Giveway – Quantum Reaction by Marc Wayne @GoddessFish

Posted on October 4, 2023 by fundinmental

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marc Wayne will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Life-altering tech is on the horizon, and someone wants it stopped—permanently. Can a murder witness escape paying the ultimate price?

Near future. Angela Kapp struggles with her past. Working remotely from an isolated cabin in a dead-end customer support job, she drinks too much and spends her days avoiding the world. But while on shift using a visual-interpretation headset to assist a blind person, the cynical loner is horrified when she virtually experiences the other woman’s gruesome slaying.

Shocked the next day when she recognizes the killer closing in on a second sightless client, Angela shouts for the software engineer to run. And after learning that he and the first victim are connected by a soon-to-be-released teleportation innovation, she convinces him to go to ground in her secluded home… only to become a target herself.

Can her paranoia and his unexpected skills thwart a sinister plot?

Quantum Reaction is a gripping science fiction mystery. If you like resilient heroines, unique blind heroes, and high-adrenaline action interwoven with humor, then you’ll love Marc Wayne’s flash forward to adventure.

Buy Quantum Reaction to take a leap into tomorrow today!

Read an Excerpt

Angela recognized the tall, powerfully built man with red hair who had strode into the building from the far door, a gap in his front teeth appearing when he smiled at the security guard.

“That’s him!” she yelled.

“Who?” JT had frozen in response to Angela’s panic.

“The killer. He’s at the far door,” Angela spit out the words.

JT’s head swiveled in that direction as Angela leaned in to confirm the sighting. “Keep looking that way,” she instructed as she remembered this time to snap a picture of the killer on her phone.

The killer caught sight of JT, his expression quickly morphing into grim determination. He took a stride toward JT, ignoring the identity check before the security guard reacted.

“Sir,” called the guard.

“He’s coming toward you.” Angela’s throat tightened, but she maintained her poise. “You’ve gotta get out of there. Turn to your nine o’clock.”

Two years of working together had JT reacting immediately.

“Now run.”

“Run?” questioned the blind man, even as his legs started moving anyway.

“Door opens automatically. Way’s clear.” Her voice was no longer panicked but rather conveyed certainty. She wasn’t going to lose another client—she’d get him to safety.

About the Author:

Marc Wayne writes thrilling sci-fi mysteries. After publishing 8 novels in another genre under a different name and having several best-sellers, he has turned to his first love: sci-fi.

His years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley honed his writing skills and sense of humor. Writing fiction was part of Marc’s everyday work for many years—these were just called ads, emails, and other marketing materials.

To Marc, it often felt like he was living at the intersection of technology and the future, where things you dreamt about could often become possible. After that, writing near-future sci-fi hasn’t felt like such a stretch.

Book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Buy Quantum Reaction at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCNHVWR3

Join Marc’s newsletter or learn more at http://www.Marc-Wayne.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marc-wayne
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Author.MarcWayne
Marc@Marc-Wayne.com

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A Japanese Classic – Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama @UMNews @NetGalley

Posted on October 3, 2023 by fundinmental

Text: The first English-language translations of the original Shigeru Kayama novellas reveal...

I want to thank NetGalley and the University of Minnesota for the opportunity to read and review Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

After watching the movies, over and over again, I had to grab me a copy of Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama, when I had the opportunity. I didn’t even know there were novellas out there and Jeffrey Angles did a great job translating this Japanese classic into English. The stories flowed smoothly and rolled out like the movies I’ve seen. That always makes it easier to visualize the action as Godzilla leaves his devastating mark on Japan. Of course, he may never have risen, if we didn’t create nuclear weapons, and that is Shigeru Kayama’s statement against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

I learned some of the facts that are shared in the part of the book about the author, Shigeru Kayama and the how and why of his desire to create a monster that is payback for humans disregard for the world around them. His ‘bio’ is about a third of the book, and though I found it interesting, I wanted more of Godzilla and the other creatures he comes up with.

