Review of Flight of the Skycricket

Cover Flight of the Skycricket

Flight of the Skycricket by Gordon Greenhill has Narnian DNA but stands on its own as a middle-grade fantasy adventure. The story of three young girls who travel to another world where science and myth are the same—yet still debated—brings Lewis’ themes into the twenty-first century. And while the novel starts with a similar plot, it quickly establishes its own world and legends.

When Eli, Anna, and Rose are forced to move from Chicago to North Carolina into a house which doubles as a museum, they find themselves in an unfamiliar, new world. Eli is the oldest and the reader of the family whereas Anna is more adventurous. Rose is the youngest. Exploring the house is their only option to avoid a strict housekeeper and a mostly absent father. While in a tucked-away room, Rose finds an interesting artifact, and their father recounts a legend assumedly based on it. Rose uses the item to open a certain “door” which leads to the world of Errus.

From there, the girls encounter monks who are the last of their kind, a war lasting so long it’s called the Everwar, a scientist who has conceived of an unconventional way to cross a desert, and a knight who believes in a legend that serves his aqueous deity. Instead of simply assuming fairy creatures were created as part of this world, the author has designed a clever way to incarnate sprites and dwarfs with their corresponding strengths and weaknesses. And what is a skycricket? One of the highlights of the book certainly, providing some of the most thrilling sequences whenever it’s referenced.

But Flight of the Skycricket is deeper than mere thrills and wonder. Themes such as faith versus science (or faith and science in Errus), the adaptation of the open mind to new experiences, how our enemies may share more with our beliefs than first thought, and an argument about the best way to teach history are all intelligently incorporated into this novel. The staples of MG fantasy, about finding out more about oneself and bringing one’s family, whether real or found, together exist here too. But it’s the broader themes that make Skycricket stand out.

With these complex ideas, though, will modern readers accept it? Flight of the Skycricket reliance on a familiar Narnian introduction and then a sequence explaining its world slows the plot down at first. Once the titular Skycricket comes into play however, the narrative hits its stride. Adults and voracious readers of any age will certainly appreciate the novel, but its themes may challenge the typical middle grade reader.
Flight of the Skycricket soars when it explores its incredible world and its history. A tale of portal magic, desert crossings, duels to the death, and legendary sites, the novel is packed with highly creative sequences that will keep the reader’s interest. Along with three engaging main characters, Skycricket is a promising start to a fantasy trilogy.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081J1MN4B

Review of Poisoned Heart: A Retelling of Snow White

Cover of Poisoned Heart

At first, this novel doesn’t appear to be a retelling of Snow White. Its main character, Arabella, is already a princess, and readers might believe this is a fairy tale continuation. Arabella is savvy and mischievous at the start of the story, a characteristic Snow White might have acquired during her happily ever after. But don’t worry, events occur quickly, and Arabella ends up running for her life the same as her fairytale princess counterpart.

Princess Arabella is known for her pranks around the castle, but her mother is not amused. Having lost her father years ago, Arabella is distant from her mother and bored with her many suitors. When an ambassador appears from another country, Arabella can’t resist injecting some mischief in the proceedings. Unfortunately, she ends up creating an international faux-pas. Having to escape from the castle with a guard, and then running through the forest for her life, Arabella finds herself in far over her head.

Snow White, with a dash of the Prince and Pauper thrown in for good measure, is the general narrative of Poisoned Heart. Most of the familiar elements from the fairytale have survived although not in a way the reader expects. A mystery, a romance, and a bit of magic all come together to build a gripping story of maturity and sacrifice. This retelling ought to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

With Snow White retellings, questions arise. Will there be seven dwarves? Wicked stepmothers? Handsome princes? The answer for this novel is yes and no. Author Abigail Manning subverts readers’ expectations and builds a narrative all her own. This keeps the tale interesting. One could lose themselves in the story of Poisoned Heart without realizing it is a Snow White retelling, which works in its favor.

The writing of Poisoned Heart is mostly from Arabella’s point-of-view and is strong and clear. I enjoyed making the journey with the characters, the twists on the old fairytale elements, and the pacing of the novel. The only jarring note is the point of view switch near the end of the novel. Perhaps more chapters from this other point of view earlier would’ve made this stand out less. Nonetheless, this book is worthy to sit on the shelves beside solid Snow White retellings like Marissa Meyer’s Winter.

