Tag: #Death

The First Sin by Cheyenne Brammah

On By @f33lthesunIn AdultLeave a comment

Blurb

In the sweeping expanse of the Årdrakin Empire, the people fight and die for honor as elite warriors of the galaxy. But long ago, a prophecy was spoken that presaged the apocalypse. Everyone knows and fears the truth: one day, the empire will fall.

Tårik is a guard for small, independent Clan Tsinna. Instead of pondering the end of his civilization, Tårik’s greatest concern is maintaining his honour while escorting a group of impertinent dignitaries across the treacherous Barren Gale. When the Mother Goddess speaks a passage from the prophecy to him, he has the good sense to be frightened, but he doesn’t heed the significance of Her visit.

Then disaster strikes, and Tårik is branded as an exile, leaving him with no home, no honour, and no future. Forced into a desperate struggle for survival, all Tårik can focus on is living just one more day until luck—or maybe fate—gives him the opportunity to join a new clan. But even this is fraught with danger and uncertainty, and it takes him to an inhospitable world far from the empire where survival seems all but impossible.

Faced with new challenges, including trying to navigate first contact with the low-tech locals, Tårik believes the prophecy can’t reach him. Yet it continues to loom, signaling that his fate and the fate of the empire are irrevocably entwined.

This is a dark, spicy, adult science fantasy set in a world that includes war, violence, and other mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. Reading guidance can be found at the beginning of the book or on the author’s website.

Review

Being told the prophecy (of how things will end) at the start of the story does not spoil this book at all. Like all prophecies, you just never know how the characters are going to fulfil it. This is a fine example of “sort of” knowing the ending but becoming engrossed in the story and the characters because it is so well told.

The world building in this first book is top notch, from the clans and “the Whole” to the planetary system, the ship and Berwen, the planet they end up on,

The author has created a story full of well developed characters, all with their own secrets from the past and flaws that may or may not lead them down the paths they take. Decisions made “for the good of the clan” are not always good decisions.

The comparison between the way the clans work and the way the “hive mind” of the skarastaja works is an interesting juxtaposition.

There are some big themes in this book; love, loss, vengeance, addiction, belief systems and sacrifice, which the author weaves into a compelling narrative. In the second half, we also find out the consequences of introducing another element into a planet’s natural order.

This book is not for the faint hearted. The blurb says dark and spicy, and it certainly delivers on that. There is so much to think about that I need time to reflect before even contemplating my next read.

The character list at the start and the glossary at the end are both useful reference points throughout, to help you keep track of things, if needed.

About the book

Genre: Science Fantasy

Age Category: Adult

Number of Pages: 668 Pages

Publication Date: 23 October 2025

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241900715-the-first-sin 

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9d90c00f-9780-46d2-b9b5-bb67ffdb4eda 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/ivPviJG (Canada) https://a.co/d/9IXOJmx (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/bW2KOHe (UK)

Thank you to @The_WriteReads and the author for an eARC to read and review for this blog tour.

The Tortured Kingdom by Bryan Asher

On By @f33lthesunIn AdultLeave a comment

Blurb

After a comet strikes the continent of Yohme, it’s left in shambles. Nations lay in rubble, magic has been corrupted, and a plague has turned most of the inhabitants into flesh-eating, undead, ghouls.

Traveling this apocalyptic landscape is Evan, a bounty hunter taking missions to survive. However, his latest quest to capture a thief leads to more than he bargained for. After uncovering an ancient map, he forms a party to hunt the sacred treasure inside the most formidable dungeon.

Once inside, they’ll have to overcome the trials of a god to reach it, and they’re not the only ones searching.

Review

I was intrigued by the blurb. Who doesn’t love a dungeon quest involving broken magic, undead ghouls and a group of characters forced to bond in pursuit of a sacred relic?

The world building and characterisation is superb, the fast pace sustained throughout. The author has successfully brought together a mixture of dungeons and dragons, mythical gods and creatures, magical artefacts, a dangerous quest and brought them to life on the page.

