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Announcing a New Novel: Deliver Us

In 2021, I plan to publish my fourth book and third full-length novel in the Kingdom series of Kingdom Fantasy. The title is called Deliver Us: A Kingdom Fantasy Novel.

After Sondra and Harold Saturn bail the Little Match Girl and Alice of Wonderland out of jail, they learn the fairytale world of Kingdom is in peril. A trio of witches is killing and cursing the fairytale people, and the royals haven’t been able to stop them. But instead of heading directly to Kingdom, the Saturns are charged with traveling well beyond Kingdom’s borders to convince a sorceress of supreme power to aid them. Harold is excited to see this new location, while Sondra has a secret wish she wants the sorceress to grant.

Back in Kingdom, the witches continue to spread terror and put the queens’ loved ones at risk. Time is fleeting as the hags grow in power and malice. Even if Harold and Sondra succeed in their task, will help come in time?

In Deliver Us, the third book in the Kingdom Fantasy series, a progression of quests in exotic locales will bring together a small—but familiar—group to confront merciless opponents. Curses, powerful artifacts, transformations, murders, animated tattoos, and proper manners all combine toward a thrilling conclusion in which those who confront the evil must find a way to defeat the witches or lose their souls.

Deliver Us is the third novel in the Kingdom Fantasy Series started with Kingdom Come and continued with On Earth, As It Is. The three novels may be read in any order for they are all standalone stories, however, chronologically Deliver Us is the latest in time. If the above description interests you, start with Deliver Us. I provide background of the prior two novels at the start of the story to give you context.

The third novel will be slightly shorter than the other two but full of both reimagined fairytale and new characters. You’ll find a spunky Cinderella, combative Red Riding Hood, and talented Beauty (of Beauty and the Beast) here. I enjoyed playing with tropes and conventions in the first novel, and deepened the characters in the second offering. This novel focuses on broadening the world. If the first book is plot-heavy and the second is character-heavy, this one is setting-heavy. I would pitch it as a mixture of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

My main characters, Harold and Sondra Saturn, are happily married and living in a suburb in their starter home three years after the events of On Earth, As It Is. Their only unfulfilled desire is they don’t control their ability to go to and from Kingdom. One evening, they receive a phone call from Valencia—better known as the Little Match Girl—who was arrested trying to break into Harold and Sondra’s old condominium in an attempt to find them. It’s up to our suburban heroes to bail her out. Valencia’s not here on a social call, however. Something is wrong in Kingdom, and she needs the Saturns’ help to complete a quest.

If you favor the idea of fairytale characters interacting with each other and making tough choices, you’ll like Deliver Us. The novel stems from concepts like “Would fairytale princesses be in favor of capital punishment?” or “What if you were married but destiny indicated you had the wrong spouse?” and other ideas.

As evidenced by the questions above, Deliver Us is intended for adults because of the nature of its themes, but the book has no gratuitous violence, excessive profanity, or explicit sex scenes, and may be read by a teenager. The violence is always fairytale style, and the sex and profanity are likely less than you’d read in a typical, mainstream YA novel.

I hope you’ll consider reading Deliver Us. I’ve worked hard on it for years, hiring professionals in their fields, to bring you the best in entertainment. I want to take you somewhere different while never leaving your house. I think you’ll be pleased with the journey.

The Deliver Us page will be the permanent landing page for the novel instead of this transient blog entry. Over time, I’ll add subpages, stories, and art.

Pre-orders are up now and the book available for purchase on April 20, 2021.

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Review of Proxima

Proxima by Chase Hildenbrand is a science fiction action adventure in which humans have ravaged Earth’s natural resources and must find a way to survive. The situation leaves the human race no choice but to build space arks and head for the nearest habitable planet, Proxima. However, not everyone wants the space travelers to leave.

Starting with an action scene and rarely letting up, this exciting novel twists and turns with a driving plot and perspectives from primarily two people: lovers Liam Donovan and Ann Caldwell. Liam is overseeing the construction of the fifth space ark to Proxima and attempting to keep terrorists at bay. He becomes involved in investigating the group trying to stop the exodus from Earth. Ann is a biologist and passenger on the ark ready to identify and potentially populate plant life on Proxima.

As described above, the novel appears to be chiefly about getting the ships on their way to Proxima, but the book has more on its mind than a race into space. If you are a science fiction fan, you won’t be disappointed. All the elements scifi fans love in space travel novels are here. Proxima takes its time describing the technology and philosophy of the outer space journey. The reader is rewarded with a plot that holds together and makes sense.