More stories of the Emerald Realm are forthcoming—a sequel is published as of this review—and the author has laid down enough details to make this reviewer want to visit this world again and again. If this delightful first novel is any indication of what’s to come, readers are in for many wonderful stories.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L6LGFBF

Review of To Court a Queen

Cover To Court a Queen

“A few bad investments—well gambles—had cost him his horse, his good sword, and most of his travel fund.” In the first chapter of To Court a Queen, we are introduced to our hero, Sir Devin Carlton. Because he is anxious to get home after losing so much, he strays from the main path and ends up in the middle of a land ruled by fairies. To survive, he has to overcome three trials. His prize? He’s “allowed” to marry a self-centered, fairy queen. And if he fails the trials he will be killed.

Some fantasy stories are sweeping epics with extensive world-building and lineage four pages long. Others are fantasies that shine a light on a small corner of their world, are about as long as a typical cozy mystery, and focus on one or two characters. Both can tell a rollicking story. To Court a Queen is in the latter category, and it’s all the better for it. Its focused narrative, quirky take on trope characters, and surprising emotion makes it a gem of a novel. Yes, most every fantasy reader has read about trials and secret, helpful partners, but this one has its own charming way of telling its tale which makes it seem new.

Author H. L. Burke’s knowledge of fantasies, writing skill, and ability to build believable and endearing characters serve the story well. Simple, but meaningful, conversations between Devin and a friend move the story along when he isn’t facing a trial. And while the fairies end up worse than a mean girls clique at high school, not all of them are hostile to our hero. And the cover should clue you in that an animal also plays a role in the narrative.

The humor here is also a lot of fun. Whether Devin’s reaction to an adversary or his response to the queen asking how he could serve her, I laughed more than I thought I would. In this world, fairies don’t understand sarcasm which paves the way for some humorous dialog.

With novels, I go through a stage of initial excitement over the premise to impatience near the end. “Just get to it,” I often cry. I never felt that way with To Court a Queen. In fact, I was disappointed to see it end and wanted to read more about the main characters. This is one book that truly deserves a sequel.

To Court a Queen is a fantasy with a fairy tale vibe worthy of a spot on any reader’s list. This novel makes me excited about what author H.L. Burke will do next in the high fantasy genre.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MYG7526

Review of Supernatural Fairy Tales

Cover Supernatural Fairy Tales

The collection of Supernatural Fairy Tales has the subtitle Fairy Tale Inspired Paranormal Short Stories. And despite the fairy on the cover gazing at a mystical sky, most of these short stories are set in modern day with realistic characters. Half the fun is guessing which fairy tale inspired which short story. Not to worry if you’re unsure as the author tells you the source of inspiration at the end of each offering.

This collection has inspired this reviewer to review the book in two ways. The first is a standalone set of supernatural short stories. The second is how fun it is to guess the original tale. On the first point, the stories aren’t a retelling in a modern sense. They are a wonderful mixed bag of telepathic thieves, a lonely costume party-goer, a frustrated writer, a talking tree, and many other quirky characters. Some are beautiful (“The Kingdom of Pillars”), some are downright creepy (“Midnight”), but all evoke some type of reesponse. None of the tales are overly long, clocking in at about a standard short story (3-4K words). Each one has perceptive little insights into what happens when life detours into the Twilight Zone. Some tales assume the weirdness from the start, but most start normally and grow more and more bizarre as the pages turn. The slick turn of events makes the stories shine.

How does the collection rate as an homage to the original tales? First, some of the stories are really close to their source material, and some playfully dance around it. For a couple, the connection is somewhat distant from the original story. This reviewer truly enjoyed the snippet at the end of each explaining the fairy tale of inspiration. The attribution was a sweet dessert to the fine meal.

Most of the standard fairy tales you’d expect are included here. A few obscure tales are also presented, and one I didn’t think of normally as a fairy tale. All are worth a read, but the ones that stood out to me are The KIngdom of Pillars, Muse, Weeping Lake, Quiet on the Nightingale, and Midnight. Other reviewers with different interests would likely have a different top five.

As an added bonus, thirteen fairytale-inspired poems are included at the end.

From mysterious mermaids to magical muffins, from dismissive daughters to vain vampires and so much more, Supernatural Fairy Tales await the curious reader.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005R51K98

Review of The Blood Spell

Cover of The Blood Spell

Blue de la Cour is a simple farmgirl and alchemist who helps her father in his alchemy shop. She has plans to help the homeless of her native land of Balavata and to expose a number of injustices in her native homeland. Yet, she must be careful. Blue has magic in her veins and a wraith who brought ruin and despair to Balavata sixteen years ago has caused the kingdom to outlaw magic. And it might be hard to hide it because Blue’s best friend is the princess.