As the group make their way through the dangerous trials in the dungeon, strong themes of friendship, trust, working together as one, knowing yourself and those around you, making choices for self or group, as well as making the best of each individual’s strengths, the quest culminates in a big decision for Evan, the unlikely leader of the group. No spoilers here though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will look out for more of the author’s work.

Thanks to @The_WriteReads for a physical copy of the book to read and review for this blog tour. Please look out for other reviews over the coming days.

About the book

Genre: Fantasy

Age Category: Adult

Illustrators: Batsky Starman and Arief Rachmad

Number of Pages: 276 Pages

Publication Date: January 31, 2025

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224887878-the-tortured-kingdom 

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4f4f8d6b-a6ee-4966-b5e7-c97c7aa08c17 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/6u8sRgO (Canada) https://a.co/d/2yVjYj2 (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/iIViVDS (UK)

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson

On By @f33lthesunIn Young AdultLeave a comment
Cover by Ariane Fleischmann

Blurb

Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows.

Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets.

But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not.

He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night.

Trial of the Alchemist is a gaslamp mystery rife with twists, adventure, and romance.

Review

Having read and been lured in by the first few chapters in earlier rounds of the BBNYA, I just had to read the whole story.

Alchemist Ortez, a psych-alchemist, is accused of murdering the town’s “leader”, owner of the main industry, the majority of the housing and businesses and without whom the town would cease to function.

In court, a legal alchemist uses elixirs to enter Ortez’s mind, to ensure he is telling the judge the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This was the part that reeled me in.

As his story unfolds, we see the grip Everett Day has on the town. We also hear about events that the town was not aware of. Is Ortez slowly changing the minds of the baying crowd, who are eager to hang him as soon as possible?

As Ortez’s story goes on, his previous work as a research alchemist, using his skill to communicate with animals is called upon to help work out a problem, which ends up uncovering unforeseen problems caused by the Day Corporations by products of machine manufacturing .

Will anyone find the courage to stand up and come to the defence of Ortez, or provide proof of his truth?

During his story, his own (legal) use of elixirs to explore the memories of his clients is explained but that only ends up creating more questions. Whilst Alchemist Freya, the legal alchemist, is adamant Ortez is telling the truth, is he a reliable narrator? Does he know everything he knows?

I really enjoyed this story and am left with many questions I am going to enjoy thinking about for a while yet. Just as you should be by stories.

Trial of the Alchemist is a thoroughly deserved 3rd place finalist.

Thank you to BBNYA and The Write Reads for allowing me to be on the judging panel and providing me with a copy of the book to review.

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads. 

About the Book

Length: 453 Pages

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: April 4, 2023

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/aNNHuoH (Canada) https://a.co/d/anR8L4D (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/g8MdUIG (UK) 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199237239-trial-of-the-alchemist 

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f42303a9-6076-4478-97c8-b0f5cd9a05e3

Silverbirds by Rocky Magaña

On By @f33lthesunIn Adult2 Comments

Blurb

In a land ravaged by war and haunted by fire-breathing silverbirds, Kosha is the last thread in a bloodline unraveled by violence. His father was a man who believed in wisdom over weapons, his mother a woman who fought for a future that would never come, and his brother a boy who disappeared into the mountains, chasing a cause that would devour him whole. Now, Kosha walks alone, armed with nothing but a bow and the impossible weight of revenge pressing against his ribs.

As Kosha crosses the wasteland toward the land of the silverbirds, he carries more than his grief—he carries the ghosts of his father’s wisdom, his mother’s defiance, and his brother’s sins. He carries the weight of every choice that led him to this moment. And with each step, he must decide: Is he the last survivor of his family’s story, or its final casualty?

A harrowing, lyrical journey through war, loss, and the brutal choices that shape a legacy, this novel asks what it means to inherit a fight—and whether a boy with nothing left to lose can change the course of his own history.

