Ballantine, Philippa: Chasing The Bard (2005)

2013-02-12 humanitysdarkerside 2 Comments

Cover Art by Alex White of the Gearheart

Wow, what a touching novel Chasing The Bard turned out to be. Philippa Ballantine of New Zealand has done an excellent job in portraying that sense of superiority that sometimes comes with privilege in her portrayal of the fey and humans.

William Shakespeare and the Goddess of Battle Sive are both changed in this meeting between fey and human. Shakespeare is born with the Art of the Bard, and the fey need his help in saving them. But enlisting the help of one stubborn male might not be as simple as Sive had thought. For not all in the universe believe that the fey world is the world one should prefer.

There is a dark undertone to this novel that is lightened by Puck, the trickster. One would expect the god of pranks to hold such a role. But as the novel moves along, Puck takes on another dimension, one brought about by disappointment and grief.

Sive’s feelings of superiority remain, yet deteriorate as her own circumstances become more and more dire, while William’s excuses in life will be faced before he can fulfill his “Destiny”.

Well worth the read. I believe Ballantine has gotten another fan.

2006: Sir Julius Vogel Awards: Nominated for the best novel
2009: Sir Julius Vogel Awards: Fan production

Fantasy, Humour, Short story/novella

Anderson, Lorraine J.: Red Truck (2011)

2013-02-12 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Here is another delightful short-story by Lorraine J. Anderson.

This time two small-time crooks “borrow” a “Red Truck” – a 4×4 – that is much more than it appears at the outset. Red Truck is an entertaining story that brings a modern dimension to Santa’s story. I hope you like it as much as I did.

Fantasy, Humour, Short story/novella

Anderson, Lorraine J.: The Curious Case of A. Fly, Esquire (2011)

2013-02-12 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

The Curious Case of A. Fly, Esquire is a delightful short-story by Lorraine J. Anderson. A. Fly is taken to court as one of the accused in the case of the accidental death of a witch. Its defense is well worth the read.

A. Fly’s observations are funny and believable in a strangely bizarre manner. I love it. Keep up the good work.

Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Baum, Spencer: The Demon Queen and the Locksmith (2009)

2013-02-07 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Cover art by Stingya

The Demon Queen and the Locksmith is a fun read about three kids who have to save their town from a terrible threat. To aid them, they gain supernatural powers and assistants.

Spencer Baum has done a good job in portraying lonely Kevin and his newfound friends Jackie and Joseph. They come off as three likeable kids who manage to struggle their way through an extraordinary situation. I think that is what I like the most about The Demon Queen. Sometimes books for a younger audience portray angsty or heroic kids. Fantasy is kind of predisposed towards protagonists like that. That can be fun. But the greatest characters are the ones that are grey.

Enjoy.

Adventure, Fantasy, Short story/novella

Bateman, Sonya: The Getaway (2010)

2013-02-07 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

getaway_cover_sized — Cover designed by Andrew Bateman

I see The Getaway is listed as a paranormal romance story, but I feel that is kind of misleading. It seemed more like a thrillerish kind of story (kind of a thriller, but not quite).

Gavyn Donatti and his wife, Jazz, are going away for the week-end. On the way to their remote cabin, they end up getting lost and crash their car.

Jazz wakes up in a strange place where a guy called Seth tries to take care of her. Something seems really off about the whole situation, and something is.

The Getaway is a fun short-story about encountering craziness in unexpected places and how to deal with the nuts.

Fantasy, Short story/novella, Thriller

Anna, Vivi: Dawning (2011)

2013-02-07 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Dawning is my introduction to the Nini Decker universe. My appetite was whet and the novel presented quite a dilemma for the main character Dashrael.

In a blatant show of racism, the chancellor tells Dashrael to kill the spouse of the overseer’s daughter along with their half-breed child.

That is pretty much what this story is about. Dashrael coming face to face with his target and the choices he makes and sadly the consequences his choice has for him personally.

Granted, this is human/elven racism. But, you know, this is reality for quite a few people on this planet. If you dare fall for someone of another color/ethnicity/religion than yourself, lives are at risk. I have to say that it is one of the more confusing aspects of humanity.

A thought-provoking story – and well-written. As my first Vivi Anna experience, I was well-pleased.

Fantasy, Romance, Thriller, Young Adult

Angell, Lorena: A Diamond in my Pocket (The Unaltered I) (2012)

2013-02-06 humanitysdarkerside 4 Comments

A Diamond in my Pocket is book one of The Unaltered Series.

What would you do if you one day discovered you had an unexpected ability? Like running fast, really fast. Fast enough to break the world record. It would be a great ability to have if you had to run away from trouble (or maybe to).

Callie Courtnae suddenly discovers this ability and is asked to join a school in Montana that specialises in youth with record-breaking abilities. She goes and discovers that the people at her school are extraordinarily beautiful and a lot quicker than she herself is. Hmmm, I smell a rat.

The premise for A Diamond in my Pocket is pretty good. It is difficult to come up with something new in the world of fantasy. But Angell manages to put a couple of twists in that I don’t think I’ve read before. However, however, however. The characters needed a bit more work and the novel tightening. I wish A Diamond in my Pocket could have fulfilled its potential, because it did have plenty of that.

Fantasy, Humour, Short story/novella

Anderson, Lorraine J.: Goose (2011)

2013-02-06 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

The goose that lays the golden egg. What is her story? Goose is Anderson’s attempt to answer just that. How did the goose happen to begin laying gold eggs? You have to admit it is kind of unusual. What was her road to Jack? And what happened after Jack brought her home with him?

I like Lorraine’s take on this classic folk tale. It is light and humorous and short. 258 words short. I found it well-worth the read.

Adventure, Fantasy, Young Adult

Adina, Shelley: Lady of Devices (2011)

2013-02-06 humanitysdarkerside 3 Comments

Cover art by Ann Bui Ngyuen

Lady of Devices is Shelley Adina’s first novel in the Magnificent Devices’ series. This steampunk novel is set in an alternate Victorian era. As usual with steampunk novels, steam runs the world. Steam is the hot thing, the Power alternative that will last forever.

We meet Lady Trevalyan, a 17-year old with decidedly unconventional interests. No embroidery for this girl.

I’ve always liked spunky female characters. Women who dare defy whatever society deems as feminine behavior. Claire is one such lady.

When her father shoots himself because of bad investments, the family is left with a lot less money than they had hoped. Claire has to choose between waiting for her mother to find her a husband or try to make a living. She decides to make a living and sets out to explore her possibilities.

Claire soon discovers that the “real world” can be dangerous, especially if you are a woman. This is where her spunkiness comes in handy. This girl has grit. She just screams a bit in her head and gets on with whatever she has to do to survive.

What can I say, I am a sucker for these kinds of portrayals. There is no denying I want my female characters to be strong. I also want my authors to write in a manner that engages my interest and keeps it. Shelley Adina manages to do just that. Her sentences tie together wonderfully and her images are hilarious.

“Claire Trevelyan closed her eyes as a gobbet of reddish-brown foam dripped off the ceiling and landed squarely on the crown of her head. It dribbled past her ears and onto the pristine sailor collar of her middy blouse, and thence, gravity having its inevitable effect, down the blue seersucker of her uniform’s skirt to the floor.” It’s practically so I can feel the goo running down my head.