Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: 5 Star Book Review

Daughter of Aithne: The Silver Web Series, Book 3 by Karin Rita Gastreich – Romance Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Magic Realism

Writer and ecologist Karin Rita Gastreich draws inspiration from her trips to the magical forests of Costa Rica to bring life to the Silver Web series. An unforgettable journey, Daughter of Aithne, is the finale to the epic story of Queen Eolyn the High Maga, set in a world of seemingly never-ending war where female practitioners of magic (maga) are feared.

Set ten years after the conclusion of Gastreich’s second installment in the series Sword of Shadows, Daughter of Aithne begins during an era of abundant peace. That peace quickly turns to turmoil when a group of Eolyn’s magical progeny commits an act of grave betrayal by kidnapping Princess Elisara, daughter of the former Queen Taesara.

The Mage King Akmael immediately orders all maga to lay down their arms and have their magic bound. For years magas have been prosecuted for having magic and were all but annihilated by the crown. Except for a small amount that managed to escape hoping to one day be able to live their lives of magic according to their beloved culture. Fear of women’s magic is still alive in the kingdom, and the King, wishing only to protect his queen and her daughters, attempts to avoid an outbreak of war by banning all magas use of their craft.

Gastreich uses vivid language to transport readers into the story. An overarching theme of distrust and vying for loyalties in and among kingdoms presented in this third installment of the Silver Web series is reminiscent of other high fantasy series such as George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Gastreich masterfully executes an effective use of narrative misdirection throughout the story.

Karin Rita Gastreich has an apparent love for the magic of nature and breathes that into the heart of her books, but she also successfully sets real-world issues at the forefront. She follows a common trope within the Young Adult genre by taking an issue from today and melding it into her narrative. Here, the main element in the Silver Web trilogy is the stark contrast of beliefs and opinions centering around magic and especially female magic welders. Many fear their magic and believe magas are dangerous, but then have little or no issue with male mages.

A triumphant story of adversity, Daughter of Aithne is the exciting conclusion to the Silver Web series. Readers of all ages may hope this is not the last time Gastreich will return to her fantastical world of magic.

Daughter of Aithne won 1^st Place in the CIBA 2017 OZMA Awards for Fantasy novels.

October 14, 2019
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND – A Guide to How Life REALLY Works by Rob Davis – Philanthropy & Charity, Motivational Management & Leadership, Business Motivation & Self-Improvement

Combining personal vignettes with sage advice, Rob Davis demonstrates how the saying, What Goes Around Comes Around, connects to other sources of wisdom, indeed to our everyday lives. As an adult involved in business, family, and sports, he came to recognize how true the saying is.

As a child, he often heard the expression, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” As an adult, he saw in numerous situations, including the experiences of friends, business partners, and in his own life, how the results we reap do come from the actions we sow.

It was some time until he realized that “sow” referred to the planting of seeds and had nothing to do with needles and thread. Also, that “reap” referred to how successful or disappointing the resulting harvest would be.

One example referred to the Ponzi scheme run by Bernie Madoff, the notorious financier who had built what appeared to be a thriving business until being exposed as a fraud who stole $millions, even from widows, orphans, and charities. Madoff is now in prison, most likely for the rest of his life.

Suppose Davis suggests, that early on, Madoff had called together those involved, and “fessed up?” While the consequences would have been painful, they would not likely have been anything as disastrous as the total ruin he and his family ended up experiencing.

The lesson here is that the longer one lets the deception continue, the more bottomless the pit they dig for themselves when the light finally catches up to them.

Much of the book’s theme rests on the significance of choice. When it appears that we have no other option in a given situation, the right choice probably seems like the most challenging thing to do. Here Davis cautions us to set our sights on the high road to avoid losing the chance for the most positive possible outcome.

Of course, not all choices are wrong, and not all comebacks are bad. A friend and running buddy described by Davis wrecked his car after having had a few too many drinks at a party. His driver’s license was suspended for three months, along with the requirement to attend weekly classes. Despite the problematic consequences, his friend turned this self-created slip into an example for his children, by accepting the full measure of his punishment and making the best of it.