The set of four Ravenspire novels by C. J. Redwine follow a similar theme—retell a traditional fairy tale as a high fantasy / adventure novel. The author has pulled this off spectacularly with The Shadow Witch, The Wish Granter, and The Traitor Prince, the first three books in the series. With The Blood Spell, Redwine tackles the most oft-retold tale of them all—Cinderella.

Don’t expect to see any transformed pumpkins or invitations to the ball in the first hundred pages of this book. Instead, you’ll find a prince who’s having troubles adjusting to the logistics of government, a girl who knows which plants to harvest by sensing it through her blood, a missing girl who one of the characters is desperately worried about, and a wraith who wails from her prison, screaming to be free.

The reader will get the Cinderella beats later, and when they come, they don’t disappoint. Yet, this novel is more interested in telling a fascinating tale of legacy and forbidden love. Similar to Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, Blue is not only an abused girl who wishes to go to the ball to meet the prince. She is a self-determined teenager with a huge heart and a greater sense of purpose. The climax has little to do with balls and missing slippers—though both are present—and more to do with the fate of the royal family and a kingdom.

While The Blood Spell isn’t especially gritty and dark, it has a few gruesome passages and nasty villains—staples in Redwine’s work in Ravenspire. The evil stepmother in this tale takes the prize for being the most evil of at least three Cinderella retellings that come to mind. This isn’t the world of talking mice, but a more mature and politically motivated world.

The Blood Spell does its sibling novels in the series proud with the same level of tension and excitement. References to the other books are sprinkled in a few pages, but not in an overwhelming Marvel-Cinematic-Universe sort of way. In fact, this reader would enjoy a chapter on the author’s website of the characters from all the books meeting and interacting more. But this is Blue’s story, and she gets the main spotlight as is proper.

The climax is satisfying as most of the characters the reader is rooting for overcome their situation. Only one character seems shortchanged, but the ending and epilog are rewarding. It leaves one with a longing for a fifth book though that doesn’t seem forthcoming.

A worthy fantasy as well as a fairytale retelling, the Blood Spell should delight everyone who loves this genre. Clever, suspenseful, romantic, and fast-paced, this is a novel which would make Cinderella proud!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062653024

A Writer’s Reflection on Rejection

As an author, you have to deal with a lot of rejection. Someone saying they can’t use your work in their publication comes with the territory. You send in excerpts from your novel, synopses, and short stories with the highest of hopes, but the response is usually the same—a variation of “Sorry, I’m not looking for something different. Try again.” In other words, “It’s me, not you.” But “It’s me, not you” is given as a reason for ending a relationship. Sometimes the “me, not you” is a lie, and we all know it.

The process is maddening. The worst part is that the generic message leaves no clue for authors to improve their work. Just “you didn’t make the cut.” Was it really bad? Was it seriously in consideration? What was the worst thing about it?”

The author just doesn’t know.

But sometimes, the veil is lifted and someone will give you feedback. I’ve received some biting and nasty feedback throughout my attempts to publish. Truthfully, that says more about the person providing the feedback than it does about the author. As Malcom Forbes once said, “You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.” How true.

When I’m presented with feedback, particularly the opposite of constructive criticism, I’ve learned a few things about rejection. First, if someone uses an adjective that speaks to the entire body of work, try to ignore it. Targeted feedback with adjectives is fine, but global statements are soul-crushing.

Let me illustrate with an example. “Though a movie about religion, Raiders of the Lost Ark doesn’t showcase the complexity of spirituality.” Compared this to “Though a mindless movie about religion, Raiders of the Lost Ark doesn’t showcase the complexity of spirituality.”

Suddenly, the implication is that the creators who made the movie or the audience who watches it are “mindless.” You definitely feel the arrogance in the second sentence with one word.

“Well, you have to be open to criticism,” you may say. My response is: “Constructive criticism, absolutely.” But when you add an adjective, you are making a judgment, and—most of the time—the judgment isn’t constructive. Another example: “You’re writing could use another pass.” versus “Your pathetic writing could use another pass.” The first is constructive, the second is destructive. In the second case, you should ignore the adjective and proceed with another pass on your work. 

