Chaos Unbound (The Metis Files #2)

Framed for the murder of a high ranking member of the Unseelie Court of Fae, Steve Dore–also known as Diomedes, Guardian and protector of mankind–goes on the run. He’s determined to uncover the real culprit and clear his name.

But the assassination may be the beginning of a more sinister plot that involves not just the Fae and Humankind, but all the races of the world. And what if the real assassin is a boogeyman even the Fae don't believe is real?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Chaos Unbound, by Brian S. Leon, is a militaristic novel of mythology and fantasy. Though I've read many fantasy novels, I've never read one quite like this. Leon gives the faery world a combative twist that takes the story to a level of epic proportions. 

Diomedes, a human avatar for Athena, is the main character of this novel and the entire book is told from his point of view. Thousands of years old, Diomedes, or Steve, has witnessed countless wars and battles, and has participated in many of them. His main job is to protect humanity not from each other, but from supernatural forces that choose to interfere in human conflict. He's trained in multiple military forces and even has SEAL experience. This resume gives the story a military feel as fighting techniques, military combat knowledge, and weaponry are all described in intricate detail while Diomedes tries to find out who framed him for the death of an important member of the Unseelie court. 

Diomedes is intelligent, brave to the point of nearing recklessness, determined, and dedicated. Readers will respect him for his commitment to humanity while fearing for his life as he goes up against a boogeyman with substantial power. It's interesting to witness a godlike being so down to earth, focused, trusting, and even forgiving. The level of understanding that Diomedes has for others knows no bounds. His job often puts him in a position to kill in order to protect, and he doesn't take that lightly, even after thousands of years doing his job. 

The story begins right at the start of all the action, or rather all the chaos. Diomedes has been framed for a murder he did not commit and he's forced to go on the run to clear his name and save his own life. He's soon caught by the Unseelie court and is put in a position that evokes sympathy and fear from readers. When he escapes, with the help of someone who believes his innocence, the race is on to find the real murderer and uncover the reason behind a string of high profile deaths. The mystery behind this boogeyman is intriguing while the story is packed full of action and adventure. The setting constantly changes as Diomedes and his friend, Duma, travel through pathways that connect the entire world while trying to track down the boogeyman, which in this case turns out to be a Hanner Brid, or a half-breed. 

Readers who enjoy fantasy novels will definitely enjoy this book. However, I think that readers will also need an interest in military combat (or the like) to really get into it. There is a lot of discussion about weapons, political unrest, and very detailed passages about fighting techniques and mission planning. While this really pulls readers into the action, it could also alienate those readers who felt it would be more focused on the fae. I did not expect the book to be so heavily laced with combat, as I thought it would be more focused on uncovering who framed Diomedes and why, like a crime thriller or a mystery. Though, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to understand the military information with Leon's writing style. Lastly, I hadn't read the first book in this series before diving into this one and found that it didn't make a big difference. I think it's easy for readers to connect with Diomedes as he is instantly and unjustly cast as the underdog and villain. As he fights for his honor and the truth, that connection is strengthened and solidified creating an interesting adventure/fantasy novel filled with action and mythology that will surely please readers of the genre. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

The Fixer: The Killing Kind (Katerina Mills #2)

Kat’s back and in over her head with crooks, cops... and killers.

Christmas is around the corner but professional “fixer” Katerina Mills isn't feeling the holiday spirit, juggling college classes, a lovesick cop, and demanding clients.

Obnoxious hedge fund manager Simon Marcus wants his prized Porsche back from his vengeful wife. The job is hard enough until wise guy Anthony DeSucci shows up and orders her to bring the car to him.

Rock star writer, Paul Patel needs something “special” to finish his next bestseller, something that will get Katerina a “Go Straight to Jail” card if she gets caught.

And what about mysterious Thomas Gallagher? His jobs are simple and easy. Is he just a bored billionaire, or is he watching Kat’s every move, making his own plans for her?

As the jobs heat up, handsome, elusive thief Alexander Winter re-enters Kat’s life to tutor her in all things criminal. But can she trust him?

Katerina Mills is still haunted by her first assignment...and her first assignment is about to come back to haunt her...a deadly enemy who's closer than she thinks...