The sequences are intermixed between action and exposition. Never dull, the world-building, and personalities are rich with detail. As with many science fiction and fantasy books, memorable characters are in abundance here. The main motivation between Liam and Ann, and their individual situations, work in the book’s favor, driving the plot forward.

While enjoyable, Proxima could be improved in future installments. The narrative loses its grip when the book explains character motivations instead of allowing them to flow from their behavior. And while the viewpoints are primarily Liam and Ann’s, other’s perspectives are intermixed in scenes that tend to slow down the tension.

Proxima may be enjoyed as a standalone novel or the first in a series. The book is an engaging read, creating surprising turns of events in a seemingly straightforward plot to travel to a sustainable world. If you’re looking for a space-centered adventure, this is a book to pick up.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B8TLRY5

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Review of Calico Thunder Rides Again

A hero who stands alone, malicious bandits, wild animals. Does that sound like a western? Surprise! It’s a fantasy. With western underpinnings but fused heavily with its fantasy elements, Calico Thunder Rides Again makes for one thrilling read.

Inheriting a traveling circus from his father, Jake Strickland has been managing it for years and been living on the road with the performers. Jake, a former stunt rider, has found he has fallen for the animal trainer, Grace Hawkins. Life is good until someone arrives and tells him about an old debt of his father’s.

Repaying a debt might not appear to be a plot device to hang an adventure on, but it allows the reader to see how much Jake cares for the circus performers. As the story progresses, the desperation of the characters increases, and the relationship to each other grows more and more important. Jake’s sacrifices for the show and Grace’s resolve and support of Jake are admirable.

The world-building, the circus life, and the tension work together to keep the reader enthralled in Calico Thunder Rides Again’s grip. When the climax comes, author T. A. Hernandez weaves some magic of her own with her poignant passages. The depth of feeling the characters have for each other is beautifully described and tugs at the reader’s heart.

The last quarter of the book changes the tone of the novel. The energy of the plot and writing propels the narrative forward to an amazing conclusion. This novel has a satisfying ending, sure to please even the most picky reader.

One note about the cover art and art design of Calico Thunder Rides Again. It’s amazing! Also created by author T. A. Hernandez, the illustration, colors, and design blend together perfectly. This indie cover compliments the engrossing story inside. Go ahead and judge this book by its cover.

This novel is enjoyable from start to finish. While all characters are adults, the story isn’t mired in mundane adult drama, complimenting its exciting tone. Most of the novel hums along as readers expect it will right to the end. A jarring twist at the end wouldn’t have fit the theme or sense of exhilaration the novel wants to convey.

Calico Thunder Rides Again is a fun and spirited romp of a circus-fantasy-western. Take it for a “ride.” You won’t be disappointed.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y2BFGL6

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Review of Eden’s Voice

Eden’s Voice by Catherine Stein is a steampunk fantasy set in Ann Arbor, Michigan in autumn of 1904. It’s the advent of the 1900s with a bustling University of Michigan campus, a new invention called motorcars, and this odd sport known as “American football.” This isn’t, however, historical fiction, so the world is also full of mechanical dragons, biomechanical engineering, and steam-powered gadgets.

Bruce Caldwell is a writer who covers athletic events, and the book starts with him writing about the 1904 Olympics. Eden Randall is a young lady fascinated with football, rooting for her favorite team—the University of Michigan Wolverines. Eden also speaks her mind freely and doesn’t care about 1904 manners. The novel does a lot with Eden’s frankness and unwillingness to abide by societal norms.

Bruce is sent to cover the Wolverines for a season and meets Eden watching the mechanical mascot on the sidelines. From there, the story evolves into equal parts romance and adventure.

The novel shines as a romance. Forget your preconceived notions of how it will evolve, it will go in a completely different, and delightful, direction. Following Eden navigate the adult world of romance to apply her matter-of-fact scientific method is hilarious. Eden is spunky without knowing it. In fact, she thinks she’s the weird girl, but it’s easy to see why so many men are attracted to her. Bruce is an interesting foil for Eden’s antics and is a solid second-hand narrator. Because of Eden’s personality, the story takes a new angle on the out-of-town boy meets the sassy girl.

The adventure, while fun, is less engaging than the romance. In many ways, it’s there to serve the romance of the novel and support the excellent cast of characters Stein has created. 

Another wonderful aspect of Eden’s Voice is its setting, especially in terms of time. While certainly geographically accurate, the time is standard for steampunk fare but doesn’t exist in some fantasy version of an unknown country, New York, or London. This is a small Midwestern city centered around a college campus, and things like bonfires and football games add to the “magic” that is a university.