Some of Davis’ stories are his own, such as the time he was kicking himself for not living up to his commitment to helping a friend who had organized a charitable fund-raising event. The result led to his creation of a new organization supported by alternative, investment industry people for the prevention and treatment of child abuse.

His book concludes with positive “Thoughts to Live By,” such as – I Choose Happiness, I Cooperate for the Greatest Good, I Take the High Road, and I Expect to Be Happy.

His philosophy, as expressed here, makes effective use of humor, humility, and a hefty helping of logic! Drawing insight from personal parables, Davis has constructed a manual of straightforward and sensible life skills designed for those who genuinely want “what goes around” to yield the best outcomes!

October 12, 2019
The BUTCHER’S BILL (The Linus Schag, NCIS Thrillers Book 2) by Martin Roy Hill – Int’l Mystery & Crime, Military Thriller, Suspense

Bill Butcher can’t take it anymore. He’s played by the rules and lost. Now he’s making up his own rules. He’s determined to assert his own justice upon the people he identified as secretly betraying him and the troops who serve the country.

In this novel, part of the conspiracy against Bill Butcher is the publishing of a fraudulent list of demands supposedly written by him. The media nicknames the list The Butcher’s Bill. How can he fight? Follow the money trail, is all he can do – and what he hopes Linus Schag will do. It’s clear by now that Bill Butcher is a tormented man; terminated from NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) after his deployment in Iraq under accusations he’s unstable.

In every sense, this is a page-turner that readers won’t want to miss as Bill Butcher conducts his own subversive investigation to exact revenge. Is he out of his mind? Or, are his instincts right? This second book in the Linus Schag series by author Martin Roy Hill will keep you up nights.

Agent Schag has a reputation for impatience with authority, hidden secret guilt from his previous assignment, and boredom with his current exile in San Diego. He is the best in the business, and he is the only person Bill Butcher trusts to do the right thing. But when Butcher commits a crime so outrageously brutal, that Agent Schag is called in to bring him to justice. The question is, what kind of justice should be administered, and to whom?

Despite all obstacles before him, Bill Butcher relentlessly pursues the man he suspects is the source of the corruption. He will put an end to this man or die trying.

Linus Schag analyzes the evidence while keeping a vigilant watch against treachery. As he reviews the case, his concern grows. It is at this point, Lt. Commander Kendra Clarke of the Medical Corps steps in and diagnoses Butcher’s behavior as severe psychosis from a drug administered by naval officials. This new information may explain the gruesome messaging Butcher leaves behind at the crime scenes.

This is a smart thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Martin Roy Hill builds the suspense skillfully, placing you just where he wants you: on the edge of your seat.

Martin Roy Hill is well-versed in the culture and commitment of those who serve in the military, especially the Navy. Even the term, “The Butcher’s Bill” is an old naval slang for the list of killed and wounded after a battle and takes on an additional meaning as it also represents the number of dead left behind as the book’s plot advances. Hill relates a compelling picture of service. These are professionals against a smart setting.

Be ready to puzzle through the trail of evidence as it is uncovered and analyze the potential motives of characters who are not always as they appear. This thriller engages the reader to solve the ultimate twisted solution. A thrilling work of fiction inspired by historical fact will leave readers wondering how closely art imitates life. Highly recommended.

The Butcher’s Bill won 1^st Place in the 2017 CIBAs CLUE Awards for Suspense/Thriller novels.

October 4, 2019
SOULSTROLLER: Experiencing the weight, whispers, & wings of the world by Kayce Stevens Hughlett – Women’s Biographies, Personal Transformations, Self-Help

In a creative blend of existential memoir and artful travel journal, Kayce Stevens Hughlett’s SoulStroller takes readers along on an adventurous journey of self-discovery. Reminiscent of Elizabeth Gilbert’s popular Eat, Pray, Love, Hughlett focuses on family issues, ancestral memories, and dreams explored within the context of personal travels, focusing on the importance of moving beyond our comfort zones.