*May Contain Spoilers*

Would you believe that Miss Katerina Mills is just trying to pay for college and get into law school? Jill Amy Rosenblatt combines action with sarcasm in her novel, The Fixer: The Killing Kind, the second book in the Katerina Mills series. As Katerina attempts to make money to pay for her real career, she dabbles in the criminal sector, working as a fixer. Fixing anything and everything that's thrown at her. But this time, she might be in over her head. 

I didn't read the first book in this series, so I was a little nervous that I wouldn't catch up with the story in this sequel. Though the details are still blurry, I think I got the gist enough to completely understand this book. However, there are a lot of characters right off the bat who obviously claimed their spot in book one. That makes it a little confusing to keep everyone straight, especially with short action filled chapters. 

Regardless, Katerina is the main character and she's drowning in work. It seems a lot of bad people need things fixed. Though she struggles to juggle everything, I feel like she does keep her head above water for the most part. Katerina's character is nervous but committed, afraid but determined, and sarcastic yet smart. The only main flaw Katerina has is that she isn't perfect at being a criminal yet. But when she gets pushed to the edge, it's bravery mixed with stupidity and sharp commands all the way. And there are a few criminals in the bunch who do push her to the edge. Although, one main thing I didn't like about Katerina was the detective boyfriend who, technically, wasn't her boyfriend. The way she treated him didn't sit well with me, even though I understand she needed any information she could gather. (But to be honest, I didn't really like Ryan either. I think he's a bit too pushy.) 

For supporting cast, I really enjoyed Moose's character. He's the owner of a chop shop and steals cars aplenty, or has others steal them for him. The conversations between Katerina and Moose were the most funny to me and added a lighter air to dangerous overtones of the novel. And even though they bartered back and forth about this and that, Moose stepped up when Katerina needed him, proving he was a solid, and dependable, man even though he was also a criminal. And of course, I liked Alex Winter with his OCD and caring nature. I really liked how Rosenblatt associated certain colors (white, cream, beige) with Alex, symbolizing not only his mental anguish for everything to be pristine, but also his work as a 'ghost.' His feelings for Katerina are real, I think, and it will be interesting to see how the next book works to bring them together or threaten their entire relationship.

The most interesting aspect about this novel is that nearly everyone is a criminal, so as a reader you kind of put that aside and draw a line between good criminals and bad criminals. I think it's interesting that an author is able to do that, blur the line between right and wrong, and I think it gives a nice depth to the novel. Once I started this book, it was tough to put it down. The Fixer: The Killing Kind is action packed with surprises behind every locked door.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

In a kingdom by the sea…

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.

A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.

*May Contain Spoilers*

First off, it just feels so great having another Shadowhunter series to dive into. I cannot believe I waited this long to read Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, especially when it was everything I thought it was going to be. At the end of the Mortal Instruments series, Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorns are introduced as fellow victims of Sebastian. In Lady Midnight, it's been five years since Sebastian Morgenstern used his army to attack institutes around the world and Emma is still looking into the death of her parents. Her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn has also grown, into the big brother who takes care of everything for his brothers and sisters: Livvy, Dru, Ty, and Tavvy. He even takes care of the Los Angelos Institute itself. 

Emma Carstairs is a very different female main character than Clary Fairchild. And I mean that in the best way possible. Clare gave Emma her own brand of badass which includes being obsessed with training. Emma trains constantly. Her dedication to being in danger is entertaining and obviously dangerous, which is also entertaining. Yet, Emma is a scarred girl. She is so focused on getting revenge for her parents, figuring out who killed them, that she'll stop at nothing, often breaking laws. Readers will witness two sides to Emma. The first is witty, sarcastic, bold, and strong. The second is scared, hopeful, cautious, and caring. All of these characteristics work together to create a very complex main character that will undoubtedly grow through this series. 

Julian Blackthorn is Emma's parabatai, but he's sort of been regretting that lately. Julian has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Ever since his brother Mark was taken by the Faerie Hunt, Julian has been the caretaker of his family. He's determined to keep them together so he lies. He lies about his uncle's illness, he lies to his family to protect them, and he lies to Emma about his feelings for her. However, he does somehow hold it all together. Julian is the sort of character that never lets you down. He's caring, he worries, and he understands. I think readers will really enjoy Julian's character while also being afraid for him, as his love for Emma (and her feelings for him) threaten their future as Shadowhunters. 