In the end, Eden must make a decision, but it’s not the choice the reader will anticipate at the start of the book. When the ending comes and Eden must choose, it’s a powerful scene and it’s pulled off well by the author. The reader will feel pathos for the characters when it happens, and it completes the narrative on a strong note.

Overall, Eden’s Voice is a book with charming characters, a unique setting (both place and time), and a well-incorporated use of steampunk. The elements come together to reward the reader with a fantastic, independently-published novel.

Note: The fact the reviewer is a University of Michigan graduate in no way influenced this review…much.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5D6R3Z

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Review of The First Time I Hunted

The First Time I Hunted is the third in the Garnet McGee series by Jo Macgregor. A psychological thriller, Hunted expands both characters and setting beyond the world of Pitchford, Vermont. In this third installment, Garnet again becomes embroiled in the middle of a mystery with time running out to catch the killer.

As in the first two novels, Garnet remains a fascinating character. At the end of The First Time I Fell, she made a fundamental decision about her life and carries out her resolution in Hunted. At the end of each book, Garnet advances as a character by exploring new dimensions but remains a work-in-progress. Author Macgregor has handled this superbly in the first two books of the series and continues it in book three.

The books also excels in suspenseful scenes, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. When these passages come, the words fly by, riveting your attention. The rare “What are you doing, Garnet!” moments occur, but most of the time the sequences are taut and believable.

The humor in the novel is also excellent. While there are fewer oddball characters in this one than in the last two, Garnet’s mother is back and continues to be not just humor fodder but important to both plot and character. But the funnier segments aren’t restricted to Garnet’s mother, as small, snarky phrases throughout the narrative elevate the reading experience.

The writing is also very well done. The descriptions sparkle with details, and the settings are vividly detailed. Macgregor’s use of language propels the plot along.

Macgregor has also done a lot of research for this novel and it shows. Sometimes the exposition goes overboard, and a lot of detail is thrown at the reader. Fortunately, the author moves it along with action occurring in the scene. A lot happens here, setting up (I believe) elements that will be important in future novels.

How does The First Time I Hunted stack up against The First Time I Died and The First Time I Fell? Certainly, if you enjoyed the first two, you’ll like this novel as well. It honors its predecessors and is a worthy addition to the series. While Hunted‘s premise is not as original as Died, it sets a new standard of where Macgregor could go if she continues to write more Garnet McGee adventures. I hope she will.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/199098181X

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Review of Kataklusmos

Full disclosure that the author of Kataklusmos is my brother. As such, this will not be a normal review but a description of the novel. The following is reprinted by permission from the author.

A Trio of Stories Collide

The trilogy of Toward the Gleam, The Lucifer Ego, and Kataklusmos is packed with mystery and mayhem, philosophy and physics, paleontology and archaeology, theology and psychology, historical personages of note, and travels to the past and to exotic places—all connected to a book that is the most valuable artifact in the history of the world. In Kataklusmos, characters from all three stories collide in the pursuit of answers that span time and space.

Stalked by Danger and Despair

Two years after the forced separation of Oxford archaeologist Frodo Lyle Stuart and his “betrothed” psychologist Beatrice Adams, a cataclysmic event takes Lyle and his brother, Sam, to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and China in search of solutions to confounding questions. Stalked by danger and despair, Lyle finds his personal and professional worlds turned upside-down.

Did the events recorded in the ancient book really occur, and are those with connections to that world still shaping this planet’s history?

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Review of Dead Leaves

Dead Leaves: 9 Tales of the Witching Season by Kealan Patrick Burke is a trick and a treat. The anthology contains nine short stories set in autumn closer to a night of ghouls and ghosts than of evenings of blessing food. Nothing juvenile about these stories, though. They are literate, well-written, and layered.

Each tale is unique. The oft-used theme of “let’s go find a ghost” is the only story that resembles most modern fare. Don’t expect much in the way of Uncle Creepy or Dark Mirror in its pages. Yes, you’ll find “traditional” monsters here along with a bevy of non traditional ones. Most of the segments, though not all, are supernatural. A taste for the dramatic and some wonderfully rich descriptions of settings are what distinguishes these stories from most. Without a doubt, the tales serve the purpose of ushering the reader into an atmosphere of delightful dread.

The book starts with the terrifying Andromeda. This straightforward tale takes the classic approach of placing a normal person in the middle of a wide-ranging, horrific event. It brings the creepiness and is the most merciless of the bunch.

