Multiverse Review: Highland King by Jeff Blackmer

Prepare yourself! The Highland King has it all! Ancient Scottish (and Irish) lore, druids, standing stones, magic, epic battles, a berserker, a champion, murder and mayhem in the name of greed and power, the beauty and magic of the lochs, prophecy and destiny, a sword, and, yes, a hero. A tale on this scale would not work without a right proper hero!

Meet Doncann, a boy who grows into manhood via exile and the trials of battle. He is trained by a goddess and discovers his life is marked by the foresight of the women who love and protect him. Marked as an outlaw, he is placed upon destiny’s path to unite the tribes against a common enemy.

Jeff Blackmer is a great storyteller, a modern bard who brings the ancient tales to life again. I loved the Highland King and could not put it down. And there’s an added little incentive in reading this: you are completely immersed in the Scottish manner of speaking (my favourite accent!). In fact, it’s sort of strange now to write this review in ‘normal’ speak, having been immersed for many enjoyable hours in another culture and time!

Absolutely worth it. Allow me to repeat that: ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!

Amazon

Multiverse Review: The Ninth Taghairm: Redemption

This has the elements of a great romance- two cursed beings brought together to become each other’s salvation. Gadin, a vaimpíre, and Talula, an oracle forced to endure life after life after surrendering her soul to save her daughter. There are great ancient legends and ancient gods here that serve to drive the tale- intriguing indeed- and the author employed the ancient concepts well, revealing a wonderful imagination to the reader.

While I did enjoy The Ninth Taghairm: Redemption, I also, however, found this to be a light read. With all these great concepts present I thought there would be more depth, more soul-searching. I hoped to really identify with the characters, and merely found them interesting. Still, if you’re looking for a romance with a definite supernatural twist, something forbidden, something of time itself, you won’t be disappointed.

Amazon

Multiverse Review: Lone Star

In Chic McSherry’s second book we’re back in Scotland, and quite a trip it is! Curtis is sent from Texas to sort out problems with his Scottish counterparts regarding a wind energy deal. He meets Jack and his wife Katie and their boy Callum. Business goes well…until wee Callum is kidnapped. Because Jack is in Denmark, Curtis steps in to help, and to this end he enlists Jim, his personal taxi driver…and things get quite hairy. Big Davie from Waging War enters the scene once more, as nefarious as ever…

A smacking good read. There are other twists and turns- an environmental angle, a legal secretary with a problem, a laird under pressure, and each twist adds to the whole. Lone Star is a cleverly woven tale, visual and entertaining. Highly recommended!

Amazon

Multiverse Review: Waging War to Shake the Cold

What happens when a soldier, home from his tour of duty, cannot find work and is ignored by the government and insulted by civilians? He turns to crime as a means of making a living.

Meet Kats, strong man with a moral streak. See, Kats doesn't do drugs, not personally, and certainly not the buying and selling of it, and this gets him into huge problems with Big Davie, and things go from the frying pan into the fire when Kats takes on DJ, Big Davie’s only son. A mighty highway crash, however, while dumping him into the sh*t when an innocent woman dies, gifts a glimmer of a way out of his predicament. She kept a journal and in it is recorded fraudulent dealings made by her boss…and turns out he is connected to ol’ Big Davie.

This is well-structured and really clever. While making pronouncements about the situation for soldiers returning home, about crime and the economy, the tale itself moves at a swift pace and keeps you reading. Interesting characters pepper this story, like Badger and Boots, one a heavy, the other a soldier…and I’ll leave it to you find out who is what.

Set mostly in Scotland and employing the twang of the region, this is a worthy read. It keeps you guessing right to the end!

Available in Kindle: Amazon

Multiverse Review: Twisted Tails

From my publishers, this awesome read!

The title of this anthology is apt, for these are twisted tails indeed, each different, each surprising. Well done to every contributor for creating an intriguing read, and well done Wild Wolf for putting it together for the rest of us to enjoy.

Here’s a quick take of each ‘tail’:

Gabby by Rod Glenn: A lesson to all men!

Stormy Weather by Jo Reed: Beware the man who says he’ll make the sun shine just for you

The Voice by Kevin Tomsett: No getting away from the voice, even when you think it silenced

Cooking Without Onions by CW Lovatt: A warped outlook on marriage

Klingsor’s First Summer by NA Randall: Don’t trust the big talkers!

