THE iREAD REVIEW In this first book of The Walking Gates series, a young man's journey to save his mother's life leads him to the center of a war and unleashes a power within him that could decide the fate of the entire world. Determined to save the life of his wounded mother after an unexpected attack on their town's gates, Braxton Prinn embarks on a daring journey to seek the one elf who can help him. A dark evil is marching on the world, and Braxton, a man with no real aspirations, suddenly stands at the center of the battle, as he discovers a mystical, ancient power inside him that has everything to do with an approaching war. Not only must he learn to coexist with this power, he's faced with the task of discovering who he is and who he now wants to become. A vividly built world enhances this fast-paced adventure, engulfing the reader in a fantastic reality. Tension never falters as each scene holds new dangers, unexpected challenges and gripping revelations. From the very beginning, the author masterfully builds momentum for the approaching war, while establishing an emotional tie to characters from each threatened nation. Although the main focus remains on Braxton, this turns the final battle into a profound exploration of its devastating effects and allows tragedy to transpire on a personal level. Braxton must not only come to terms with the ancient and mysterious power inside him but must also travel a difficult journey of self-discovery. His determination to protect those he loves collides with the needs of a greater good, and he must make decisions that require sacrificing everything he holds dear while redefining who is. This personal journey is interwoven within the larger story of the battle, with the author managing to strike a balance between the two. Through all of this, he cleverly constructs layers of hidden secrets, allowing the threat of a darker evil to hover in the background. This makes Cathadeus the beginning of what promises to be an addictive and exciting series.
0 Comments
THE iREAD REVIEW An enthralling story, ICE follows a former FBI agent who joins forces with a group of retired specialists who solve cold cases. As they search out clues from crimes in the past, dark secrets will finally be brought to light, thawing out cases that were once ice cold. A dark shadow hangs over Chris Matheson’s head as he settles back into the small town he grew up in. The small town the recent widower brought his three girls to thinks he had something to do with the disappearance of Sandy Lipton. Matheson soon makes the acquaintance of a small group of retirees who pride themselves on thawing out cold cases. Disguised as a book club, the self-named Geezer Squad, whose number one rule is to never talk about the squad, boasts a broad set of skills, courtesy of its members, all former law enforcement agents. They welcome Chris, recently retired from the FBI, with open arms, working with him to close numerous cold cases—including, hopefully, Sandy's disappearance. ICE will engross readers from beginning to end. The various mysteries are intricately woven together, leaving one guessing and turning pages to find the answers. Chris has a great, distinctive character arc. Readers will want to continue with the series just to find out more about Chris and his involvement with the Geezer Squad. While at times difficult to keep track of, the numerous colorful supporting characters, with compelling backstories and witty humor, added depth to the narrative. There is a nice romantic element that rounds out the story nicely. With memorable characters and gripping suspense, ICE will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. |
The iRead ReviewWe provide professional reviews for Indie and small press published authors. Archives
February 2018
Categories
All
|