Someone to Carve the Pumpkins and The One Night of the Year were both very good but not very scary stories. That said, they are the best at offering up the (bitter)sweeter side of Halloween. More Ray Bradbury than Ramsey Campbell in nature, they embrace what non-horror fans love about Halloween.

Four other stories are included, all better than your average horror tale, but never quite as scary as Andromeda or interesting as Carve the Pumpkins or One Night. The remaining two, though, exemplify good horror. The first is The Toll which is wonderful in its throwback to an old master of horror and devious in its twists and turns. It starts in a most unusual setting and when readers think they’ve figured it all out, it takes a sharp one-hundred-eighty degree turn. A tale Rod Serling would’ve adopted for The Night Gallery, this one’s a keeper.

And the second excellent story, How the Night Receives Them, is prose but reads like a dark poem. It begins with an interesting quote and goes on to describe a girl walking down the road. While sounding mundane, this tale slowly unveils how something as ordinary as a stroll down a lane can become extraordinary. Short, eerie, and poignant, the story is superbly executed and remains my personal favorite of the collection.

So what’s this about a trick and treat? The trick is, with the exception of The One Night of the Year, the rest of the stories could’ve easily been set on any night in the calendar other than Halloween. They may be spooky but they have no real connection to October 31. Burke spends time describing autumn scenes beautifully and calls out to traditions like carving pumpkins, but they play a small part in the overall narrative. However, the treat is you’ll probably not notice. The stories in this collection will sweep you away and they are, indeed, best read as the October moon wanes and waxes.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1720274096

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The Shadow Oaks Series

My Shadow Oaks series are five YA character-driven novels of adventure in a mysterious fictional town in Indiana. When sixteen-year-old Brian Rees visits the hidden neighborhood of his deceased mother, a town that forbids modern technology, he underestimates just what lies in store. Each novel is a self-contained story detailing the adventures of Brian, his love interest Luna D’Claire, adversary Theodopolis Gond, and friend Katerina Loss. In a town where fires start spontaneously and trees move on their own, Californian Brian has his hands full.

Shadow Oaks blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Urban fantasy? More like rural fantasy but light on the fantasy aspects in the early novels. While each novel has a start, middle, and end, an overriding arc exists in all the books. Each book starts with the phrase “This is the tale of a boy, a girl, and a town.” The boy, the girl, and the town each have a secret, all inter-connected, that is explored in each novel and revealed in the latter novels. Readers get the satisfaction of reading a complete novel no matter which one they choose, but they also get clues into the larger secrets of the community.

Shadow Oaks is a setting with a mysterious past, hidden from the world but fully aware of it, and littered with surprises. Since it has outlawed modern vehicles, it has no need for what we consider a street. Bicycles are the only method of transportation through the village. As the town exists in a forest, the founders have allowed trees to grow haphazardly around the neighborhood. Trees grow on two properties, in the middle of streets, through the center of residences. And the dense foliage of Shadow Oaks provides a canopy that covers the town from a satellite’s vision. That canopy also provides another advantage…

Secluded townspeople in a town out of the 1800s have personalities you’ll find nowhere else. From an arsonist who sets fires every night though no one can find him, to a shy boy who may also be a werewolf, to a brilliant school teacher who is determined to shelter her daughter from meeting Brian. The people in Shadow Oaks make up a lot of the atmosphere of this intriguing town, and all of them have pasts and secrets, but none more so than…

Brian meets a number of people his age in Shadow Oaks. In the country store, he encounters Luna D’Claire, a red-haired beauty who finds Brian equally interesting. Another boy, Milton Cougar, quickly shares an interest in baseball with Brian but he is warned that introspective Milton is dangerous. Drummer and tomboy Katerina Loss believes Shadow Oaks is populated with people with abilities but can’t prove anything unusual is going on until…

Is there something supernatural going on? Brian’s a skeptic. He’s never believed in that “magic stuff.” His world is the Pacific ocean, baseball, school troubles, not poltergeists, invisible arsonists, or people who can summon birds with a whistle. Once he encounters these things, Brain is forced to re-evaluate everything he knows. And there’s no better start than with his own heritage… 

If you’re a writer, you’re welcome to become a critique partner for any novel in the Shadow Oaks series. The tight community in Indiana, a little “west of October” as Ray Bradbury put it, would love to share their stories with you. Reach out to me at jim.doran.author@gmail.com if you’re interested.

