"Ethan's Story; My Life with Autism" - by Ethan Rice

This isn't a review. This is a heads up that this is a true story that will touch your hearts. I use to work with a boy with autism when I worked with children, it pained me to see others treat the young lad differently. This book, I hope, will explain to countless adults and children alike what it is like growing up with autism. The young boy who wrote this has done very well.

Ethan's Story: My Life with Autism at amazon.com

Ethan's Story: My Life with Autism at amazon.co.uk

Review of Blood Faerie by India Drummond

Story Overview:

Eilidh is a person from a magical realm banished for crimes which were not her fault. Munroe is a police officer Perth who has a bad habit of knowing where the trouble is. But when a murder happens on Eilidh’s doorstep their two worlds collide and the investigation turns up hidden traits in both of them. This book has all the intrigue and whodunit as the best detective novel and an excellent fantasy basis that it rich in history and still feels fresh.

Cover Page: 19/20

The cover is very well professionally done and draws a potential reader into several key focus’ on the page. The cover is typical of the fantasy market in which magical creatures live alongside humans and interact with them in secret and gives little away as to what is going to happen in the story, much as the magical creatures of such book give little away about themselves. However my one criticism is that the cover gives me a sense that the story will be based in a historical context and not a modern urban fantasy book as it is. While it is not a negative point and it does add proof that one should never judge a book by the cover, some people may be upset while others may miss out on what is an enjoyable book.

Character (and their development):  18/20

Both the main characters in the story are well thought-out and as you read you can almost hear their voices and feel you could reach out and touch them. The best part of Eilidh’s story is her background and how as the story progresses you catch glimpses of her chequered history until near the end you can be sure exactly what happened. When I read the book I was at first unsure of whether or not to feel sorry for the outcast or not, but as I went on my attitudes toward her changed as any good character should force you to do.

Munroe is an policeman who seems as if he could very well be knocking on my door asking me about some crime that has happened in the area. His analytical approach and the way that he discovers the new world that he is thrust into are well played and he reacts just as he should. The master stroke of the character is that he is not the Sherlock Holmes of Perth; instead he makes mistakes that anyone who has read the book knows is are mistakes, but Munroe who has not had the benefit of reading the antagonist’s thoughts would not know.

The antagonist is a brilliant idea, however not a new one to fantasy books. However his wit is up there with the best Bond villains and he is more deadly than anything some of our best action heroes have met in literature to. I would have loved to have seen more of the antagonist and gotten to know them a little better, but as it stands they are still one of the better villains in indie literature.

Storyline: 18/20

The story is not unique in any sense, in fact off the top of my head I can think of several films and books that have the same story, although the players are obviously different. What makes this story is that it feels fresh and you aren’t feeling bored by it and that is due to the uniqueness of the world in which the author has so brilliantly crafted in the novel. Another great factor is the fact that the author doesn’t mess you around with useless back-story at the beginning of the book and that the characters are immediately thrust into action, giving the reader little time to catch their breath at the start.

Unfortunately, speaking more about the storyline will give away certain plot lines and I would prefer that you would just accept my recommendation and read it yourself.

Style:  20/20

The thing I love about indie authors is that style is very different author from author. When I pick up a traditional author the style can often be no different from the next and to be honest bores me to pieces. Its why when I write reviews for traditionally published authors their style is normally low in marks and their storyline is either high in marks or it has completely failed to hit the mark. Saying that indie authors don’t always have great style, some do get it wrong, but this is certainly not the case.

The book starts with a pronunciation list at the front of the book, this gives some clarification on how unusual words should be pronounced, allowing the reader (if they are like me and printed off the list) to continue reading at the pace set by the book with just a quick flick down to check how it should sound. However I do wonder whether a casual reader would do so, and might stumble in a few places, but personally, even if this was a print copy I was reading, I would copy that list down. The author also does a great introduction to the world, not assuming that the reader is telepathic and knows exactly what the author was thinking when she wrote the book. It is a great move.

The descriptive tone of the book adds to the environment and just like the characters you can certainly clearly imagine the surroundings you are reading about. The change of the character’s viewpoints is also brilliant done and in such a way that one event is sometimes seen by a couple of characters but you get extra details from each new point of view.

The pace of the book is not too rushed, allowing the reader to fully take in what is going on and appreciate the story at the same time. When reading the book I had no idea I had gotten so far until I looked at the page number when I gotten up to get a cup of tea, surely a good sign. The build up also allows the reader to get excited when the ending is in sight and you know something big will happen. When the big event does occur you can be rest assured that it is good.