Review

Right from the start, we are aware of the war and violence that eight year old Kosha and his family hide from. They moved away from the city into the mountains to farm sheep but even there, war finds them.

Although the main thread of story is about Kosha, how he ends up alone and on a journey of vengeance, other chapters also provide back story to his parents, Ara and Kamal – family influences, how they grew up, met and married. Throughout all this there has always been violence and abuse. How they deal with it makes them who they are. It also makes Kosha who he is.

This well told story is a devastatingly detailed observation of what war does to individuals, families and communities; it turns people on each other, gives some a “reason” to justify their actions and causes death and destruction that echoes through generations.

The mix of narrative and verse (old myths and tales) works well, as does the style. There is a lyrical feel to the text, which should jar with the theme, but it doesn’t, the author makes it work.

Be aware there are some graphic scenes: one describing bodies after a bomb hits and a caesarian being performed. There is also a sexual assault.

Thank you to @The_WriteReads and the author for a copy of the book to read and review for this tour.

About the book

Genre: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Dystopian Fiction

Age Category: Adult 

Number of Pages: 356 pages

Publication Date: January 29, 2025

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224227006-silverbirds 

StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a3fe8ca4-ffa4-4e03-8148-b81fbb9ce528 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/fmlwysi (Canada) https://a.co/d/9jPRou2 (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/fWDX7eQ (UK)

Thirst by Darren Simpson

On By @f33lthesunIn #YALeave a comment
Cover Art by Natalie Smillie

I was delighted that Pushkin Press sent me a proof copy of Thirst to read and review as I am a big Darren Simpson fan. I loved the originality of The Memory Thieves and reviewed it here. The author’s world building and story telling are first rate so expectations were high. I was not disappointed.

I would also like to give Natalie Smillie a shout out for her outstanding cover illustration.

Blurb

Nobody talks about the strange happenings in Maimsbury. No one speaks of the hooded figures glimpsed in the woods, nor the children’s game that went so horribly wrong. But most of all, nobody dares whisper their doubts about the river they have worshipped for centuries.

Like everyone in Maimsbury, Gorse is used to the sacrifices made every spring to the River Yeelde. The life of a farm animal – in return for a year of plenty – seems a fair trade. That is, until a tragedy leads Gorse to a blood-curdling discovery.

Because this year is a Brim Year, and after giving so much, the river needs more than an animal’s life to sate its thirst…

Review

I have just finished reading Thirst and I was swept along by the story, not by the Yeelde River, thank goodness. The author has written a mesmerisingly disturbing, dark story steeped in folklore, with fairy tale references (some subtle, some not so subtle) scattered throughout. The use of children’s rhymes builds the authenticity of the tale and, as is common, they have dark undercurrents and are based on some truth from the past, chronicling the dark history whilst also hiding it in plain sight.

This reminded me that stories (lore, myth and fairy especially) are traditionally spoken, passed down and they shape shift slightly with each retelling, which is how the people of Maimsbury are aware of the village’s history. Most choose not to acknowledge the darker side, they just go about their business, reaping the rewards of a disturbing sacrificial pact made once upon a time, long, long ago, that has ongoing consequences even now.

However, as we all know, things ignored or left to a select few to deal with usually come back to bite us. Such is the case in Maimsbury.

Some of my favourite stories include the setting as a main character. Alan Garner and Susan Cooper are two examples that spring to mind. With the river and, to a slightly lesser extent, the woods in Thirst, the author has achieved this exceptionally well. As I said in the introduction, Darren Simpson’s world building is superb and Gorse’s Maimsbury is no exception.

It struck me immediately that the characters from the village are named for plants – trees, flowers, fruit. In folklore, naming is important, a binding, powerful force and clearly signifies a link to family and/or, more importantly in this story, place, to the village as a whole which, considering the pact, is an important factor. Just by their given name, anyone from outside the village stands out. This clearly identifies them as people not to discuss the sacrificial pact with.