Here we come to learn that a SoulStroller is a term used for an individual who ventures into the fullest version of their true selves. Guided by intuition and spiritual essence, they stroll through life with a feeling of curiosity, compassion, contentment, and gratitude. Like a pilgrim on a quest, they follow their heart, rather than move ahead with a tourist mentality of set goals and to-do lists.

Raised with the traditional expectations of the “good girl,” Hughlett lived the first 30 years of her life within 150 miles of Oklahoma City, an area of white, middle-class, conservatives. The blinders came off when she moved to Seattle. Divorced, and remarried with two children, Hughlett indicates that when everything is FINE, sometimes that refers to the acronym for “fucked up, insecure, neurotic, and exhausted.”

It is during a trip to Mexico in search of a therapeutic boarding school for her troubled son that she finds a sense of peace and a firm idea of place as she falls in love with the desert landscape. With the outstretched arms of the saguaro cactus offering a sense of peace, it is in this moment that everything changes.

Hughlett’s journeys go far beyond visits to the likes of the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. Whether enjoying the delicacy of an eggplant and cheese sandwich on the banks of the Seine or meeting a charmingly eccentric and her poodle, Hughlett learns to distinguish the essential rhythms of her own life.

Hughlett writes with a comfortable conversational voice that invites readers into her world view; one that she approaches with both exuberance and trepidation. The overall narrative unfolds in a generally chronological sequence, though journal entries and recollections can at times reflect past memories or events.

Insightful words from several authors, poets, scholars, and artists are used to grace the opening of each chapter, including contributions as varied as those of Roald Dahl, Thich Nhat Hanh, Gloria Steinem, and Henry Miller. Mark Twain’s quote seems to epitomize the central “SoulStroller” sentiment in “Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Each section of the book concludes with a simple practicum highlighting suggestions for readers to venture into their own SoulStrolling mindset. Exercises range from quiet meditation and writing prompts, to practicing self-kindness and ideas for travels off the beaten path.

While Hughlett considers that her story may be too personal or esoteric for some readers, her work speaks to her positive growth, as her travels and experiences have allowed her to trust her own voice and value the lessons of her own journey. This is a book that strings together individual pearls of wisdom that have universal appeal.

SoulStroller by Kayce Stevens Hughlett won 1^st Place in the CIBA 2018 Journey Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction.

October 2, 2019
A TALL TALE ABOUT DACHSHUNDS in COSTUMES: How MORE Dogs Came to Be by Kizzie Jones – Children’s Books, Children’s Dog Books, Children’s Fantasy & Magic Books

A unique fairytale by author Kizzie Jones, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be adds the third book her series that began with How Dachshunds Came to Be: A Tall Tale about a Short Long Dog, followed by the award-winning title, A Tall Tale about a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be.

This tall tale begins on the beach one autumn day where a big storm is fast approaching a girl and her dogs, stopping their play and forcing them to retreat indoors. The next day the girl and the dogs decide to go clean up the debris left by the storm, and it is not long before they see what sort of costumes they can create with the various kinds of debris scattered along the beach.

The dressed-up dogs ask the girl if she would be upset if they stayed dressed up. The girl wonders if the dogs would change on the inside as well. they reply,

“We’d be changed and transformed—we’d be diff’rent outside. Yet, inside, our hearts are still caring and kind.”

That night the girl sends her wish to the ocean for the dogs to become the dogs they costumed themselves to be and goes to sleep hoping her wish will be granted.

It is easy to see that author Kizzie Jones has a deep love for her dachshunds and nature, but it is also clear that she loves to teach through her books. With assistance from USDA Forest Service, Jones fills her story with accurate plant life as well as lots of terms for different dog colorings and patterns, all of which she includes in a glossary at the end of the book.

Dachshunds in Costumes is a creative story that gives a lighthearted explanation for how the different breeds of dogs came to be, and as Jones’s previous books, we see the gift of self-acceptance. Also present is a meter that has a lilting and soothing quality. The meter pairs well with the wonderful illustration work from Scott Ward that has a unique and uniform shading style that readers of all ages will admire.