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Review of Havok: Stories that Sing

Cover of Havok 2

I reviewed the first book in the Havok series, Havok: Reborn, when it was published and immensely enjoyed it. Genre flash fiction that mostly hit the mark, the first offering was an entertaining read and has a place prominently on my bookshelf. I was excited to learn the second book was going to feature music as its inspiration and read a few of the stories online. I waited for the opportunity to buy it in book form.

The second season of Havok allows talented authors to show off their writing chops in approximately four pages or less. Horror, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller are all represented here. Some stories are deep and densely packed; others, light-hearted. If nothing else, Havok brings variety in spades.

To remember the stories, I rated each with a simple 1-10 rating. As each song is inspired by a piece of music, I also rated them 1-10 on how well the author incorporated the song into the story. In the end, though, the song rating didn’t play nearly as large a role in the final score. Two stories received perfect 10s, three received 9s, and from there were a wealth of 8s. I made sure to reread the 9s and 10s before writing this review, and though I tried to avoid it, went to one decimal point.

I won’t describe the plot of any of the following as the stories are short enough that even giving away the genre is giving too much away.

Notable stories rated an 8 include Weaver of Dreams by Jebraun Clifford, Rave by Justin Mynheir, and A Fly on the Wall by Kat Heckenbach. Whether it was an exciting setting (Dreams or Rave), or unique premise (Fly), they made a mark that elevated Havok. A couple more wavered between an eight and a nine for me. What Happens in Las Veggies by J. L. Ender was so clever that I enjoyed it even more the second time. Darksoul by Rachael Kemme took a familiar device into new dimensions. Everyone’s a Henry by Charles Frierman was one of the few that I boosted because of its source of inspiration. Wreaking Havoc by Ronnell Kay Gibson had the right tone and perspective, and was both fun and merciless at the same time with a perfect narrating voice. And my favorite 8 belongs to Kristiana Sfirlea’s hilarious yet profound Siege of the Dead. With its killer opening line to its lasting impression, this one’s a winner.

The first nine, when I read it, really stood out to me. The Balloon Man by Morgan L. Busse has an ingenious plot and a lot going on for flash fiction. One of the reasons it works is it generates the atmosphere it’s going for with an economy of words. This one will stick with me for a long time.

The second nine was Blow Her a Kiss by Rosemary E. Johnson. This slice-of-life story was unlike most in the collection in its world-building without explanation, but its thriftiness with words and its compelling creativity make it stand out. The first time through I was baffled and in awe of this wonderful story.

My first ten is the editor’s choice. A Good Night to be Alive by Meaghan E. Ward had a lot to live up to being the last story but it delivered. This story had both a light-hearted plot and some serious underpinnings. You get two unique characters, an interesting setting to place them in, and an ending that sticks with you, all in 1K words or less.

And then there’s One Day in the Park by Teddi Deppner. I’m going to label this a personal 10 as this story wears its heart prominently on its sleeve. This story really touched me in a way no other tale managed to do in this entire collection. I went back and read her entry in Season One as a result of this offering and would encourage you to do the same.

All of the authors ought to be proud of the stories in this collection but the real winner is the reader who has yet to read these “wonderful compositions.” Season Two is as successful as season one. I’m looking forward to new tales in the next book (Bingeworthy) produced by Havok.

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087SMHW62

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Review of Pumpkin Spice Pie-Jinx

Cover

Pumpkin Spice Pie-Jinks by Selina J. Eckert is a delightful retelling of a famous short story I’ll leave for the reader to discover. The story introduces Reese, a baker, who lives in a small New England town co-inhabited by the fae. In fact, some special fairies are visiting from the United Kingdom. This story of a contest which could save Reese’s baking business is solidly written and cleverly imagined.

From chapter one, Pumpkin Spice and Pie-Jinx has a strong hook. The world of humans and fae, of how Reese concocts her pies, of how she interacts with a new stranger in town transports the reader quickly into an autumnal world. It clips along at a fast-pace after establishing what’s at stake for multiple characters. Though the ending is comfortably charming, the journey—not the destination—is the fun part here. With descriptions of people with “sunflower eyes” and curses like “Spoiled spells!”, the writing has exactly the right tone for a creative, whimsical fantasy. Again, without spoiling anything, Eckert’s novel takes a different approach to its usual grim source material.

So go to the kitchen and indulge in a nice slice of pie along with your favorite autumn beverage, but don’t forget to bring this novel. Curl up in the brilliant sunshine and enjoy spending time with Reese, Emmett, and others in Pumpkin Spice Pie-Jinks.

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZSF5GV9.