There are many important characters in this book and Clare does a great job at using the way she writes to help readers gain a deeper sense in regards to each one. She does this in such a way that it works to build the plot while providing intimate details about the cast and creating connection with readers. The plot of Lady Midnight is focused around a spree of killings that include dead faerie languages, various types of victims, seawater, and fire. The M.O. even matches that of Emma's parents. Emma knows that this is it, the chance to find out who killed her mom and dad. If she can solve these murders, then she can gain her revenge. 

Though it's always a lot more complicated than it seems. Clare gives readers a twist at the end that was incredibly surprising and let's just say that perhaps the murderer didn't need Blackthorn blood to succeed... The only thing I didn't really enjoy about the book was the Parabatai curse. I'm assuming that the next books will continue to tackle this, and maybe I'll understand it the more it is explained. But, I didn't like it. I don't want to stand for it. However, we do need to celebrate the return of some amazing characters from previous books including Clary Fairchild, Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Jem Carstairs! And let's not forget the favorite Magnus Bane! Jem and Tessa's story (in the Clockwork series) was amazing and made a fan of Shadowhunters and Clare's fantasy work. To see them again in this new series is going to be fantastic. Don't wait as long as me to read this book! And for any fantasy fans out there, if you haven't read the Shadowhunter series, I highly recommend it. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Class of '59

When Mary Beth McIntire settles into a vacation house on June 2, 2017, she anticipates a quiet morning with coffee. Then she hears a noise, peers out a window, and spots a man in 1950s attire standing in the backyard. She panics when the trespasser sees her and enters the house though a door to the basement. She questions her sanity when she cannot find him.

In the same house on March 21, 1959, Mark Ryan finds a letter. Written by the mansion’s original owner in 1900, the letter describes a basement chamber, mysterious crystals, and a formula for time travel. Driven by curiosity, Mark tests the formula twice. On his second trip to 2017, he encounters a beautiful stranger. He meets the woman in the window.

Within hours, Mary Beth and Mark share their secret with her sister and his brother and begin a journey that takes them from the present day to the age of sock hops, drive-ins, and jukeboxes. In CLASS OF ’59, the fourth book in the American Journey series, four young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they navigate the corridors of time and experience Southern California in its storied prime.

*May Contain Spoilers*

John Heldt opens the door to a few new time travelers that stumble into and out of 1959, in his new American Journey book, Class of '59. A young man discovers the power to time travel in his Los Angeles home, a home that will someday belong to Geoffrey Bell, a common character (and time traveler) in the American Journey series. When he's caught by a present day woman, all bets are off as he tries to convince her what's he found. 

Mark and Ben Ryan and Mary Beth and Piper McIntire are the four main characters in this novel. Mark is the oldest Ryan brother and is the first to discover the time travelling tunnel beneath his house and how it works with a corresponding crystal. Mark is the typical 1950's gentleman. He's intelligent, driven, loves his family, a little adventurous, and is definitely caring. Ben, however, does not portray himself as that 1950s gentleman. He is more self-centered, conceited, egotistical, and grumpy. His teenage personality gives the story more pep and a little more sarcasm. Though there's more to Ben then that; it just takes a while for his better personality traits to actually come out. He's more of a get-to-know character. Which, Piper McIntire signs up for. 

Piper is the young McIntire sister who thinks Mary Beth and Mark are crazy when they introduce her to the time travelling tunnel. Piper is also a teenager and is prone to fits of grumpiness and uncertain emotions. Her sarcasm and banter are fun to read while her deeper, more personal thoughts are more telling of her character. She also pushes the story forward as it's Piper who decides she wants to make the most out of their experience. She decides she wants to live in the 1950s like a boarding school vacation for six weeks or so, graduate high school again, and get to have the 1950s high school experience complete with poodle skirts and tennis matches. Her sister, Mary Beth, agrees to it. 

Mary Beth McIntire is probably the character easiest to make a connection with. When the story opens, Mary Beth, and readers, witness her fiance being shot in a convenience store robbery. Losing someone she loved paused Mary Beth's happiness. With this emotional connection right at the beginning, readers will enjoy Mary Beth's view of living for the moment and experiencing all there is in 1959. Mary Beth is a very caring and loyal woman who expresses her gratitude and joy within each good moment. She graduated from college and is going into medicine to be a trauma surgeon. She's a great character that loves exploring, experiencing, and a little bit of excitement. But she's also the one who puts everyone in danger.