Spelling and Grammar:  20/20

I couldn’t see a single mistake. What more can I say.

Conclusion:  95/100

In conclusion I will have to say this is a great book and well worth a read. The characters are well thought out and interact with each other and the reader in some of the best writing that I have seen to date. The writing is perfect and the ending of the story leaves the reader satisfied and yet opens up the door to further books which follow this one. I would highly recommend this book.

Buy Blood Faerie at Amazon.co.uk                         Buy Blood Faerie at Amazon.com

Connect with the Author:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/IndiaDrummond

Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/india.drummond.author

Blog: http://www.indiadrummond.com

Overview of August 2012

So with August almost over how has the site been doing in respect of my ambitions and predictions.

Good Points:

1. More visitors than expected. Nearly 10 times the amount of visitors than I expected for the first month. This is great news and bodes well for the future.
2. Websites I've never heard of referring to the blog.
3. Audience is truly global with UK, America and Australia being the main readers.
4. Click through from reviews to books on target.

Bad points:

1. Not as many authors looking for reviews as first expected.

Hopefully next month we can build upon what we have started and get even better results.

Good day to all.

Review for "Trading In Danger" by Elizabeth Moon

This is not an Indie e-book, but as another example of the reviews that I do, I thought I would post this one anyway.


Story Overview:

Some time in the future, humans have expanded across the galaxy and have settled many words. Each world is self governing and there is little unity between them. Ky, the protagonist, is a member of a very wealthy family of traders whose attempts to escape that way of life and join the military are ended by a rash decision to help a subordinate. As she returns home in disgrace her family have a plan for her, to command one of their ships on a long term trading mission. Ky accepts and finds that the life that she so tried to leave behind still runs through her blood, yet the life she tried to make for herself away from home is still very close.

Cover Page: 10/20

The British version, of a non-descriptive ship looks pretty but does little to stand out against the vast majority of other titles that also have the same style of picture on the front. It does little to attract the imagination and excite the mind. On the plus side the ship does look more realistic than ships from other space operas.

Character (and their development): 15/20

The whole story is centered around Ky and her coming to terms of who she is and dealing with the crisis that comes aboard her ship. While there are supporting characters, in this book they are little more than guides to help her down the track and have little if any development. Ky herself develops little within the book, but where she does develop is excellent portrayed and well written. I would however liked to have seen a few more memorable characters, it was hard to tell some of them apart by the end.

Storyline: 20/20

This is where the book really does excel itself. Starting right off in the action, Ky is brilliant thrown from one piece of action to the next. Her emotion is played so well that she alone could carry the story and that she becomes someone who develops from being a reactive character to a proactive character. Unlike some science fiction stories this story could be based (with some minor changes) in any time period, making it seem more real and tangible, not easy for a space opera.

There is a strong sense of that submarine feel as they are stuck on the ship for days on end without anything to do but duty, eat and sleep. How the main character deals with this is brilliant portrayed and did make me wonder how I would be able to cope. The big crisis towards the end of the book is well written and is satisfyingly done so that it takes it time to resolve and yet is not too drawn out.

However I do feel that the end of the book was  too drawn out and I was wondering at times when it was going to end. It does feel the author debated for a while whether this would be a single or a series of books, with the latter winning.

Style: 15/20

This is something that is the trouble of traditionally published authors. The style is rather similar to the next. Although this makes it easy for any reader to pick up and enjoy, it doesn't create any freshness from the style or any differentiation from any other author. So all I can really say about the style is that is traditional and nothing special.

Spelling and Grammar: 19/20

Most people would expect a book that has been written by a traditional published author, seen by an agent, edited by an editor or three and proof read by others would be completely free from errors. However consider that you are talking about a book that could be 100,000 words or more. Even with all those people an odd word here and there would be easily missed. And that is all that the author does here, an odd word. So in all a nearly perfect write.

Conclusion: 79/100

Despite the score which is not particularly high, I actually recommend the book very highly. the score is compelling and the main protagonist is excellent. However what it lacks is depth of the universe. If you like books where there is only one prominent character than this is a must buy, but if you like books with lots of characters then perhaps this book isn't for you. However I would like to add at this point that books 2-5 in the series did go a long way to expand the character list and would receive a much better score in this area.

Buy Trading in Danger (Vatta's War) at amazon.co.uk
Buy Trading in Danger (Vatta's War) at amazon.com

Review for "Song of the Fairy Queen" by Valerie Douglas

Our first review is in...

