Review_THE THIRD TWIN by Darren Speegle

The Third Twin by Darren Speegle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE THIRD TWIN
by Darren Speegle

THE THIRD TWIN is a massively metaphysical novel which so stretched out my imagination I'm certain it will never shrink to its previous size. In this story line, time and space and those ordinary dimensions we think of as the physics of nature, as components of consensus reality, really aren't applicable. It is fortunate for the protagonist, extreme sport enthusiast and traveloguer Barry Ocason, and for the reader, that Barry is as open-minded, as willing to explore reality and meta-reality, as he is, for an “ordinary” individual would never be able to even begin to investigate the occurrences in which he and his surviving twin daughter find themselves, let alone be effective in unraveling the rationale.

THE THIRD TWIN is not a read-in-one-session, flip-through, or skim, novel. You have to put effort into it, you have to utilize your brain, and you must be open-minded and open-hearted. In no way is Darren Speegle's writing derivative, yet I was at points reminded both of Ira Levin's terrifying THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL, and of some of the weirder works of Richard Laymon, as well as 19th century works of meta-philosopy.

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THE WEIRD COMPANY by Pete Rawlik_Review

The Weird Company: The Secret History of H.P. Lovecraft's Twentieth Century by Pete Rawlik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE WEIRD COMPANY
by Pete Rawlik

THE WEIRD COMPANY (title becomes apparent during the story) is a very literate, well-crafted homage to H. P. Lovecraft and an excellent addition to the ever-expanding Lovecraft Mythos. HPL's aficionados will well recognize references as events throughout the story play both on the reader's mental stage and on the cosmic backdrop itself. Commencing with a 1931 Miskatonic University expedition to the vast frozen reaches of the Antarctic, continuing with the Federal Occupation of Innsmouth, Massachusetts, and on again to Antarctica, this horror/mystery/supernatural thriller weaves in many events, participants, and places from Lovecraft's own seminal work. Author Pete Rawlik seamless interweaves these multiple anecdotes and keeps readers' attention throughout, leaving us with the impetus to reread again the master himself: H. P. Lovecraft.

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SPIRE by Fiona Snyckers_Review

Spire by Fiona Snyckers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE SPIRE by Fiona Snyckers

THE SPIRE is a fascinating novel about one of my favourite topics, Antarctica, and about terrifying eco-terrorism. Terrifying from the point of view of the human race, this extremist form targets the human species in toto. Dr. Caroline Burchell is a surgeon and virologist accepted for winterover in Antarctica at the South Pole Research Station. She intends to study certain dangerous viruses in extreme cold. What she couldn't expect is an outbreak, not involving the viruses she brought in, that wipes out the personnel of SPIRE. She also couldn't plan on being adjudged a mass murderer. What follows is immediately and continuously riveting. Caroline is an immensely strong female protagonist and eliciting readers' empathy (if not that of the eco-terrorist!)

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DEVIL'S NIGHT DAWNING by Damien Black_Review

Devil's Night Dawning by Damien Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of DEVIL'S NIGHT DAWNING
by Damien Black

DEVIL'S NIGHT DAWNING is an excellent fantasy adventure, which immediately captures attention with its reader's hook and talented writing. Somewhat reflecting Judeo-Christian cosmology, nonetheless the superb world-building stands on its own merits, appealing to readers who love fantasy and even to readers like myself, for whom fantasy is not usually the first choice of genre. In fact, it is reading exceptional fantasy like DEVIL'S NIGHT DAWNING which convinces me to take up the genre!

This is a lengthy dark epic fantasy (650 pages) and is the First in the Broken Stone Series. More excellence to anticipate!

The author generously provided a review digital copy, at no remuneration. This is the fair and impartial view of this reviewer.

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GENESIS INVASION TRILOGY by Kristoff Chimes_Review

Genesis Invasion Trilogy: The Complete Series by Kristoff Chimes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review of THE GENESIS INVASION TRILOGY by Kristoff Chimes

THE GENESIS INVASION TRILOGY (release date April 10, 2017) collects GENESIS GENE, GENESIS CHILD, GENESIS REVELATIONS. Describing a thriller as "heart in mouth" is cliched, but even cliches can contain truth. THE GENESIS INVASION TRILOGY, spanning the genres of contemporary espionage thriller, science fiction, and metaphysical fantasy, with a huge helping of near-futuristic politics, science, and war, is literally nonstop, a fictional bullet train. No time to breathe, for protagonist or reader. I usually have no problem with suspension of disbelief, but this trilogy really stretched my imagination and creative appreciation.

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BLACK PANTHEONS by Curtis M. Lawson_Review

Black Pantheons: Collected Tales of Gnostic Dread by Curtis M. Lawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of BLACK PANTHEONS by Curtis M. Lawson

Present in this collection is a veritable feast for the discerning aficionado of dark fiction. Sometimes Lovecraftian, other times Qabalistic, yet at other turns relying on myth, legend, and Hebrew dark magic, BLACK PANTHEONS is literate and intellectual horror as it really ought to be written. I so appreciated how each entry tugged at my soul and stretched the bounds of my imagination. These are not stories you sit down to flip through during commercials; these are tales meant to be savoured, pondered, thoroughly and creatively considered. I'm inspired to look up more from this very gifted author, whose creativity finds its playground in the spaces between the stars.

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THE DENALI DECEPTION by Ernest Dempsey_Review

The Denali Deception by Ernest Dempsey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE DENALI DECEPTION
by Ernest Lindsey

The newest in a great series of thrillers is, to my mind, quite possibly the best. Yes, maybe I loved it extra because of the subject theme, but I still think it's the best. {smile}


Sean Wyatt takes on what seems like a routine mission for President Dawkins, investigating The Seward House in Auburn, New York, residence of William Seward, Secretary of State in Abraham Lincoln's administration. Wyatt doesn't know exactly what he's seeking, only that POTUS found something in the Presidential Archives that awakened his intense interest. Turns out, not only President Dawkins want the missing items located; so does a covert American cabal, and agents of a foreign power.

I really appreciate how author Ernest Dempsey's love of history and his grasp of historical research shine through the novel. As a lifelong lover of history, this makes the story extra special to me and extra fascinating. As always with a Sean Wyatt thriller, there's tons of action and adventure, heart-in-mouth suspense, and lots and lots of danger, for Sean and his friends and cohorts, even up to the highest echelons.


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