The plot of Class of '59 does focus on these four young adults who travel between 1959 and 2017. However, Mary Beth, before leaving 2017, buys a book that held sports scores for past championships and whatnot (think Back to the Future), in order for them to make money in the past. Because of a receipt with an unbelievable date, a very bad criminal in 1959 discovers the existence of that book and plans on tracking down Mary Beth to find it. This plot addition gives the book a little action with its adventure. 

Class of '59 is a great story, rich in detail and character connections, but I had trouble with the dialogue again. To me, there are a few too many "OK, I will"s and "Let me explain"s. These repetitive phrases seem to take away the individuality of each character, because they all use them. I also had an issue with Mark Ryan meeting Mary Beth's father. In the first half of the book, Mary Beth takes Mark to lunch with her parents in 2017. Toward the end of the book, Mark is again introduced to Mary Beth's parents with, I believe, only a few weeks apart. If I were one of her parents, I would remember having lunch with a Californian gentleman for longer than two weeks after I had that meal. That makes me wonder what Mary Beth would have told her parents if they would have realized it was the same man. Regardless, this installment of the American Journey series does not disappoint. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Waking Lazarus (A Guardian Novel #2)

Jake Harris' life hasn't turned out the way he planned. Battling his addictions, and the shattered pieces of his family, he is hired to ghostwrite a memoir. From the 1920's story of a controversial evangelist, to the present day mystery of a former District Attorney, everything changes when his search for the truth leads to an atrocity hidden from history. With a past he can't remember, he begins to discover that he is not the person he believed himself to be. Rather, he is a threat to a secret society that has remained in the shadows for nearly a century. Jake is drawn deep inside a world he never knew existed that brings him closer to his own extraordinary destiny.

*May Contain Spoilers*

DJ Williams defies expectations with his novel, Waking Lazarus, the second in the Guardian series. With everything already lost, there isn't much choice but for Jake Harris to help with an investigation that cleared him as a suspect. But there's more to the FBI partnership than there seems. 

Jake seems like an average man going through a rocky part of life. He's getting divorced, though he doesn't want to, and lacking both a job and a home. When he's hired to ghostwrite a memoir, it seems his prayers have been answered. He has hope, he has drive, but he also has a drinking problem. Jake Harris is about as real as a character can get, before he is dragged into a world of secret societies and trained assassins. After Doc Warren hires Jake as a writer, he is killed and Jake is pulled into a world that he was once a part of. But those memories have been erased. Jake isn't a perfect person, he has more then his fair share of flaws, but he has good intentions and even better motivations: keeping his wife and daughter safe. I think readers will connect with him through that motivation more than anything else. 

Though not the main character, I really enjoyed Kate's role in the story. She is brought back by the President to protect Jake, though she isn't given a reason as to why. As she becomes entangled in this terrorizing plot, Kate's certainty that she's working for the good guys becomes unclear. I really enjoyed that Williams wrote a female FBI agent to protect Jake, it added another level to the relationships, espionage, and what overall success of the operation would mean exactly. 

The plot begins with Doc Warren and the story of Evelyn Shaw, a 1920s miracle worker. She created Hope House, a place for orphaned children, in different areas around the world. Some of these children were trained to be weapons under an off-the-books government program. Jake Harris was one of them. In present day, the secret society of the Brethren know Jake is alive, but they don't know who he is. They know him only as Lazarus. However, Jake doesn't remember how to be Lazarus. Though he can be forced to remember. 

Waking Lazarus is an action thriller with guts and killer instincts. To fight the Brethren, Lazarus must be awakened in Jake, but the cost is high. Readers will enjoy the action in the novel as Jake searches for answers and redemption. But this is only the start of the war. The end leaves readers hanging off a cliff, waiting for the battle to really begin. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

The Disillusioned (A Guardian Novel #1)

Rex - Blog Tour

Rex has been released!

Join Cody B. Stewart, Adam Rocke, and Mark Rogers on an unforgettable modern day dinosaur adventure!

