Review_THE WINTER RIDDLE by Sam Hooker

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42404300-the-winter-riddle" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Winter Riddle" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1540092461m/42404300.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42404300-the-winter-riddle">The Winter Riddle</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3404813.Sam_Hooker">Sam Hooker</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2605240697">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Review of THE WINTER RIDDLE<br />by Sam Hooker<br /><br />Beautifully and delightfully snarky. I frequently had to stop and reread a line to be certain I absorbed all the humour! (smile) Mr. Hooker definitely has a flair for writing, especially of writing his special combination of dark-humourous-eccentric-poignant-grim epic fantasy. Yes, that's a whole new subgenre I just coined, to fit this novel. Although it's mostly set in the Kingdom of Aurora at the wonderful North Pole, the themes and characters are often applicable elsewhere, both contemporaneously and in history. Quite enjoyable and a read in which to delight!
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Review_EARTH QUARANTINED by D. L. Richardson

Earth Quarantined: Book 1 of Earth Quarantined series by D.L. Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of EARTH QUARANTINED by D.L. Richardson

EARTH QUARANTINED is an exceptionally engrossing futuristic science fiction, a novel whose themes have applications for the present time as well. There's lies and conspiracy, alien intervention and control, and humans “just trying to get along.” For a certain segment of these, that means pure survival, away from the alien Criterion and from the Criterion's human Quislings. (See, application to history as well.)

337 years into the future, the Earth is (presumably) safe, humanity is (presumably) at peace, and life goes on. Ha! Not so. Almost all of humanity is herded into urban centers, which exist within regions called “States” (not as we know it, but in the 19th century political sense of nation-states), and there are a few “outdwellers” expelled from the cities, living in a drought-ridden environment of day-to-day survival existence. Also there is a conclave of underground dwellers, who are unaware of anything on the “outside,” and the “outside” is completely unaware of these hidden people living in a former nuclear power station (I want to insert dozens of exclamation points here). An alien race, the Criterion, control every human on Earth (except the outdwellers and the underground conclave). Claiming to follow human laws, the alien Criterion achieve their own goals, not Earth's. If you thought the aliens in “V” were scary? Just wait till you read EARTH QUARANTINED.

I found this science fiction novel exceptionally engrossing, and can't wait to read it again.

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Review: MINUTEMEN 2041 by Chris Momb

Minutemen 2041 by Chris Momb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Do the math. The alien invasion in this book starts in 2024. Six years from now.

I've pondered Alien Incursions for decades, but never quite as it is here. These aliens arrive not just from outer space, but also from deep underground. I perceived Lovecraftian undertones. There's also food for conspiracy theorists, with a government training children in military science from first grade, and rumors (possibly facts) that the government has been infiltrated by Aliens. A strong young hero appeals to a YA audience.

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Review_A REVOLUTIONARY BALLAD by Atlas Hill

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42509147-a-revolutionary-ballad" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Revolutionary Ballad" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1540724894m/42509147.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42509147-a-revolutionary-ballad">A Revolutionary Ballad</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17828843.Atlas_Hill">Atlas Hill</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2586075453">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Review of A REVOLUTIONARY BALLAD by Atlas Hill<br />(Memories From Oblivion Book 2)<br /><br />When the majority desire peace and an end to unending conflict, there will always be a small minority who desire to foment war and trouble. Alpheus is on the run now, but he will not be alone. Others will be drawn to him and to his cause; others who wish to prevent eternal bloodshed.<br /><br />A REVOLUTIONARY BALLAD is the second volume in a proposed trilogy of grimdark epic fantasy, which I venture to say is not quite like any other you have ever devoured. Exquisitely composed and engrossing, beautifully illustrated, this series will provide hours of enjoyment and provoked thought to fantasy readers and non-fantasy aficionados alike.
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Review_A SERENADE FOR SELENE by Atlas Hill

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40038332-a-serenade-for-selene" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Serenade for Selene" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1525481332m/40038332.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40038332-a-serenade-for-selene">A Serenade for Selene</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17828843.Atlas_Hill">Atlas Hill</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2586068839">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Review of A SERENADE FOR SELENE by Atlas Hill<br />(Memories from Oblivion Book 1)<br /><br />An engrossing grimdark fantasy which delves into important philosophical issues such as the future existence of humanity, and are individuals who are “different” still part of the same human race—no matter what their abilities?<br /><br />In a world that was suddenly nearly completely destroyed by “natural” (perhaps supernatural) disasters, a time of peace is actually a time of uncertainty, in which all are metaphorically holding their breath waiting for the arrival of the next catastrophic event; and when it comes, it comes in the form of magic, hitherto an impossible feat.<br /><br />Exquisitely written with commanding sensory imaging, A SERENADE FOR SELENE is a delight, an epic fantasy unlike what readers have been trained to expect.
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Review_PENDULUM HEROES by James Beamon

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40382295-pendulum-heroes" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Pendulum Heroes (Pendulum Heroes #1)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1528138833m/40382295.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40382295-pendulum-heroes">Pendulum Heroes</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3450131.James_Beamon">James Beamon</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2581375079">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Review of PENDULUM HEROES<br />(PENDULUM HEROES #1)<br /><br /><br />This novella is hilarious! Laughing out loud occurs practically on every page. It is well-written and compelling, and I am certain will be a big hit with YA's who game (video, PC, or RPG). Certainly the characters are engaging and easy to empathize with. You have to feel for a batch of adolescents who are at one moment gleefully engaged in a Role-Playing setup, and at the next moment find themselves quite literally “in character,” literally “living the game.”<br />My only objection to the story is the use of profanity and obscenity, so even though this is clearly a YA-targeted title, I rate it at 18+ for Language and Gore. If you don't mind either, go for it; it really is a fun story.
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