Friday, March 23, 2012

Fezariu's Epiphany

Welcome, everyone. Today it's my pleasure to review David Brown's epic fantasy, Fezariu's Epiphany.


Blurb:

12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.

Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.

 My Review:

All the years of work Mr. Brown did in creating the world of Elenchera are clearly evident when you read this story. It smacks of realism, yet contains just enough fantasy to make it entertaining. It’s a realm where the characters are at home, and you feel right at home with them.

A true journey of how one’s childhood can shape one’s life, and a revelation of what inner demons would drive a man to make the choices he did. Fezariu’s tale is one of love, betrayal, and loyalty played out over many years upon a vast canvas.

There is a bit more telling of Fezariu’s escapades than showing, so sometimes he comes off a bit flat. But that being said, it wasn’t enough for me to quit reading. And I believe that’s more of a personal preference. Wild Jessamine was a diamond in the rough, and the other supporting characters were well drawn and helped give the story a life of its own.

If you are a fan of epic fantasy, reading this beautifully edited book will be time well spent.


About the Author:

David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Honors in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.

Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and the in-progress A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month traveling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.
Links:
The Elencheran Chronicles
http://elenchera.com


The World According to Dave
 
http://blog.elenchera.com
Twitter
http://twitter.com/elenchera



Goodreads        Amazon     B&N                      

Book Depository      Indie Bound

Friday, March 2, 2012

Tundra 37

This Friday, I'm thrilled to be able to review Tundra 37. It's book 2 of the A New Dawn Series by Aubrie Dionne. Read on for details about the book, my review, and Ms. Dionne!


Gemme is a hi-tech matchmaker who pairs the next generation of Lifers aboard the Expedition, a deep space transport vessel destined for Paradise 18. When the identity of her lifemate pops up on her screen, she’s shocked that he’s the achingly gorgeous and highly sought after Lieutenant Miles Brentwood—a man oblivious to her existence. Believing everyone will think she contrived the match, she erases it from the computer’s memory.

Just as comets pummel the ship and destroy the pairing system forever. With the Expedition disabled, the colonists must crash land on the barren ice world of Tundra 37 where Gemme is reassigned to an exploratory mission, led by Lieutenant Brentwood. Only in the frozen tundra does she understand the shape of his heart and why the computer has entwined their destinies.


My Review:

Gemme Reiner’s world is made up mostly of numbers. It’s her job to analyze data aboard the Expedition, specifically data related to human pairings. And she’s fine with that. They don’t call her the Matchmaker without reason. Her matches have nothing to do with love, and everything to do with the survival of the species.

Lieutenant Miles Brentwood is charged with ensuring things run smoothly on the Expedition, and overseeing the health and safety of its human inhabitants. To him, humans aren’t just numbers and statistics; they’re real people with lives and loves of their own.

Their world gets turned upside down and inside out when the best laid plans of their forefathers go awry. A field of comets not only forces a change in strategy, but reveals hidden agendas that ensure the end of everyone’s peaceful life on board the ship.

Let me be one of the first to say Ms. Dionne has outdone herself with this story. While some of the plot lines might seem familiar, let me assure you they are not. Carefully crafted twists and surprises have made this story an action packed thrill ride from beginning to end. It has one of the most interesting sub plots I’ve read in a very long time. If you are a fan of sci-fi romance, you’ve got to read this book.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Paradise 21. This story is even better. If you are looking for your next favorite author, try Aubrie Dionne, and read Tundra 37. You won’t be disappointed
.

About Aubrie Dionne




Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber,
and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, SynergEbooks, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. Aubrie teaches flute at Plymouth State University and the Manchester Community Music School. Please visit her website: www.authoraubrie.com

Important Links

Aubrie’s Website:
http://authoraubrie.com

Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XcwFtmeTcM

Twitter: @authoraubrie

Aubrie’s Blog:
http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

Buy on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Tundra-37-New-Dawn-2/dp/1937044491/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329478503&sr=8-1

Buy on B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tundra-37-aubrie-dionne/1108616503?ean=2940014020817&itm=1&usri=tundra+37

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/search?query=tundra+37