All in all, it was worth the read and I recommend grabbing a copy for yourself. It may be a fluff piece, but it is loaded with action and a quick read. If you are a creature feature lover, like me, this is a must have. HA HA HA HA HA

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The first English translations of the original novellas about the iconic kaijū Godzilla

Godzilla emerged from the sea to devastate Tokyo in the now-classic 1954 film, produced by Tōhō Studios and directed by Ishirō Honda, creating a global sensation and launching one of the world’s most successful movie and media franchises. Awakened and transformed by nuclear weapons testing, Godzilla serves as a terrifying metaphor for humanity’s shortsighted destructiveness: this was the intent of Shigeru Kayama, the science fiction writer who drafted the 1954 original film and its first sequel and, in 1955, published these novellas.

Although the Godzilla films have been analyzed in detail by cultural historians, film scholars, and generations of fans, Kayama’s two Godzilla novellas—both classics of Japanese young-adult science fiction—have never been available in English. This book finally provides English-speaking fans and critics the original texts with these first-ever English-language translations of Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again. The novellas reveal valuable insights into Kayama’s vision for the Godzilla story, feature plots that differ from those of the films, and clearly display the author’s strong antinuclear, proenvironmental convictions.

Kayama’s fiction depicts Godzilla as engaging in guerrilla-style warfare against humanity, which has allowed the destruction of the natural world through its irresponsible, immoral perversion of science. As human activity continues to cause mass extinctions and rapid climatic change, Godzilla provides a fable for the Anthropocene, powerfully reminding us that nature will fight back against humanity’s onslaught in unpredictable and devastating ways.

Genre: Classics, Fiction, Japanese Literature, Novella, Science Fiction
Format: 243 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication: October 3, 2023 by Univ Of Minnesota Press
ISBN: 9781452969855 (ISBN10: 145296985X)
Language: English

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Sci Fi Romance – Vanishing Bodies by Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev @BookSirens

Posted on September 26, 2023 by fundinmental

I want to thank Book Sirens and Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev for the opportunity to read and review a copy of Vanishing Bodies.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“Daddy, Daddy! Can we keep him?” I could see her tugging at his shorts, begging for me like I was a puppy that she wanted for her birthday.

That put a huge smile on my face. The reason she thought he could be her gift was because he appeared as if by magic. He is a vanisher. He dies over and over and over again, only to appear in another city, in another state, on another continent, naked, with no memory.

At times, the story seemed to drag. He would die, come back, and struggle to remember who he was. Then he would die again and it would start over. After so many times, we need something else to happen…and it does when he meets Lilyanne. As he figures some things out, learns of the dangers that await him, falls in love..for the first and only time in his life. BUT…of course, one night he disappears.

I had wondered how the book would end and it took me by surprise. At times I was fascinated, at times bored, but Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev would bring me back into the story. I wanted to love it. I found it original, different, and at times intriguing. The ending…well…I was satisfied and hopeful.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Vanishing Bodies by Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev.

GOODREADS BLURB

Many people dream of starting over. For Adam Micah, it is an unending nightmare.

On a February morning, a naked young man grabs the New York Times from a woman eating breakfast at a sidewalk cafe, scans the obituaries, uses her revolver to shoot himself, and vanishes.

He is Aristotle Zurr-McIntyre, also known as Adam Micah. He discovers he’s a vanisher—someone who disappears when he’s killed, only to resurface elsewhere with nothing but hazy memories. An entity known only as The Wisher is hunting him, and he’s involved in a game he doesn’t understand. Sometimes they shoot him outright. Sometimes, he does it to evade them. But each time, he loses a little more of himself.

When he rematerializes in Atlanta, he meets Lilyanne and, for the first time, is shown love. In her presence, he is home, and life finally makes sense. But Lilyanne has ties to a past neither one of them knows about…one that could destroy everything.

Taking on the boundaries of science, physics, and the catastrophic consequences of immortality, Adam takes a dangerous dive into interpreting mortality, conspiracy, desperation, and his own natural need for answers.

