying that it was still a very creative and well written book, and with 12 points of view, very cleverly handled to ensure continuity and believable characters.

The plot revolves around a group of characters-many whose lives intertwine, albeit briefly. The story begins in Goldman's Diner where a massacre has taken place. Rewind 12 hours and we are introduced to the plethora of characters that make up the integral skein of fate. Each individual story is so well written that contrary to what you would think, it is easy to keep up with each character's story  and how they blend into each other. From a cop and his wife experiencing marriage difficulties, to a senior citizen with the onset of memory loss, a fry cook trying to lead a straight life but being sucked back into shady deals to save family, a waitress struggling to keep her head above water and deal with a small child and abusive husband, to the very real issue of how far bullying and domestic abuse will push a person.  I won't delve into all of the characters as some need to have no preconceived notions about them before meeting them. What really brings the stories home, is the belief that the life experiences are real-these really could be members of your family, neighbours or good friends. The 12 hours prior to the massacre allow you to feel part of the characters' joys and woes. To catch a glimpse of a life we wish we could help.  To maybe see in them part of ourselves. The culmination of the story answers the questions raised in the beginning-who? what? why?

The story really does make you think about the lives happening around us that we sometimes  never see as we are so engrossed in our own bubbles.  I did however not award the final star due to some faulty editing (words missing from sentences), a continuity issue I had with (spoiler alert)  Tim's face looking as though he had been in an accident after his dad had beaten him, to him getting to the diner and Alicia just saying she was wondering how he got out of the house and no one noticing his contusions and bruises. I was also a little sceptical about Abe's change of heart after all of his pain staking plans but that is just my feeling.  Aside from a few personal niggles, I would definitely recommend this book as a comfortable afternoon read.

World's Scariest Places Vol.1-Jeremy Bates

So the fact that there are two books offered here is both a plus and a minus. Great that there is more reading material, but unfortunately reading them one after the other shows the base story formula that has been used for both.

Being as staunch as I am about grammar and spelling, even a great story will put me off if there is bad editing. Glad to say that for the majority of the pages no glaring mistakes turned me away, but it was still unfortunate that the final checking was not 100% accurate as certain words were missing from sentences. In saying that, the writer has a great way with words and imagery and writes in a clean style with a well maintained flow.

Now to the parallels between the stories-tall hero who steps up to the plate-check. Problems with a current or ex-girlfriend-check. Landing up in a group of people where there are antagonistic feelings-check. Somebody dies first-check. And then I run the risk of spoiler alerts if I carry on with the similarities between the endings of the stories. Basically a group of people in each book that are in the settings for whatever reasons, come up against a force wanting to destroy them. Will the hero save the day? The actual descriptions of the suicide forest and the catacombs are very vivid, and it becomes easy to imagine yourself in the settings. I didn't find the horror as bold as many other readers, but the build up to certain suspenseful parts puts you right in the thick of things. I think if I had read only one of the books I would have been satisfied with the plot and characters and not constantly, even though subconsciously, compared them.

All in all a good read which I would recommend, but a slightly unbelievable leaning towards making the plot fit the world's scariest places.

Broken Bones-Deja Black

After reading the intention and desires of the author after the book, I understand the basis in forming the characters of the story but felt she fell short of her goals. The seed of the story has a good hold in the love/vengeance/hero paranormal category, but the characters are unbelievable and the plot up in the air.

The story begins with Daniel who was the victim of abuse by his father and lover-a great attention grabbing start. However his character then morphs into the hero/whiner/coward/hero/victim/hero/aggressor and the rapid cycling is hard to keep up with or believe. Then enters his adopted family (wolf shifters) and best friend. The wolves' manner of speaking doesn't ring true-far too upper class gentry and the molly coddling that takes place seems unrealistic. Then we get to meet Dr Aiden Kavanagh-a sandman whose days on earth on are numbered unless he can find his keeper and soulmate to bind him. Again-a bit of a fluffy character.

The pace of the story was slow until the final battle-then poof-if you blinked you missed one of pretty much the most important scenes. The "Land of Dreams"-bit immature. And then there were the sex scenes-I am definitely not a prude when it comes to a story needing these, but to have so many and in such graphic terms-there was nothing in the bio to prepare me for them-seemed to take up more than the important parts of the story. Using words like susurrus and fulgent  and then following them with clichés- "drooling with anticipation" and "thinking about your melons"? Just no. Also if you are going to go to the trouble of using words like coimeádai to keep the authentic tone then use crêpe and not crape.  

So two questions (spoiler alert)-why at the beginning of the book does Aiden say that Keith is in no way his blood brother or even a brother like Conner when at the end he mourns (or rejoices) over getting an adopted family which will be closer than the "biological" brother he knew (Keith)? And the tattoo he receives as the keeper's mark-DTK? His name is Daniel Michael Tolliver-does it stand for Daniel The Keeper?

An average debut for the author but the stories and characters need a lot more work and the editor needs to catch the verb tenses that don't always correspond.

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