On a positive note, most of my stories that are rejected the first time don’t often get accepted the second, third, or millionth time I submit them. At some point, you have to admit to yourself this effort should be shelved, at least for a little while. But sometimes, the rejection of “It’s me, not you” is true. Case in point, I submitted my story “The Extra” to a few flash fiction publishers. I truly believed in this story and thought it deserved a shot at publication. But months went by and rejections piled up. As I was about to give up, everydayfiction.com accepted it and published it. And now my story is available to read. My gratitude to that site, restoring my faith in my work, is boundless. 

But for the stories or novels that keep getting rejected, grit your teeth at the response. Examine the story to see if it could use another pass or another pair of eyes. A critique partner will give you the feedback you seek. Don’t automatically dismiss it. Perhaps review the agent or publisher and pick out why you submitted to them in the first place. If you see the mismatch, avoid agents or publishers with similar wording. 

If you do receive feedback, pull out whatever makes your story stronger. Ignore any destructive criticism provided—as best as you can, it’s tough—and focus on the nuggets of information to make your work stronger. If all the criticism is negative (“Your story was awful. You should just give up.”), blocklist the agency. You don’t need to do business with condescending people.

But keep this in mind. Occasionally, it’s fine to tell yourself. “Sometimes it really is you and not me.”

Review of Proxima

Front Cover

Proxima: The Othaul Dynasty by Chase Hildenbrand is a science fiction space adventure that continues the exciting narrative initiated in Proxima. The novel picks up just after the events of the last offering with a group of characters learning how to survive in outer space on a hostile planet. This review won’t spoil Proxima: The Othaul Dynasty, but it will spoil the first book, Proxima. The reader is warned.

Our cast of characters were separated between two plot threads in the first book. In this one, the characters are shuffled and reassembled into two different groups. Our main protagonists, Liam Donovan and Ann Caldwell, after spending most of the first novel apart, are back together and are taken prisoner by the vicious Othaul dynasty. They, along with three other friends, are flown away from Proxima. The other characters from the first novel are left behind on a world far from Earth, prisoner of the Othaulians.

The book follows the exploits of both groups as they struggle for their freedom in different ways. Exciting sequences are traded off between those desperate to return home and those desperate to escape from their evil overlords. Liam’s group takes the reader to the edges of space while the other group is focused more on survival and rebellion. Overall, the back and forth between the different adventures should keep the reader spellbound.

Proxima: The Othaul Dynasty has all the requisite beats of a fun space adventure: space travel, different species, engaging battle scenes, and an against-all-odds setup. This novel envisions a time when humans are just starting to realize they aren’t alone in the universe instead of the over-populated worlds of Star Wars and Star Trek. The idea of meeting new species gives the novel a different vibe than most space swashbuckler plots. How would the human race react to different sentient beings? And what if all the species weren’t friendly to humans—how do you know who to trust? These questions are explored in the novel’s pages.

The main characters run the gamut from soldier to scientist with Liam and Ann being the most well-defined. You get to know each of them by a predominant trait (the soldier turned pacifist, the pilot who lost a loved one, etc.). Though the novel doesn’t contain an excessive number of characters, it may take the reader a while to delineate them at the start of the novel. Perhaps Proxima 3 could contain a “story so far” sequence to catch the reader up.

Fast-paced and creative, Proxima: The Othaul Dynasty should satisfy the readers of the first novel with even more exciting sequences. For a space-faring adventure, this novel is a fun way to imagine yourself in the far distant reaches of the galaxy.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B2J4YVW

Review of Havok Prismatic

The latest flash fiction anthology from Havok is based on colors and entitled Havok: Prismatic. For the past four books, I’ve rated the super short stories, all 1000 words or under, from 1 to 10 to determine my favorites in two categories. However, many stories still tied for the highest score. This time, I decided to rate each story by three elements that I call “hue,” “tech,” and “emo.”

Hue refers to how well the story did in incorporating the color. For high marks, the object in question should be closely associated with the item it’s describing (compare an orange jacket to an orange pumpkin) and bonus points for the color being a key aspect to the story itself. Tech refers to mechanics of course, but also the basic concept itself and the style of the writer. Emo means “emotional.” If a tragedy, did it leave me truly melancholic? Did the scary story touch a nerve?