Mad Mary by Tony Wright: Boys will be boys…until time catches them

Freedom’s Wings by CW Lovatt: You’ll be mesmerized by the masterful spliff rolling…!

In Nomine Patris by Poppet: How the Word is twisted and betrayed- remember, forgiveness is earned

The Rat-catcher by Scott Stanford: A father tries to save money and loses more than he bargained for

Scato – Illogical by AJ Kirby: Oh…crap!!!!

Sceptres de Délicatesse by Poppet: Touché! Life’s a bitch!

Waiting… by Ricki Thomas: Be very careful where you smoke, someone may be watching

Best of Show by Asher Wismer: Roses and death, a powerful little story

Happy Now? by David Rogers: A final solution to unhappiness

Everything Must Go by Kirsty Neary: Junkies looking for a fix? Or something more? Love the colloquial language!

Handling Snakes by IS Paton: A twist in the snake’s tale!

DEAR MRS. BURTON… by Giles Richard Ekins: *shiver* my computer knowing the truth before I do would really creep me out!

New Beginning by Troy Lambert: A tale of perseverance and hope despite terrible odds

Preacher Man by IS Paton: Wow, beware the fanatical!

Semana de Fuego by Jacob Rayne: It’s Fire Week, when the locals burn idols…but that fire cooks up something too tasty…

The Study in Blue by Jo Reed: Revenge is sweet…pea!

The Room by Mark Sinclair: Be very careful of what you wish for…

The Trojan Curse by Poppet: Get them from the inside! Gender war with a twist…

Definitely worth reading, deserving each one of five stars! A gasp, a grin, a head scratch, a snort…yes, chances are, you will react in some manner! 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Multiverse Review: Blood Tide

Blood Tide

by Edward Parker

Amazon

I don’t usually read horror or watch the movies, because I find the horror overdone and silly (and often boring)and while blood doesn’t worry me, the sheer amount spilled in these tales can be a little extreme- so much, it becomes mundane. It was thus with some trepidation that I delved into Blood Tide for my reading club.

Blood Tide is well structured and written (the few errors in narrative could be overlooked) and as a horror story works very well. I saw it as a movie, I must admit, as I read on. I could see the scenes playing out in my head and believe Blood Tide could make quite the movie for those who enjoy the genre. Well done then to Edward Parker, because it means the story works.

A good move on the author’s part was to cause the reader to care about the characters…before they got eaten! A bit of ‘Noooo!’ from the gut, when one hoped this one would survive. Brief sketches of normal lives before it all goes to hell certainly drives the story onward and brings on the hope of a resolution to this ancient monster of the deep’s killing spree.

Blood Tide, in my opinion, is a light read, an interesting setting and situation manipulated into something extreme, and it would be a good genre movie, but it has little depth and the final confrontation between Jim and Malcolm in the attic of a drowning school is somewhat unsatisfying, although I’m hard-pressed to figure out how else the author could have resolved it.

Read for light entertainment if you’re a horror fan.

Multiverse Review: JUMP

Jump

by 

Cindy Paterson

This book starts with a terrible torture scenario…and I have to say it nearly put me off. Why? Again with the vampires I thought. Why are so many stories about vampires? I soldiered on for my book club…and am so glad I did.

Jump puts a new spin on those otherworldly tales. Yes, there are vampires, but this isn't what Jump is about; they play a more minor role, standing aside for the Senses…and one has to be intrigued by them! Senses have heightened abilities of smell, taste etc, including telepathy and healing, and are immortal, created by the Goddess Enid to serve humankind, living secretly amid humans. Add to the mix wraiths, magical elementals in another realm, and you have here an enchanting mix and the basis of a great tale. And, naturally, there are some strange enemies also!

Jump isn't airy-fairy, however; this is gritty, real, on the ground battles and issues. Foremost are the issues of Danielle, the woman in the opening torture scene, and the issues of Balen, the one held in captivity with her. Two years later they meet again…and, boy, do sparks fly. They literally cannot survive without each other and this causes massive upheaval amid wraiths and Senses warriors alike. I told you, an enchanting mix!

Occasionally the author spent too much time on her characters’ ‘soul-searching’ when the pace could’ve moved a mite faster, but it doesn’t detract too much from the general action. To finish Jump off, there’s a great hook at the end- you’ll want to know what happens in the next book (Step)!

Happy reading!