Synopsis

When eleven-year-old TJ finds a weird looking egg in the Florida Everglades after a tropical storm rips through, naturally he takes it home for identification. It could be the egg of a mutant duck or something, which would be awesome. Problem is, the egg doesn’t look like it came from a mallard, even a mutated one—it’s too big and heavy and…strange. So he hides it away in his closet and continues on with his life as usual, doing his best to ignore the creepy men constantly banging at his front door and the significant rise in military helicopter sightings in his typically quiet neighborhood.

Then one day he comes home from school and it’s as though a hand grenade has gone off inside his bedroom. Suddenly, TJ knows he’s dealing with something a little more interesting—and a little more deadly—than a duck.

Review
Rex is a novel for middle grade readers packed with action, adventure, and friendship. TJ not only experiences a great and terrifying escapade, he learns about love, sacrifice, and how to be a secret agent.

TJ is a lonely kid. His mother works two jobs and his dad left a long time ago. He spends most of his time with Sam, his best friend. Though when she's home with her family, TJ tinkers and dreams of having a pet -- a friend that's always there for him. TJ's a relatable kid, though a little heavy on the science fiction fueled imagination. Readers will understand his loneliness and his need for companionship. They'll sympathize with his predicament and immediately form a connection with his character.

When TJ finds the dinosaur egg, his dreams of having a pet and experiencing a fantastical situation come to fruition. But TJ's daydreams would never have pitted them up against the US Army, a mad scientist, and a commander who wants to use dinosaurs as weapons. Okay, maybe.

As soon as Rex hatches, TJ falls in love with his new friend. It doesn't even bother him that he destroys and/or eats absolutely everything. All TJ knows is that he must keep Rex safe from the men in black humvees and helicopters. I think the best part of the book was reading about how TJ formed his own connection with Rex. It was incredibly entertaining to witness a young boy try to tame a dinosaur, while keeping him hidden.

The connection I felt to the dinosaur was the most surprising. I think readers with a soft heart for pets will get that same feeling. Though it seems impossible, readers will want TJ to find a way to save Rex.

The plot begins with TJ's discovery of the egg and the hatching of Rex. The book gains a high level of suspense as the military tries to find him while keeping the community in the dark. TJ goes to great lengths to keep Rex from being found, but when he takes him to school disguised as a robot the result is nothing short of chaos. The action and adventure will keep middle grade readers intrigued and entertained as they join TJ's mission to keep Rex out of the hands of the government. Though the book can be a little frightening at times, I think middle graders will enjoy Rex, resulting in the dream of having a pet dinosaur of their own.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

 

Meet the Authors

Cody B. Stewart

Cody B. Stewart was born in the Adirondacks, in Upstate New York. His love of stories began in those mountains as he vanquished trolls, fought in the American Revolution and discovered his latent mutant powers. Stories have continued to consume his life, but he now plucks them out of his head and puts them down on paper in the form of novels and comic books. He left the Adirondacks to grow into a man, did so, and has since returned with a wonderfully supportive wife and two sons.

Adam Rocke

Adam Rocke Slutsky never met an adventure he didn’t love. From swimming with great white sharks without a cage, to jumping out of a plane without a parachute, Adam’s adrenaline junkie tendencies play a major role in his writing. Throw in a secondary degree in CryptoZoology and it’s anyone’s guess where Adam’s literary travels will take him.

Mark Rogers

Mark’s career as a travel journalist has brought him to 56 countries and counting. These trips have fed his imagination while at the same time provided authentic experiences and sensory detail that find their way into his novels and screenplays. Mark’s won multiple awards for his travel writing, including an award for his Hurricane Ivan coverage in Jamaica. His work regularly appears in USA Today and other media outlets. Mark lives in Baja California with his Sinaloa-born wife, Sophy, where they recently built a rock house overlooking the sea.

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Pigeon-Blood Red

For underworld enforcer Richard "Rico" Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job. Retrieve his gangster boss's priceless pigeon-blood red ruby necklace and teach the double-dealing cheat who stole it a lesson. A job like a hundred before it. But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu, where the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory when a couple of innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in the crime.