Before I describe the top-rated stories, a note on the rating. For a 1-10 score for each element, a perfect score would be 30. A 15 is a solid story, and one well-worth reading. Everyone scored at least a 15. Kudos to the authors and editors of Havok because the tech scores were high. Authors knew what to write about; editors knew what to publish and craft. The entire book deserves a round of applause.

I counted fifty stories. For this review, I’m only going to call out the ones that scored at least a 24, or received a 10 in any one of my three categories. The highest score was a 26 and only one achieved this high mark.

The stories that reached a 10 in one of the categories were:

  • Pick A Color, Any Color – A “10” in hue.
  • The Man with the Golden Voice – A “10” in hue.
  • The Hologram Hypothesis – A “10” in tech
  • Safety Recall – A “10” in tech
  • Meet Feet – A “10” in tech
  • Trumpet Blues – A “10” in hue
  • The Transformation – A “10” in tech

Several stories were high combinations of all three elements to a final score of 24. “The Wolf at the Door,” (Beka Gremikova), “The Hologram Hypothesis” (Pamela Love), “The Nocturnal Ambush of Fae Forest” (Michael Dolan), “Girl #24” (Krysta Tawlks), “Flair” (Seth N. Locke), “Seeking Calypso” (Kaitlyn Emery), and “A Home for Nova” (Hannah Carter).

Four stories rated an excellent score of 25. The offbeat nature of “Pick A Color, Any Color” by Lisa Godfrees reminded me a bit of the SciFi channel’s series Dark Matter. It packs a mysterious punch in a short amount of words with a twist I didn’t see coming. “Meet Feet” by Jeff Gard landed under the Wacky category and really nailed that theme. Hilarious, a great concept, and lively comical writing contributed to the success of this entry. “The Prince of Bees” was my favorite fairy tale representation of many in this anthology. With heart and imagination, Beka Gremikova retells a little-known fantasy but with a masterful spin on it. “The Transformation” by Joshua A. Smith was categorized as fantasy but deserves equal billing under thriller. This piece created an image so vivid in my mind, it lingered there the rest of the day.

Finally, “Trumpet Blues,” achieved a score of 26 of this anthology. Sophia Hansen’s unassuming tale is a delight to read. Describing the plot wouldn’t do it justice but it brought together the three elements in a unique and emotional away. I enjoyed every word of it.

I decided, before I read the first page, that an 18 or higher was a solid story, and possibly I’d return to them and reread them one day. Doing the math, that was 80% of the stories. Clearly, Havok has a wealth of talent in this anthology and I look forward to future installments.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LKDQHJH

Review of Mind Like a Diamond

Cover Mind Like a Diamond

What if a federation of witches hosted a thirteen-level haunted house on Halloween? And what if making it through by the witching hour netted one survivor ten thousand dollars? Imagine the magic was real. What kind of horrors could exist in such a house?

This is the premise of Mind Like a Diamond, a new novel by Amanda Pavlov. Main character Lisette Starling Colbert is an intelligent student at a private school as well as an accomplished gymnast. She’s also as poor as a churchmouse, and her family is involved in some shady activities. After a series of bad luck, Lisette finds that she and her mom are about to be evicted from their apartment. After she’s expelled from her school, Lisette receives a flyer about the unusual haunted house and associated contest from some new friends. Trouble is, rumors state witches are in charge of the house, and some participants never make it out.

The hook of Mind Like a Diamond is captivating, one of the strongest on the market today. The premise checks a lot of horror reader’s boxes: Halloween, haunted house, list of victims (er, characters). The house has thirteen levels full of ghoulish fun, and some of the levels are more terrifying than others. The levels, both gruesome and chilling, are the beating heart of this novel.

The novel takes place in one of two the spookiest places in the United States—New Orleans, Louisiana. (For the record, the other is the entire state of Stephen King’s Maine). The city plays a large part in the creepiness factor of the book. The writing describes both New Orleans and the Halloween season and immerses Lisette in a world of chills and thrills right from the start.

For a first-published book, Amanda Pavlov’s style and technical skills read like a long-time professional. Snippets like “When it rains, it pours. It had been a soggy year.” concisely draws the reader in with few words. The dialog rings true from age to geographic location, and the emotions the teens are experiencing also feel authentic.

But horror novels live (or die) on whether they can bring the scares. Mind Like a Diamond delivers in this department too. Just about every conceivable creepy thing for the last three decades makes an appearance in this novel. If someone is afraid of it, it’s in here. Certain levels are extremely effective at drawing out the tension. So as not to give anything away, I’ll just say that level three and level nine were my two favorites.