Kizzie Jones’ newest addition is perfect for the curious and inquisitive child who will surely spend hours curled up studying all that A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be has to offer.

This title will be released on November 3, 2019, in English and in Spanish! If you would like more information, please sign up on Kizzie’s blog here.

September 30, 2019
CALL to JUNO (A Tale of Ancient Rome, Book 3) by Elisabeth Storrs – Historical Fiction/Ancient World, Historical Fiction Romance, Mythology

Elisabeth Storr delivers an extraordinary tale of “Peasant and patrician; concubine and master” where man seeking woman, man seeking man (mostly unrequited) and man seeking boy, erupts into a generous narrative of the quest for power between a reluctant Etruscan king, Vel Mastarna (situated in Veii—mere miles from his oppressor) and Marcus Furius Camillus—he who would be Rome’s dictator in her stunning Historical Fiction novel, Call to Juno: A Tale of Ancient Rome.

Veii has been under a 10-year siege; Rome biding its time at the unsurmountable gates, waiting to starve its conquest into submission (and thereby looting the bounty and putting Rome’s finances back into the black).

But there is danger afoot: almost entirely fueled by relationships strong or soured. Along with the “human” battlements, the gods must also be looked after—not a few of them “serving” both sides of the battle.

At the center of it all is Artile Mastarna an Etruscan soothsayer who would rather corrupt boys than provide life-advancing advice. His brother, Vel (albeit reluctantly) is readily betrayed by his all-knowing sibling who prefers to work with the Romans and topple his own countrymen. A further link to Rome comes in the beguiling and astute shape of Caecilia. Years ago, her Roman relatives used her as the glue for peace in a forced marriage between the warring countries. Their eldest, adopted son, Tarchon, also prefers the company of men and makes no bones about showing his inclination. Four other children have blessed this political union which, nonetheless, has become a truly loving relationship.

In Rome, the action centers around the highly ambitious Marcus Furius Camillus, unashamed patrician and consular general. His love interest is a former prostitute (kept a secret from her lover, but others within the circle are aware), who faithfully serves her master in the role of concubine. The gay blade on this side of the divide is Marcus Aemilius Mamercus, whose unrequited love for Appius Claudius Drusus is further complicated Drusus’ infatuation with Caecilia—all the better to kill the Etruscan king!

Watching, of course, are the gods. How curious that both sides worship the same deities, albeit with different names (e.g., Uni/Juno, Tina/Jupiter, Aplu/Apollo, Fufluns/Dionysus). When simultaneously beseeched for assistance from the disparate factions, what’s a god to do? Beware the thunderbolt!

As with all good historical fiction, Storrs takes us on a long-ago journey that has much relevance for the present day, proving once again the old adage that there is nothing new under the sun (and in this case, son). Savor the past, then fill in your own cast of 21st-century characters and see them through the lens of time.

Call to Juno won 1st Place in the 2017 Chaucer Awards for Early Historical Fiction.

September 26, 2019
BLIND TRUST by John W. Feist – Political Thriller, Suspense/Thriller, High-Stakes Int’l Thriller

Brad Oaks and his wife Amaya have no idea what is in store when they answer a call for help from the newly appointed Japanese prime minister in John W. Feist’s second novel, Blind Trust.

The year is 2022, and a mysterious explosion compromises Japan’s electric grid infrastructure (LNG regasification, to be precise). Yuko Kagano’s election as the next prime minister comes with the hope that she will commit to her campaign promise of restoring Japan’s energy structure. However, she must first deal with the criminal activity associated with the previous leader. She needs help. She calls on Brad Oaks and Amaya Mori, his wife, for advice on pipeline and steel strategies. Amaya especially, as the two women have known one another since college, and both are heirs to familial steel companies, the American Elgar Steel and the Japanese Kanawa, respectively.