As Rico pursues his new targets, the hunter and his prey develop an unlikely respect for one another and Rico is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the couple whose courage and character have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Ed Duncan blurs the boundaries of good and evil in his crime novel, Pigeon-Blood Red. While the main characters are mostly cheats, gamblers, murderers, and thugs, it seems a few of them have a sense of honor. 

Through the opening chapters, I struggled to like the characters. Rico is an enforcer for a loan shark and his sense of 'business' is criminal. When the necklace goes missing, he even checks out his girlfriend by intimidating her with a knife, though Jean isn't the best person either. Rico is first depicted as a man who will do whatever it takes to complete a job because he believes that everyone he kills had it coming. 

Robert is a figuratively the scum of the earth. He wants to be a rich playboy but doesn't want to put in the work. He figured he could make money if he had more money and quickly got too caught up. Now he owes the loan shark, Litvak, thousands of dollars with no way to pay. When he sees the opportunity to steal the necklace (of pigeon-blood rubies) he takes it. But that isn't even the worst part. He drags his wife, Evelyn, into it. 

Evelyn is an innocent in the middle of all these criminals. She's a teacher who just wants her husband, Robert, to stop cheating on her and be a better man, a man she knows he could be. She decides to give him one last chance to redeem himself, a second honeymoon to Hawaii. At first he doesn't want to go, making him even worse, but after he steals the necklace, he's on the flight running away from Litvak and his thugs. 

While in Hawaii, Evelyn runs into Paul. Paul is an attorney who lost his wife a year earlier. He's known Evelyn since college and they were once mutually attracted. When Rico follows Robert to Hawaii, Evelyn finds herself in danger and Paul steps in to keep her safe. I think Evelyn and Paul were the only two characters that were likeable and relatable. Readers will sympathize with Paul's loss of his wife and admire his courage to help Evelyn. I think readers will nearly hate Robert as he has no good qualities that aren't part of his facade. But it's Rico who's the tricky one. It's not easy to paint a villain and turn him into something less evil, something nearly likeable, but Ed Duncan does just that. By the end of the novel, I almost respected him. Almost. 

The plot of the novel follows the necklace. The necklace is a priceless piece of jewelry made out of multiple pigeon-blood red rubies. When Robert steals it, trouble ensues, putting everyone in mortal danger. After his death in Hawaii, Evelyn and Paul escape, but feel like they're being followed. The police believe it's because of the necklace. The two must figure out a way to return the necklace and stay alive without having to look over their shoulders the rest of their lives. And that becomes the hardest part. For readers who enjoy action thrillers with a side of romance and crime, Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan may be the next book on the reading list.

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Caged Lightning (Wyatt Stryker #1)

Like an arrow in the hand of a warrior, so are the sons of those who have been shaken. Hurl lightning bolts and scatter them. Shoot your arrows and rout them. King David, circa 1000 BC

When ex-Navy Seal, Wyatt Striker, returns from a trip to Mexico, where he had nearly taken a bullet to the head during a seemingly common break-in, he discovers his sister-in-law tied to a chair in the kitchen, his son gone, and a ransom note. His intuition and training lead the way as he tries to outsmart the captor, who, unknown to Wyatt, is a deadly assassin bent on luring him into a weak position.

In this fast-paced action adventure, Brent Russell weaves a tapestry of mystery, suspense, and good-old-fashioned fight scenes described in a uniquely thrilling voice.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Holy action, Batman! I'm not sure I've ever read a book with so much thrilling suspense as Brent Rock Russell's Caged Lightning. It definitely reminds me of Alexander McNabb's novels but with an ex-Navy SEAL and U.S. soil. The surprises start from the get-go and Russell does not let up until the Epilogue. Each chapter leads directly into the next with no time for the reader to catch their breath. 

Wyatt Stryker is the main character of this novel and the forthcoming series. His intelligence is immense. He's an ER doctor who has had military SEAL training. Wyatt is brave, courageous, and extreme while also being a bit terrifying. The plans he comes up with in this novel are truly scary. Readers will be impressed with his skill set and initiative. Wyatt's son and family are the main connection between readers and his character. He'll do anything for his son. And I do mean anything. Taking out an entire drug cartel is just the beginning. Readers will be sympathetic and scared for Wyatt after his life is put in jeopardy and his son is kidnapped. Though it's tough to connect with Wyatt through his worklife and military training for most readers as we've never been through that, Russell does a good job at writing Wyatt with a relatable family life and likeable personality. 