I realise I have not said much about the storyline here, but it would be difficult to do without spoilers. I just wanted to tease out a few details to help you decide if it is for you or not. I highly recommend you read this book. It is dark, chilling and gruesome. It is storytelling at its very best.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and Darren Simpson for the proof copy to read. Thirst will be published on 11th September 2025.

The Magdalenes by Jeanne Skartsiaris

On By @f33lthesunIn AdultLeave a comment
Cover design by Erin Dameron-Hill

Blurb

The Magdalenes is a story of redemption and reinvention.

Jude Madigan is a successful plaintiff’s attorney who lived out a nightmare and spent years keeping it hidden. After being raped and impregnated by a Catholic priest when she was fourteen, she has spent years creating a new life, now driven to get justice for her clients.

She buries her past, and her emotions, under a solid veneer of ambition, but just as she’s about to bring her biggest litigation case to trial, a strange assignment is forced upon her. Her law firm is given a huge commission to handle the estate of a recently deceased woman, with the catch that Jude, and no one else, must act as trustee. The terms require her to oversee the construction and finances of a Catholic halfway house for prostitutes.

Jude fights against this agreement since she turned her back on the church years ago and intends to keep it that way. Her boss insists she complies, not knowing about her past-or the pain of having her daughter taken from her arms minutes after the birth by a nun.

Damaged and patched together with anger and shame, Jude is reluctant, but becomes involved with a group of nuns and the prostitutes they’re trying to help.

But the mystery remains as to why the stranger specified her, a litigation attorney, not an estate attorney, to handle the case. Though Jude struggles both personally and professionally, she discovers that what she feared most was what she needed to heal. Every belief is tested, and a lost dream is realized.

Review

Although not my usual genre, the first 10k extract pulled me in and I just had to read the whole thing.

There is a lot to unpack in this story. There are trigger warnings for rape, forced adoption and coercive manipulation. However, the overall feel is of hope and love.

Jude believes she is coping and is managing her emotions linked to her childhood, but she has told no one about her past. She keeps it bottled up and forges ahead, making a successful career in law.

However a coercive ex and a mysterious will case bring everything to the boil, so that Jude is faced with personal and professional conflicts. Who will she confide in? Will they abandon her as others have done in the past?

This thoroughly deserved its place in the final selection of the BBNYA 2024 awards.

Thank you to BBNYA and The Write Reads for allowing me to be on the judging panel and providing me with a copy of the book to review.

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.


If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Skylark in the Fog by Helyna L Clove

On By @f33lthesunIn AdultLeave a comment

During the BBNYA2024 competition, I read the 2k and 10k extracts and really wanted to read the whole story, so was happy to sign up for this tour. It thoroughly deserves its place as the 9th place finalist.

Blurb

So when the universe falls to pieces, it doesn’t mean your life has to, right? That comes later.

Jeane Blake, captain of the spaceship Skylark, makes her living by looting dead worlds, planets fallen prey to naturally occurring wormhole-like rifts plaguing the cosmos. She survives the only way she knows how: avoiding commitment and arguing with her dead foster father’s ghost. But when her crew stumbles upon an alien device that could collapse the wormhole network and wipe out all sentient life, they catch the hungry eyes of the Union, a tyrannical empire hunting the sinister tech.

As she flees the Union’s brainwashed agents, Jeane is forced to take on a shady mission and gets stuck assisting the runaway monarch of a technocrat planet. Queen Maura Tholis is seeking the aid of an interstellar resistance to reclaim her war-torn world, with another trouble-magnet device as her bargaining chip: a glove that allows her to command AI systems. Jeane couldn’t care less about the whole deal, but things become personal when the Union annexes the place she calls home. And it might be her fault.

Reluctant to become weapons in the hands of power-hungry militants and desperate rebels, smuggler and queen join forces. But to save their homes, they must redefine themselves, work with the enemy, and face personal traumas they’d buried long ago-and only stars know which challenge might break them in the end.

