The Sun God's Heir: Return Book One by Elliot Baker

Just back from my holidays and rather surprised I didn't get more reading done. It wasn't a beach holiday where I I could lie on the hot sand and shield my eyes with a kindle. We were kept rather busy tracking around Vietnam and Cambodia, ending the tour in Angkor Wat. If you haven't been, make sure you put this amazing site on your bucket list.

 So back to reviewing. This one was a great adventure story to have along for a holiday. Exciting, well written and engaging characters. Five stars and click on the picture to take you to Amazon.

René our young protagonist is a reluctant hero. Trained from childhood by ‘the Meastro’ in swordsmanship, he lets youthful arrogance get the better of him and he kills three sailors who attack him. He vows never to kill again. I liked René he tries to do the right and noble thing, but events out of his control push him in another direction. His inner conflicts made me engage with this character. I also liked Akeefa, an unusual strong female character for a swashbuckling adventure. She is a master swords woman in her own right, but fighting traditional Moroccan culture is one battle she can’t so easily win. This book is the first in the series and I can’t wait to see Akeefa and René’s next adventure. There is a lot still to be revealed about the events that happened three thousand years ago and the forces that steer the events of René’s life. Exciting and some unusual characters, bring on part two!

Dancing feet by Tabitha Ormiston-smith

If read a few novels and shorts by this author and I do like her easy and entertaining style. She does write a female character well and this short is no exception. Unlike some of her other work this one is aimed at young adults. As it is the reworking of the fairy tale Cinderella it would suit the younger YA too. 5 stars

This reworking of the Cinderella story is a fun, modern, YA short. Ashley is a plucky heroine who always sees the good in people despite being treated appallingly by her new stepmother. She is single minded in her desire to go to the Melbourne dance academy. When one dream is shattered she picks herself up and explores another avenue, helped along by her fairy godmother in the shape of a big hairy Deer hound. Recommended.

Book review of two horror shorts

This time you’re getting two reviews for the price of one. Both horror shorts and both excellent, with a good blend of gore and comedy. And both by women writers.  

Christ on a Bike! by D.J. Doyle

I loved the title of this book; Christ on a bike. It is an expression which is used a lot around the British Isles. I liked that the Irish writer has used her native language throughout and has created some great characters. It reminded me somewhat of ‘Father Ted’ with its flawed priests and the use of the word ‘feck’. It was a series I loved and I rather liked this book too. Tense horror, but also very funny.

Necrozmancy: A Short Horror Story by Lucretia Stanhope

This one was a horror reworking of the wizard of Oz. All the characters were there but Dorothy has a knack of raising the dead, aided by her familiar Toto. The bringing to life of a squirrel was as funny as it was gory. Some strong language which I didn’t mind as it fitted with the story. Witty, gory and strictly for an adult reader.

The English Sombrero: The Little White Ball by Doug Goddard and Anthony Randall

It's been a while since I've read the fist book in the series; Nothing to do but run. But it certainly was a book that stayed on my mind and I wanted to go back to. Second books are always difficult, the writing in the follow up was good and the dialogue funny, but I found myself a bit less engaged with the story. Maybe because I'm not a mad football fan and used to run myself. Maybe it was a dislike for people throwing money about. Anyhoo a 4 star plus.

I loved the first book in the English Sombrero series, where we met the brash but lovable character of Don Simmons. There he set himself the seemingly unattainable task of running the marathon. Here he buys, after a rather large windfall, a struggling non-league football club. Armed with a squad of semi-professional no hopers he sets out to win the FA cup; the highest price in English football. You have to love and admire Don as he sets about building a winning squad, deals with the press and the football authorities. Don is a self-made man who does things in his own way, which wins him as many friends as enemies. I still found this book hugely entertaining and some of the problem solving inspired. Where it lost me a little was that it was just a bit too beyond the realms of possibilities and that a lot of the problems were solved by just throwing huge amounts of money at it. Would I read the third book if it was released? I probably would and if the writer is in the process, I’d say to make it more about personal struggle and less about the money. Well written and great fun, especially if you like English football.

The Severaine (The Forgotten Legacies Series Book 2) by K.J.Simmill

This is the second book in the forgotten legacies series. It was a while since I read book one, but a few chapters in it came flooding back. These books are quite complex but now more familiar with K.J.Simmills style and universe I found this book more enjoyable. I did give it 4 stars like the previous one as it was still a lot to take in. Lots of new characters and worlds and 600 pages, it is a big meaty read.

This book follows on from Darrienia and is the second book in the forgotten legacies. It was a while since I’ve read Darrienia but she puts handy reminders in so I got up to speed quickly. I think for this reason this book could be read as a stand-alone. Like the first book it is an epic fantasy adventure set in complex alternate universe. We meet up again with Daniel, but he has much changed. Plagued by nightmares caused by the events in book 1 he is a determined but troubled young man. On a quest with his friends Acha and Eiji to reseal the Severaine he encounters many dangers but also new allies. What I liked about this book is that nothing is clear cut. For instance is Daniel just sleep deprived, or are there really things lurking in the shadows? As with life, things are often varying shades of grey.

This would suit someone who likes a big, epic adventure full of strange new worlds, magic and mythical beings. It would not suit someone who likes a quick easy read at 600+ you need a good attention span as things change quickly and many new characters get introduced. Well written and plenty of action.