Brad Oaks gave up his lawyer career a few years back after he rescued Amaya when she was abducted due to her connections with her father’s company. The two fell in love, married, and moved to California. Now, Brad is the executive vice president of Elgar Steel (Please refer to John W. Feist’s first novel in the series, Night Rain, Tokyo). Three years later, they receive a call from Eisuke Tanaka, the commissioner of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, who delivers the message that Yuko requests a meeting with them in Tokyo. The call couldn’t have come in a more inconvenient time. Brad and Amaya are critically assessing a possible new season in their marriage: adoption. Placing their plans on hold, they fly to Tokyo unaware that they will be walking into deadly covert schemes to undermine the prime minister.

John Feist blazes a path in his approach to geopolitical suspense. Having ventured into Japanese culture via his past professional connections, Feist understands, firsthand, the underlying and ongoing cultural tension that exists between the Japanese and foreigners in the business sector. That said, Feist’s method of storytelling is not Americanized, which usually follows an often dizzying and fast-paced route. Instead, tension builds through innuendo-rich dialogue scenes between characters as he undergirds his plot with realistic aspects of Japanese culture that is rooted in “nativism” (the revival or perpetuation of an indigenous culture especially in opposition to acculturation, Merriam-Webster).

Feist does an excellent job surrounding Brad and Amaya, his principal characters, with a diverse cast of characters that range from subdued to surly. Each chapter alternates character POVs packed with a handful of red herrings and a plethora of unexpected twists and turns amid political history and the sights, sounds, and smells of a beautiful Asian country.

Blind Trust is a unique and satisfying Political Thriller that closes on a promising note of a sequel.

September 23, 2019
NATURE’S CONFESSION by JL Morin – Time Travel Romance, Science Fiction, Y/A Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction

In a dystopian near-future where nobody is safe, the world is ruled by a ruthless capitalist. Humankind’s last hope may be a fourteen-year-old named Boy. Part sci-fi, part diverse love story, Nature’s Confession by J.L. Morin is an ecological coming of age novel that spans the universe.

The story opens with Boy, so-called because he hasn’t reached an age where he will be named yet for security reasons, managing to survive in the dystopian world he calls home. On next year’s earth, humanity is essentially enslaved by a worldwide corporate government, not for the people or by the people, but one that operates to ensure its citizens are brainwashed, downtrodden, and too exhausted to be able to offer any sort of resistance. When Boy stays after school one day, he meets a man who turns out to be his long-time idol—Tyree. Tyree is a member of the resistance and recruits Boy to help him and their cause, believing that Boy may be their last hope.

As the story progresses, readers are introduced to a motley assortment of characters. Valentine, Tyree’s daughter, is a genius whose inventions have the power to change the world. Porter, Boy’s dad, shows up throughout the story as different versions of himself crossing over from other realities and timelines. Eleanor, most often referred to as Mom, leaves her stressful, humdrum life on earth to become a Member of Starliament. A telepathic dog-like hupcha with six tails and the wise, albeit manmade, Any Gynoid lead the crew to befuddle polluters.

Almost every character gets their own chapter devoted to their point of view. Most of these chapters are told in the third person while a few switch to first-person narration. Boy, our hero, gets surprisingly few chapters. Rather than having Boy’s character be the main focus of the novel, Morin instead uses him as a frame for the book—showcasing him at both the beginning and the end. Boy’s journey unfolds through the eyes of those who surround him.

Nature’s Confession—that she might not be able to sustain the human race anymore—will appeal to readers who like their sci-fi broad and far-reaching. This novel continually moves from one plot point to the next, often switching characters to give a broader sense of the story, and never lingers too long on the technicalities. Alien lifeforms, alternative clean energy sources, intergalactic travel as well as time travel, and multiple realities abound in this diverse, multi-cultural love story. Morin does an excellent job using Nature’s Confession as a timely foil for the challenges our society faces regarding climate change, big industry, sustainability, and how the human race will survive. Highly recommended!

Nature’s Confession won 1^st Place in the CIBA 2017 Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction.