The novel has a definitive first, second, and third act. One can draw a line where each one begins and ends. To me, the highlight of the book is the second act, but the third act is a surprising and pleasant change of pace. The narrative shifts abruptly between the acts from the establishment of setting and characters in act one, to the haunted house in act two, to resolution in act three. The assumption is most readers will enjoy act two the most, but act three effectively wraps up the plot and builds upon everything that has happened in the prior two acts. Certainly, act two is worth the price of the novel.

While the idea of going to a haunted house might sound like a middle grade or early young-adult novel, Mind Like a Diamond is neither. Lisette is an older teenager dealing with the situations often found in our younger age group in the inner city. Expect drug use, sexual situations, profanity, and violence, some more suited to adult novels. If you enjoy the grittier side of YA, you’ll relish this gem of a book. 

If you like supernatural horror novels, you’ll enjoy Mind Like a Diamond. The more you know of the horror genre, the more you’ll be entertained. And while the plot has pulse-pounding scares a-plenty, you’ll find it also has a well-rendered depiction of teenagers and the struggles they endure to fit into their world.

Amazon Review: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736430068

Review of Adventurer’s Spirit

Cover Adventurer’s Spirit

In Adventurer’s Spirit speculative novel by Amanda Schmidt, cultural tensions escalate between two races: the Sunstons and the Trilumas. Caught in the middle are Alyxzandra and Jared, two people who deeply care about each other. The book starts with a horrific genocide, leaving our main character, Alyxzandra without a family and home. The heartbreaking scenes in the first chapter of Alyxzandra finding her dead family warn the reader the way forward will be an uphill struggle.

The army responsible for the death of her people endangers Alyxzandra’s life. However, she is rescued by Jared, a soldier who refuses to kill her tribe, after she saves his life. From there begins a series of adventures for Alyxzandra as the last remaining of her race, the Sunstons. The Sunstons with their teeth and large jaws are considered savages by Jared’s people, the Triluma, who seek to destroy every last one of them. The Triluma’s main aggressor is Jonah, Jared’s father, who attempts to kill Alyxzandra at every turn.

With its themes of anti-colonization, ecology, and humanity, Adventurer’s Spirit flows from one surprising revelation to another. Not all is as it appears with the Sunston people. As Alyxzandra learns more about her origins, she must decide who she is to become: a fierce defender of her world or a person who cares more for another person than herself.

The exciting plot owes a lot to the deep world-building constructed by the author. As more and more elements are revealed from Alyxzandra’s perspective, the narrative expands and the results of the choices of the characters aren’t so clear-cut. The detailed thought that went into the Sunston people and Alyxzandra’s character help to increase the stakes as the plot unfolds. As the main character, Alyxzandra is both an innocent in the ways of the world and also a fierce warrior hardened by her past. This contrast builds the reader’s investment in her plight.

The anti-colonization is not heavy-handed yet always present. As with all moral tales of this type, replacing Earth and its history with another planet allows for a more objective view on the topic. At the same time, Adventurer’s Spirit is an intensely personal novel of a wronged young woman who must make her way in a foreign world. Her desperate situation rings true as the reader discovers more and more about her and the history behind the Sunstons and the Trilumas.

The novel properly escalates the tension from beginning to end, making Alyxzandra’s situation more and more dire. Each scene builds on the one before, and the characters’ options become increasingly limited. Suspense is at an enjoyable high at the climax.

Speaking of the climax, the book may surprise some readers in the penultimate chapter. However, this review believes the risk taken by author Amanda Schmidt pays off. Nine times out of ten, going an unconventional route often leads to frustration on the reader’s part, but this time it works. The final scenes will stick in one’s memory long after the final page is turned.

While Adventurer’s Spirit is full of action-packed scenes, the novel also slows down at times. In the middle, a character “catches the reader up” on what’s going on, and a major element is introduced in the middle of the plot that plays a key role at the climax. The rest of the book is strong with the majority of scenes full of self-revelation and action. In particular, one scene in the middle of the book where Alyxzandra realizes something important when following Jared on a mission is a highlight.

Adventurer’s Spirit, an unconventional take on racial tensions on a different planet, has many important things to say about our world. With an edgy main character, a healthy respect of culture, and some excellent world-building, this novel demonstrates a willingness to take risks. And its success is to the reader’s benefit.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XKVPMPS