Amazon

Multiverse Review of NIGHT HAWK

NIGHT HAWK

by

JE Taylor

When I started I didn't know this would be a vampire story. Had I known I might have declined reading it, but Night Hawk turned out to be a quick and easy read that kept me entertained, if not enthralled. Quick, because I read it in two hours, and easy, because it flows nicely chapter to chapter.

There’s some interesting chemistry between Naomi (new vampire on the block) and Damian (an old hand at this stuff) and there’s an intriguing plot that drives the story, particularly the persona and judgements of Archangel Michael, the terrible greed of Lucifer himself, as well as the alternate forms both Naomi and Damian are able to assume in the darkness

.

However, I felt Night Hawk sort of began in the middle of a conversation no one knows about. And the turning of Naomi isn't quite believable. It lacks depth and one doesn't quite feel empathy for the main characters.

Entertaining, though, and perhaps the sequel will flesh out some of what seems to be lacking here. A light read to enjoy before bed.

Book Link

Review Link

Master of Miasma

The Multiverse review of Master of Miasma by Poppet

This is a WOW! adventure into Norse legend brought to life in our current age. Meet the Raven clan, go into battle with Eagles, know the enemy in the wings as Wolf, and delve through snow and forest into a mountain enclave created from the wonderful imagination of author Poppet.

Meet Emma, who finds her true self and destiny when she is taken to a safe place by Macala…and Macala, reader, is definitely worthy of discovery, a delectable, powerful being with a moral code and a romantic streak. He takes on the task of bringing Emma into the fold, to teach her about her true past…and sparks fly indeed.

Master of Miasma isn’t merely a great tale and, make no mistake, it is a great one. Beyond the story is fantastic imagery, every line is poetry, and the plot is cleverly woven. Ancient legends and magical spaces and objects of power and imagination takes one from page to page actually holding one’s breath. The Book of Life revealed in Master of Miasma is to die for, if you’ll excuse the pun. How I wish we (us humans) possessed such a magical thing, sigh. This is a brilliant and beautiful read, as if one’s soul recognises a past time of pure enchantment.  This is profound…and it’s also an adventure to get lost with.

I cannot wait to read what comes next. FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!

Get your copy here!

Multiverse review: Crystal Illusions

This is my first venture into the mind of Special Agent Steve Williams (the MC of JE Taylor’s books) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Having read this one, I know I want to go back and start from the beginning!

Crystal Illusions is an easy, flowing read, moving seamlessly from scene to scene almost like the movie playing in your mind. In fact, this would make a great movie and hopefully someone takes note of that!

This is the story of Carolyn, the assistant DA who begins having visions of a serial killer. Nightmarish, but it gets far worse when she sees herself through the killer’s eyes. She is the target, and Agent Williams is the only one who can protect her. Williams is a very special man, you see, with gifts that they will need to stop more women being murdered, to stop Carolyn herself dying in a horrific way. Under scrutiny is Randy, her boyfriend, Jason, her assistant, Jim, her boss…and it gets complicated, twists that keeps the reader reading!

Enjoyable indeed.

Amazon

Review

Hard-boiled Rod Glenn!

This is my review for Rod Glenn's The Killing Moon: 

Readers of hard-boiled military strategy and hardware et al will enjoy this. Readers of more emotional works will enjoy this also, although it might take you a bit longer to come to grips with it. This is a book that works on two levels (more, but for purposes of review, two), one being the detail that goes with war and destruction both technological and biological and, two, the intense characterisation which evokes an emotional response. This is ultimately a story about survival, about starting over, and to get there the reader needs understand how it happened and why all has changed.

I won’t mince words: I did find it hard at first. I am an emotional reader, so to speak, and thus were the initial chapters too much of ‘backstory’ for me, but I promise you what comes next is well worth the effort of staying with it, although you need be a ‘tough cookie’ to handle it! And, the cherry on top, those of you who enjoy the war and destruction detail initially, will also be intrigued by what comes next.

No spoilers, but expect fallen roads, abandoned hotels and a host of other buildings, bands of soldiers and worse (crazies!), and expect hardship and tribulation as well as brotherhood. And a few epic battles! The author has a ‘no frills’ style and it works well for a story that deals with the absolute loss of the frills civilisation as we know it brings. A worthy read indeed.

Amazon US

Blood Lust = Otherworld!