The plot of Caged Lightning is intense and revolves around the fact that Wyatt Stryker must be killed to create a gap in the protection of a state senator so that he, in turn, can be taken out. Wyatt manages to escape the bullet labeled with his name, but he has no idea how a drug cartel, a senator, and his family triangulate. Though complicated, the truth does come out, after heavy interrogation not for readers with a sensitive stomach. Russell's writing style is gruesomely detailed. Caged Lightning was an action-packed novel, almost to the point of being unbelievable. I don't imagine two men could take down an entire drug cartel army, but I have heard crazier stories and Russell makes it pretty convincing. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

What's Next, Wednesday (7)

 

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to... 

Caged Lightning by Brent Rock Russell. When his son is kidnapped, ex-Navy Seal Wyatt Stryker will stop at nothing to save him. And that's exactly what the assassin wants. I just got this ARC in the mail yesterday from Elevate Publishing and I am so excited to get started on it! 

Birdkill

Robyn’s recent past is missing. And she’s not sure she wants it back.

Robyn Shaw has amnesia, a recent trauma so great her mind has veiled her memory. When she starts a new life teaching at a research institute devoted to exceptionally gifted children, the last thing she expects is for those blocked events to be lying in wait for her.

Plagued by dreams of death and blood that threaten to overwhelm her, Robyn is fragile and vulnerable. When she meets student Martin Oakley plucking sparrows from the air and breaking their necks, she is pitched into a vicious battle that threatens her grasp of her own mind.

Attacked from without and within, Robyn struggles to maintain her increasingly tenuous hold on reality as journalist Mariam Shadid races to discover the dreadful secret buried in Robyn’s past before her friend is consumed by insanity.

*Contains Spoilers*

 

Ever wondered what would happen to the mutants at 'Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters' if the government had found them first? Or rather, had created them first? Birdkill by Alexander McNabb uncovers a multi-national engineering program of experimentally created children and drug-infused soldiers. Though this novel has nothing to do with the X-Men, I couldn't help but create connections and revel in the horrifying amazement of McNabb's story of weaponized children and disastrous drug trials.

 

Robyn suffers from amnesia and has recently been rehabilitated, given the chance of a new life working at the Hamilton Institute in England, a few hours away from London. Robyn struggles to adapt to life with a black hole in her memory, fighting nightmares and visions brought about by a seemingly evil little boy. Readers will sympathize with Robyn and fear for her survival as she uncovers the ghastly secrets that the Institute hides. Even though she's fighting for her sanity, Robyn is much braver than I feel I would be in her situation. One dead bird from a little boy and I'd be out of there. However, Robyn's intelligence and desire to help teach these children, while finding out what's really going on, outweighs her fear.

 

Mariam met Robyn while they were both being rehabilitated and she became Robyn's lifeline. Now, as best friends, Mariam worries and hopes for Robyn's safety in overcoming her amnesia. Mariam is hired by a news website and is immediately (conveniently?) assigned to a whistleblower story. Mariam is a dedicated, focused, and ruthless journalist who does not give up, even if she's in mortal danger. Readers will be both terrified and excited at what Mariam uncovers about the Hamilton Institute, the genetically altered children, and the military drug trials. Her intelligence and need to discover the truth often outweighs her concern for her personal safety. A little naïve in my opinion, but I'm not a journalist. I am a reviewer who knows how the book ends... and if I could have warned Mariam, I would have.

 

Birdkill is a book that astounds and horrifies. It's a little different than McNabb's other novels, but is undoubtedly full of action, conspiracy, and death. The plot begins with Robyn's assignment to the Hamilton Institute, where the topdogs of the hidden agenda can keep an eye on her while also ensuring that her memory does not return and threaten their program. Meanwhile, Mariam learns about the Hamilton research and trials from the whistleblower that opens Pandora's box of chaos and secrets. Readers who enjoy thrillers and conspiracy will lose themselves in Birdkill, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. When facing a group of powerful men who live by the motto 'two can keep a secret if one of them is dead,' the odds are stacked against an amnesiac and a reporter who won't let it go.

 

Rating: 4/5 Cups