September 20, 2019
FENIAN’S TRACE by Sean P. Mahoney – Historical Fiction, British & Irish Literary Fiction, Irish Historical Fiction

Rory McCabe and Conor O’Neill are hard-working 12-year-olds, whose exploits and progress are narrated by the namesake of Clancy’s Pub who’s taken a liking to them. At times, he rewards the boys’ efforts with tales of their shared Irish heritage, its heroes and its glories. The boys have very different personalities, as Clancy discerns from their reactions to his lore. Rory is outraged as he hears of Ireland’s treatment by the British, while Conor accepts the information more quietly, studiously.

The two boys will soon meet a beautiful girl, Maria, the daughter of a well-to-do neighbor secretly aligned with a revolutionary resistance movement. Both will fall in love, but of the two, Rory will be the more open about his interest, while Conor will hold back, respectful but clearly smitten.

When the deep divide between Ireland and its oppressors begins to heat up, the boys, older now and more independent, again respond differently. Rory wants to join in and even die, if need be, for freedom, while Conor takes a more practical path. Then circumstances force both of them to the test, to demonstrate their deepest loyalties.

Author Sean P. Mahoney has won a prestigious Nicholl Fellowship for his screenplay version of Fenian’s Trace, which he subsequently adapted to the novel. The story focuses on the Easter Rising of 1916, when Irish patriots rose up, incensed by fighting alongside the British in World War I, while Britain continued the suppression of Irish rights. It is into this hotbed of revolutionary fervor that Rory and Conor, along with many others, are swept up.

Mahoney peppers his narrative with atmospheric touches, including many Irish words and speech cadences (captured wonderfully in the audiobook narration of Liam Carney) along with the fabled legacy of Fenian’s Trace, a patriot’s gravesite. It is on those grounds that the boys establish their chosen fortress, with significant consequences.

This wide-ranging panorama is a rich mix of folklore and fact, heroism during warfare, politics, and a star-crossed youthful love affair that will take on increasingly deeper meaning and, in the end, call for the ultimate sacrifice. Fenian’s Trace will appeal to readers across several genres, and as one might expect from Mahoney’s success in screenwriting, readers will delight in this colorful tale that begs for a cinematic version.

Fenian’s Trace won 1^st Place in the 2017 Goethe Awards for Historical Fiction (post-1750s).

September 10, 2019
REA: The Shamar Series, Book Two by Lydia Staggs – Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romantic Action/Adventure

Rea is a fast-paced paranormal romance featuring a super-sexy supernatural male lead and a career-minded young woman who are madly in love with each other; and, as it happens, each with their own demons to face. Gabriel and Juliet must each learn to confront their pasts and honor each other’s strengths if they are to not only continue their love but to survive their fate. Rea is book two in the Shamar series by Lydia Staggs.

Rea is the continuation of Gabriel and Juliet’s love story and showcases the struggles of not only a human romance, but a paranormal one as well. Gabriel is Shamar while Juliet is human. The Shamar are a race of rigidly hierarchical, supernatural creatures who can transform into wolves and are sworn to protect humans. Gabriel, constantly aware of his dual nature as both man and wolf, struggles with how his wolf, a pair-bonding, aggressive creature, would prefer to interact with Juliet, the woman he is sure he wants to spend the rest of his life with. The wolf side of Gabriel often causes him to be jealous and possessive and he grapples with Juliet’s need for personal space and time.

Juliet is a veterinarian, hoping to get into her dream residency. On a tour at the hospital however, she realizes that a man from her past works there, a man she would give almost anything to avoid—Ryan. Ryan is involved with the Amoveo, vampire-like former humans who can shapeshift and ruthlessly control human thought. They are the Shamar’s sworn enemies as they delight in violence and destruction.

Ryan, it turns out, has been involved in experiments on captive Shamar. Gabriel takes it upon himself to find out what these experiments entail and what he discovers is nothing short of horrifying. But does he dare tell Juliet what he’s discovered?

Juliet and Gabriel quickly realize that if they are to deepen their relationship, they must each let the other one in—they must share what they have been trying so hard for so long to hide. For it is only together that either one can succeed.

Rea by Lydia Staggs won First Place in the 2017 CIBAs for Paranormal Fiction.

September 7, 2019