The Multiverse review of Blood Lust by Jessica L Degarmo:

In my opinion, Vampire stories are now so rife, they seem to have lost both the ability to shock and entertain. It’s akin to a snooze-fest due to the glut of tales available. Having said that, there are a few I do read, but this has more to do with the authors themselves and their ability to spin a good yarn than with the content, and I include amongst those the brilliant Anne Rice and the super-talented Poppet.

Upon the prompt of our book club, it was with some trepidation that I began reading Blood Lust. I already knew Degarmo as a good writer, but this was a vampire story- how different could it possibly be in order to stand up and be counted?

Let me put it this way: Jessica L Degarmo has now joined my list of vampire-must-read-authors!

Blood Lust grabbed my attention immediately and held it through to the end. It is a no frills and fuss story. It is gritty and real and moves along at a pace guaranteed to take the reader along for a ride. There are no fancy forests- we are in gangland and crime is the focus. Imagine crime bosses with vampires as their weapons, and imagine what control it must take for a human to ‘tame’ a vampire, and you will want to read Blood Lust. I hate spoilers in reviews and thus won’t reveal much of the story itself, but I have to tell you Nexess is badass and you will love her!

Blood Lust does shock and entertain…yay!

Amazon

The Christmas Star - Janus Gangi

Multiverse has a surprise for you! We have read Janus Gangi's work here before (still one of our most popular posts!) and now Janus has a new tale out for our enjoyment! 

The Blurb

Find out what the Agents of Providence are doing this holiday season. Everyone is there for the homecoming, including Veronica Esine, Vincent Blaire's arch nemesis in this Christmas bonus short story from the Providence Series.

The Cover

The Excerpt

Indigo lazily lifted its legs climbing the ladder to cobalt. Layers of lavender stratus mist laying one upon the other like a Greek pastry, bleached white at the emergence of the golden disk. Concealed within the stratum, camouflaging their gabardine robes Ziekel and Kable contemplated their next move.

“How long do you think we can stay here before they find us?”

“No telling. If we stay under the radar we should be alright until Thursday, that’s when Tzadiqel comes back into the office. He’ll know what to do. We just have to stay low until then.”

 Ziekel raised an eyebrow and scanned the stratosphere. He then poked his head below through the billow of suspended cotton and peered down on the terrain below. A hand grabbed onto his shirt collar, and he tumbled down to the earth beneath. Toppling head over heels, he landed on his bottom with his gabardine robe unceremoniously draped over his head exposing bits mankind was not ready to see.

Catching the last part of his friend’s sandals as they disappeared through the mist, Kable poked his head though the cloud to take a gander. Moments later, he was sitting beside his companion. He glanced at his friend, turned his head, covered his eyes with one hand and groped with the other until he found the soft material and pulled it down.

 “I think I am gonna go blind,” the angel said in shock.

Standing over them was Archie wearing his pristine alabaster suite with his arms folded and tapping his Pat Boones.

“I just returned from China.”

Rochel appeared next to Archie, “This is gonna be good,” he said, looking at his fellow archangel.

The two wayward angels’ shoulders hung low as they sunk a little deeper into their wooden chairs outside Rochel’s office. Passers-by chuckled when they caught sight of who was sitting, once again, in the hot seat.

“I told you!!!!”

Kable grimaced at his partner in crime. “Don’t worry, I got this covered!”

The Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada

A Christmas Star has to go on our shopping lists! Let us start clicking now...!

Daemon Sky = Fantastic!

Review:

Daemon Sky is akin to a modern parable. The problems of our civilisation are condensed into the small town of Heater in Arizona where good folk have to battle for survival against not only the greed of evil men, but a shattering sky that could end all life. In Heater there is racial tension, religious fanaticism, crime and prejudice, but Daemon Sky isn’t a political statement, a religious treatise or shake-up about crime, greed and uncaring. It’s far more interesting than that! Not only does the reader fall in love with some characters (especially Father Hayne), but the reader is transported into a space of archetypes, demonic forces, the terrible science that destroys and, above all, the beauty and power of pure music.

And yet, given the great concepts, I have to tell you there is something very ‘normal’ about Daemon Sky. Perhaps it’s the well-rounded characters and what makes them tick (so to speak), or perhaps it’s the fact that one can identify with one or more of them…and perhaps it’s PD Allen’s remarkable ability to keep a story flowing ever onward…

Loved Murderers Sky (vol 1), loved Daemon Sky as much, and can’t wait to read the final instalment of the trilogy, Mourning Sky!

5 stars all the way!

