Reapers With Issues by H. E. Ellis, A Book Review

 

Pestilence, famine, war, oh my.  Creativity, shock, and a questioning what, all rolled into one story.

To say this was a surprise read from her other series, would be an understatement.  I have to admit, at first I couldn't wrap my head around it as I first felt shock for the, shall I say audacity, of an author to write some of these things that fly in the face of the religious minded.  But if you let the chains on your mind go, you begin to sense the limitlessness of one's abilities to grasp the different angles your mind can create from a linear line.  In other words, black and white can be any sound or color you want, and this story gives you a taste of just that.  I would even say it elicited a decadent feel at first.  That is until I got free of the chains and started to understand and feel the story with an unadulterated one path mind.

What is great about this story is that there was a morality to it, and characters that still had depth you could feel.  Some, of course, took a while to feel anything for due to the nature of the character in your mind before you even began to get into the story, but that's what makes it intriguing; intimidating even as you wonder as an author if you could have created such a piece.

Many authors like to keep their characters in a positive light by giving them few if any flaws thus hoping to draw the reader into their veneration.  But being in a real world, sometimes the flaws, making them feel on the same level as the reader, give the character just the endearment needed to make them your hero, your best friend.  What H.E. Ellis makes you feel for these characters, I believe, will actually surprise you.  It sure astonished me.  It's a talent that some authors just innately have.  I believe Ellis is one of them.

This story revolved around the four horsemen, God, Jesus and Lucifer.  To say it is unlike anything I have read on these subjects would be a most articulate summation.  But, the interesting, intriguing, and yet moral story that ensued was a journey of pure artistic enthrall that ripped the seam of complacency and tiresome wide open.  It brought the reader to a sense of "win" with the near ending scenes and yet left you wondering what was next.

This book is not for the faint of heart.  It has strong language, vivid scenes of a dark nature, an abnormal view of religious characters and explicit sexual indications.  If you can get past those things and not letting any stalwart view of religion you may have feel disrupted, then you may enjoy the story for what it is... a skewed take on what really happened with the characters noted above.

Aire by Lena Goldfinch, A Book Review

A fantasy written so you can see it like you're actually there.  It's a story that's entertaining and surprising which you'll certainly enjoy.

Even fantasies, with their creative, innovative and novel stories can become predictable.  So reading one that has interesting or surprising details makes the read really fun.

This story involved a princess that had a rare gift, but needed life to show her the true value of it.  Being protected and sheltered from the real world, she was ill equipped to handle being outside of the palace walls.  But being a stubborn and fiercely loyal and giving person she drew others loyal to her, which gave her the help she needed to fulfill her steps to destiny.

As is true in real life, destiny cannot be manipulated, it just is.  We may have choices, but what is supposed to happen, will.  For princess Annalisia, her destiny unfolded in a way she had never imagined.  Those things only happened in the fairy tales she was told as a child, maybe somewhere in real life but most certainly not in her life; at least nothing other than her special gift.  So how she handled these events was pretty true to how you would expect her to, which gave her the pinch test of being real.  It created the marker for becoming her friend, feeling her emotions, and enjoying her company.

You know the saying, rules are made to be broken, well in Annalisia's case, rules were not to be made in the first place.  That's only because to bind her with rules would be to smother her flame, and without her bright and beautiful spirit, the life of this story would be gray indeed.  She had an energy and wonderful outlook that kept you entertained, amused, and happy.  She is a fun character to follow.

The supporting characters were also with their own personalities that stood out from Annalisia's but at the same time, enhanced her.  Every one of them.

Even though as a princess she was not allowed certain freedoms with other stations in the social hierarchy, the very existence of it ensured her attention, both good and disruptive.  She just could not be bound, by anything.  That very simple word was an assurance of something happening.  It absolutely had to.  It was her destiny.  That attention included her fate.  Her heart screamed for what she couldn't have, while her mind strove to stay calm and centered as the princess she was taught to be.

If you like romances, and fantasy, then you will certainly enjoy this book.  And trust me, you will look to read Lena's other books too.

Surprise Larceny by S. Furlong-Bolliger A Book Review

Short stories are just that.  You won't find a lot of fluff or character building; there just isn't any room for it.  That's probably why I don't usually read short stories.  I like to get to know the characters and really see, through descriptive writing, where everything is at.  So surprisingly, I could actually picture the scene and had just enough of the character's personality to feel and understand the emotions.

In reality, I think had the author wanted to, a full novel with quite a few twists and turns could have been developed.  That should actually be considered and played with when spare time permits.  It could be very interesting.

This story is what I would call deceptive.  You think you know what is happening, and you think you know what will happen, with maybe a quizzical quirk of your brow showing a little guess work, but then you realize you don't know anything.  You are not creative enough to see what was coming.  Ha ha.  And that puts a smile on your face.  That is a book that's fun to read.  That is what makes you say I want more from this author.

Now putting a story with that impact into a short story that still has sufficient build and development gets a bow from me.  My hat's off to you Ms. Bolliger.  Sometimes writing a GOOD short story is more difficult and complicating than a full novel.  So judging a book by its cover can be as equally deceptive as its size.  Granted, a cover will make you pick up a book, and a short story may entice you to buy for a quick read, but how do you know if it's any good and worth your hard earned dollars.  You just have to look for reviews and see what others had to say.  I have a feeling this and all of S. Furlong-Bolliger books will have good reviews, and they would be right.

S. Furlong-Bolliger has an ability to create an impact within a very small space.  With that insight and talent, I can only imagine what would happen in a full novel.  It would be a dynamite can't put it down kind of book I'm sure.  Books that everyone will be reading and talking about.

For a short, yet captivating read, this book is for you.  As a writer, I have to wonder what else could have happened, and wouldn't it be fun to find out.  Enjoy!