Story Overview:

Set in a fictional fantasy world, this story tells the story of a King deposed by his brother and his attempt to regain his crown with the help of his loyal General; Morgan and his Marshalls and the mysterious and beautiful Queen of the Fairies. As can be expected from such a book, there is battle scenes, lives lost, magic, mythical creatures and romance.

Cover Page: 19/20

A striking and bold statement on the front cover that when I look at it draws me in. The character on the front of the book surely is someone that I wouldn't expect to be a fairy and that adds to the appeal of the book - there is a new twist to a well known mythical creature. My only nitpicking (and it is nitpicking) is that with the wings and the arrow holder visible, it is evident that they aren't connected, but that is really being nitpicking.

Character (and their development): 18/20

The depth and the development of the characters have been excellent shown within the writing and as you read the story you do feel that they are changing with the events which are unfolding. My original concern with the book was that there were too many characters introduced too quickly and at the beginning I was checking on who was who. However by chapter three or four I had gotten use to all the characters and felt that I knew them well. The emotion felt by all the characters is especially done well and is not easily resolved by any of them. For instance; you can really feel the emotional pain that King suffers as he loses his wife and his journey to cope the sadness. There are also no two dimensional characters, even the most minor of character has his or her own distinct character.

Storyline: 18/20

The start of the story is strikingly good. As the attack of the castle commences there is the sense of the confusion and panic which is often associated with battle, adding to an excellent atmosphere. As the battle continues there are many questions asked but very answers at the time, left for the reader to get the information in little pieces as the book progresses, just as if you were a defender in the castle from the surprise attack. I loved reading about the fairies, having only really touched upon fairies from Peter Pan, I can honestly say I didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly happy with the way the author has taken a mythical creature and made it her own. She has also done the same with another mythical creature, but I'll leave that for you to discover in the book. The fact that the back story to the universe has been well established in the book makes you feel as if this isn't just a made up story but a tale of a real work.

The only disappointments in the storyline was the fact that it was a brother who overthrew the King, which I tend to think is too obvious (however an Uncle would certainly have been worse) and the fact that the passage of time sometimes seems too quick.  I wonder if there was a chance for several books here or a longer novel exploring what happened in the weeks between chapters.

Style: 18/20

By delving straight into the action you immediately get hooked onto the story and immediate loss of a character that seems so promising is an excellent way for the ready to keep on guessing who is safe and who is not. The actual writing is very descriptive to the point where I could almost draw images of what was around the main characters or try for a good picture of the characters themselves. Yet the author doesn't describe too much in the battle, instead keeps the action moving and speed fast, forcing the reader to read at the pace of the battle, adding to the sense of chaos and blurriness that battle can bring. However I found the change in perspective every couple of paragraphs at time a little confusing and sometimes frustrating as I had little indication as when the change was made and who it was changed to.

Spelling and Grammar: 17/20

If search for other books by Valerie Douglas and her works, you will find reviews commenting on her poor spelling and grammar. You'll also find those who say it is great and there is nothing to worry about. To be honest, there are a few mistakes, but if you look at some of the great works out there, there is a lot of mistakes too. I tend to look at mistakes as if I am driving down a road and a mistake is a pot hole. If my car goes over the pot hole and I don't notice anything but a little bump then what is the problem, after all we are all human. However if it can break my car, then I am worried. In the case of this novel there is nothing here that would destroy the car. The mistakes, which are all word misplacement (rather than spelling), are few and far between, and often it is obvious what was supposed to be there that the reader could easily read over them without noticing.

Conclusion: 90/100

A highly enjoyable book, which if I am honest I couldn't put down despite not being on my usual reading pile. I enjoyed the battle scenes, the romance scenes and the friendships that grew from the book. If this review was on Amazon, this would get five stars and I truly hope that more people give this book a try and the recognition that it so deserves.

Buy Song of the Fairy Queen at Amazon.co.uk Buy Song of the Fairy Queen from Amazon.com

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Opening of The Indie E-book Review Site

Hi All!

This is the start of a new E-book book review site. I will be reviewing paranormal and science fiction short stories and novels. Unlike some E-book and book review sites I will be doing indie authors only. If you meet these criteria then please do feel free to submit your book for reviewing. Please follow the guidelines.

I will also be keeping you up to date with my own writing, also based in the paranormal and science fiction genres.

Until then I hope you will subscribe to me and await the first book to be reviewed, alternatively you can keep in touch with us through our page at Facebook.

Have a good day to all.