Available for Kindle here

and in paperback here

More from 'Filtered Light' - Heikki Hietala

This is how Filtered Light and other stories opens:

*

(a real good opening, I think...sets the tone...)

And here is an excerpt for you:

Add to that, these blurbs from the collection…


The Photo Opportunity: Sometimes the best photo doesn't exist.
Flash in the Pan: The brittle crack of ice, a flutter of wing, the price of hubris…
The Campsite: Vol. I – Forssa: When you see into his world, what does that say about you?
The Wind in the Pipes: Voices in atonal harmonies, released but not yet free.
Yessirree: There's nothing like it … nothing.
Carbon-Based: What you are is sometimes a matter of perspective.
Les Feuilles Mortes: Sometimes the music helps us see.
Lord Stanton’s Horse: Not everyone falls in battle.
The Dispatchers: Did you ever wonder who decides?
The Farewell Tour: Saying goodbye isn’t easy.

...and you know you must read this book!

Available here

Filtered Light from Heikki Hietala

I have a copy of Filtered Light and other stories and I have fallen in love with it! This is the kind of book one can savour- read one, sigh...and come back later for another. Do NOT miss out.

Spine-tingling, thought-provoking, nostalgic, surprising, eerie, insightful—a collection of tales from award winning short story writer, Heikki Hietala.

Like filtered light casting shadows in a dense forest, playing tricks with your eyes ... the dark chill lurks.

(Awesome blurb!)

Available free for a limited time here

and come back for more right here on Multiverse!

Rippling (PD Allen)

PD Allen's Quantum Meditations

Check them out here

Awakening Dragon

Based on a shamanic experience. A Visionary Journey.

Have you read this? Yes? Then you understand why I'm sharing! No? Read it! Awakening Dragon is pure, absolute and shuddering resonance.

Available as eBook here and in print here

Debut: Casablanca My Heart

Ever have I thought cities and places strange to us on our world is akin to visiting another time and space. This book from Hannah Warren fits in there, and is thus part of our Multiverse! Read the excerpt below- you will agree...

Casablanca, 15 July 2006

As if handling a box of crystal glasses, my father manoeuvres mother’s wheelchair through the corridors of Ibn-Rochd University Hospital towards the exit. The patient holds a bouquet of soft pink gardenias on her lap, blowing kisses to the people who have come to say goodbye to her. In her five hospitalised days she has made more new friends among staff and patients than most people make in their entire lives, though it is doubtful that any of them know Mrs Lalla Hafeza Tourniquet is actually one of the hospital’s superintendents. My mother is always modest about the executive positions she holds in Casablanca’s society.

Cassia clasps the wheelchair’s armrest, skipping cheerfully by its side. She enjoys all the attention, attracting a fair share herself by following her grandmother’s example and waving wildly to the public. Her mimicry turns her into a cute, miniature version of her much adored grandmama. The faces we pass show they are touched by the scene, and all eyes are drawn to the two ladies. I realise the power of glamour has been passed down to my daughter, both through the genes of her grandmother and through those of her own mother. When it is her time to shine, the cameras will love Miss Cassia Tourniquet!

“Jean, can you give me my sunglasses? They must be in my bag.” My mother half turns around to address my father. “I am afraid the sun will be too bright after this subdued atmosphere.” My father stops pushing the wheelchair and rummages in my mother’s handbag, but he does not seem to be able to find them.

“Jedda, you can have mine.” Cassia fishes out a pair of Mickey Mouse sunglasses and offers them to her grandmother.

“Oh, darling, I could not accept those. They are yours. You will need them yourself.”

“Oh, no, no, I don’t need them, jedda. I only have a plaster on my knee. You have one on your heart and Daddy says that’s a lot worse.”

My mother smiles and takes the sunglasses from her. “In that case, habibti, I am extremely honoured to wear your glasses. Thank you.” After gently bending the arms, my mother sets the toy glasses with the round black ears on her nose. “Let’s go,” she says. “I am more than ready to take on the whole world again.”

Casablanca My Heart by Hannah Warren

Available in print from Amazon US and Amazon UK

and as eBook from Amazon US and Amazon UK

At the crossroads (PD Allen - Quantum Meditations)

There is something in PD Allen's work that resonates in each of us, I believe. Read this and feel it. There is a verse that serves to speak, each to his/her own, and that is pure magic.

For more, visit PD's Author Page 

And check back here later!