Review

As the story starts to unfold, we have two seemingly unconnected and polar opposite storylines. One of a lanehunter, Jeane, and her crew, scraping to make ends meet by “aquiring” junk (looting) and selling it on, hopping about space in an attempt to steer clear of the Union and its dictator forces. She is also trying to outrun her grief and emotions.

The other is of Maura, a princess, soon to be Queen, of the solar system of Miyoza, which is currently in a long, drawn out war with the Gaerrians. Although giving the appearance of fighting for freedoms and liberty, the King, along with the AI system that jointly rules, is just as much a dictatorship as The Union.

As the two storylines come together, pushing Jeane and Maura into an uneasy alliance, we begin to see how they are completely different but also similar, both fighting inner gremlins, but determined to make a difference.

As the story progresses, themes of power, greed, control and manipulation emerge strongly, alongside those of grit, determination, sacrifice, friendship and grief.

In the background, but very much strong forces in their own right, are two AI systems that have been corrupted by human influence, but it is the masses who suffer. Who thought it would be a good idea to have a human royal and AI jointly run a kingdom? Both the king and the leaders of the Union strongly stamp their will on their respective systems and … there are consequences!

You will just have to read the book to find out what those consequences are.

About the Book

Length: 524 Pages

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Age Category: New Adult

Date Published: September 6, 2022

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/5DXM2cC (Canada) https://a.co/d/jaFAuuQ (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/60gePiC (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61262158-skylark-in-the-fog 

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b47418a6-e276-4d6d-9da5-1f6c6534dcbf

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers mfrom all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads. 

Eerie Exhibits: Five Macabre Museum Tales by Victoria Williamson

On By @f33lthesunIn Adult1 Comment

Blurb

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.

An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.

A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.

A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.

And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

Review

Like individual exhibits found in the same collection, these five stories each have their own defining aspects but share an overarching link. In this case, they are all set in the same museum. However each story is individual in its focus and creepiness factor, as well as having different main characters.

As I read the stories, I could feel a couple of common themes emerging but then the author changes it up to keep readers on their toes. There are bo overarching themes, although class/money division does come up in a couple, as well as overbearing, controlling men.

For me, the most unsettling one was The Shape of the Beast, but having said that, all of the stories succeed in giving me the heebie-jeebies. The karma in Et In Arcadia Ego is *chef’s kiss*.

What I liked most was that the author does not go into minute detail and leaves so much to the imagination, especially with a couple of the endings, so much so that you need to spend time thinking about each story, not just move immediately to read the next one.

Look out for more blogs on Eerie Exhibts over the coming days.

Thanks to Silver Thistle Press and @The_WriteReads for the ebook copy to read and review for this tour.

About the Book

Genre: Supernatural Fiction

Age Category: Adult

Publisher: Silver Thistle Press

Number of Pages: 221

Publication Date: March 6, 2025

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223285412-eerie-exhibits—five-macabre-museum-tales 

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/726acd31-6da8-449d-9f89-97b79db1f222 

Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/1zD6rAT (UK) https://a.co/d/i8bjaBI (USA) https://a.co/d/cBSc7vE (Canada)

Or buy from your local independent bookshop.

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

On By @f33lthesunIn #YALeave a comment
Cover illustration by Katt Phatt

Blurb

A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.

But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.

And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.

With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.

Review

I do love a fairy tale inspired story and The Notorious Virtues does not disappoint. As it turns out, this is the first in a series, and whilst ending on somewhat of a cliffhanger, it felt an appropriate place to do so. I need the next book…NOW!

Told from multiple viewpoints, which works well to keep the reader on top of what is happening, this story at is heart is about family. The family in question being the powerful Holtzfall’s, who own and hold all the power in Walstad. The matriarch leader, Mercy, uses her power and magic to control the family and keep the traditions alive…but as the younger generation prepare and endure the trials to decide the next heir to the fortune, they start to uncover deep secrets and infighting. Whilst searching for answers and trying to outmanoeuvre each other, the girls must also be prepared for trials to win a chance to be heiress. These trials are undisclosed (but linked to the virtues) until they happen and can be anything from troll attacks, helping others or not being tempered in stressful situations.

The history of the family and the traditions they keep, including that of their sworn knight protectors, the Rydders, is told in chunks interspersed throughout the main storyline and is their own origins fairy tale, linked to an immortal being in the woods and an honest, hardworking woodcutter who asks no more than to be able to cut wood to help his family survive the winter. How the family has changed these ideals and their use of magic over the generations enables themes of capitalism, dictatorship, family secrets, resistance, betrayal and rebellion. As one of the characters whose point of view is shared with us is a journalist, we also see the power of the press being used to manipulate how individuals and situations are perceived by the general population.

All this sounds heavy, but believe me, this story is anything but. It is fast paced, builds intrigue, suspense and unforeseen twists, whilst also maintaining a fairy tale-esque style.

Thank you to @TheWriteReads, the author and Faber for a copy of this to read and review.

About the book

Genre: Fantasy

Age Category: Young Adult

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Number of Pages: 368 Pages

Publication Date: March 27, 2025

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38347283-the-notorious-virtues 

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/3e6e7d9c-5b37-413b-9773-4550a1b42233 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/8vVbAG9 (Canada) https://a.co/d/hLVzjdb (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/i8QYXs5 (UK)

Or my preferred method, buy at a local independent bookshop.

Look out for the other blogs on this tour.

Yellow Tape and Coffee by Pat Luther

On By @f33lthesunIn Young Adult1 Comment

Blurb

In Portland, Oregon, Investigative reporter Veer Rosen has come across the story of a lifetime. If she makes it public, her career and life will be in danger. If she doesn’t, tens of thousands may die. The last time the werewolves were revealed, violence swept across Europe. Computer mogul Victor Stumpp will go to any lengths to keep that pattern from repeating. Junior software engineer Carl’s friend was murdered for breaking the rules, keeping the existence of the werewolves secret. He is determined to change the system that allowed it. Homicide detective Michael must balance keeping his city safe and bringing a criminal to justice when he learns that the murderer he’s pursuing is part of a secret society of werewolves.When middle aged accountant Gordon is attacked by a rogue werewolf he finds himself thrust into a war that he wants no part of, but he may be the only chance for peace. Alliances shift, friends are made, and others betrayed as conflicting agendas clash across the city and by the end Portland and the entire world will never be the same.

Review

I read the first 2k extract and wanted more. I then read the 10k extract and definitely wanted more. I loved this book and it thoroughly deserved its place as a BBNYA 2024 finalist. It was the longest book by far, page wise, that I read last year but it certainly didn’t feel like it. The pacing and characters kept the story alive all the way to the end.

Sometimes history teaches us something, we learn from it and move on, develop society. Other times, history teaches us something, we learn from it and then a few decide that the reasoning behind decisions are unsound and set out to change it.

In Portland, and around the world, werwolves exist but keep themselves hidden. There are societies, structures and a worldwide network in place to ensure the safety of both themselves and non werewolves. It has been this way for a long time, lessons having been learned many years ago. However, a group have decided this is wrong and werewolves should be allowed to reveal themselves and integrate with society, as well as turn more of the population into werewolves.

As you would suspect, mayhem and biting ensue, creating more werewolves, but killing in some cases. Also, as you would expect, the majority of people (and werewolves) are not happy about it, including the recently transformed ones…no one asked their consent to be bitten and turned…no one trained them in keeping themselves secret and not murdering humans.

This story deals with secret societies, integration and exclusion, corporate greed, consent, conflicting loyalties and human/werewolf nature in all its glory.

Look out for other blogs on this tour

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.