A highly original and suspenseful science fiction thriller with a romantic twist.

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction
407 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 26, 2023

ABOUT MOSES YURIYVICH MIKHEYEV

Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev is a Russian American novelist who studied theology and philosophy at Whitworth University before obtaining his graduate degree in theological studies from Emory University. He is the author of numerous novels, including The Hack, Vanishing Bodies, This Time Next Summer, and the fantasy children’s book Olivia & the Gentleman from Outer Space. He is currently working on his sixth novel Of All Things Sacred, a collection of poetry A Fire in the Sunset, and a collection of essays titled The End of Human. He is also an alternative rock musician recording his debut album I Only Have a Hundred Years to Love You (forthcoming 2023). He lives and loves in Los Angeles.

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The United States Is No More – The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy #TheVitruvianHeir #LSKilroy

Posted on September 22, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“I want everyone who reads this book to become a rebel.” L S KIlroy

The Vitruvian Heir: The Unraveling (The Vitruvian Heir Trilogy, Book I) by L S Kilroy is one of those books that gets my heart pumping and my blood boiling. I love a book that gets me wound up, wanting to reach through my ereader and punch someone. LOL

We have wonderful illustrations.

L S Kilroy released an enhanced version of The Vitruvian Heir, Book I in 2020, the original was released in 2015. She made it a trilogy because current events made her characters demand it. 🙂

It may seem like we have a triangle going on, but as I read on, everything became clear and I saw the true relationship between Lore, Gideon and Fallon. It’s complicated is an apt description.

I love how L S Kilroy wove current events into her book, rolling freedoms back, making women second class citizens…or worse…Victorian standards that have people giving up any decision making they had, towing the line, becoming robots, fearing for their lives.

I had wondered if The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy would be a good fit for me, but decided to give it a try. I never know where I will find that hidden gem, and I found it in The Vitruvian Heir. I quickly became involved in Lore’s life, feeling her desires and confusion. Her need to be herself. Of course, I knew she would have to be part of the rebellion, but how it would come about was the mystery.

Lore wondered how things could have went so backwards, and I think we only have to look at current events to see how. Vitruvian is what used to be the United States in 2164. Their were brutal wars, famines, illness, tornadoes, decimated crops, endless natural disasters and an emperor.

There are book discussions questions at the end and we have a fabulous epilogue that makes me eager to get my hands on Book II, The Vitruvian Heir: The Awakening.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy.

GOODREADS BLURB

Welcome to Vitruvia.

In a nightmarish future, one girl holds the key – to rebellion. Society has regressed to Victorian standards and patriarchal dominion. Women have slowly lost their rights. And Lorelei Fetherston, an aristocrat with a forbidden talent for writing, inherits a powerful legacy that can set her free. Though running from her wedding to gentle Gideon, a childhood confidante, is a risk that may not be worth taking.

But this isn’t her only dilemma. Her heart has always been with Fallon, the brooding ward of the current emperor and heir to the Vitruvian throne, and she’s finding it harder to resist his melancholy charms.

Will she escape to carve out a new life or accept her role as a dutiful wife? When her free-spirited friend, Sawyer, comes to her one night in grave danger, Lore is forced to make a fateful choice. In the bordering nation of Hopespoke, women are free. And, according to legend, an enigmatic woman runs a squadron of lethal debutantes and is always on the lookout for new recruits.

From mysterious woodland strangers and underground clubs to spectacular fêtes and a clandestine rebellion, discover what happens when their worlds collide.

Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Steampunk
Format: 242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published: January 5, 2015 by Little Tree Press
Language: English
Series: The Vitruvian Heir Trilogy

ABOUT L S KILROY

“The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” – Dorothy Parker

L.S. Kilroy is an irreverent sort of person who likes to write about things. Growing up an asthmatic only child in a neighborhood of geriatrics, she made friends with books at a young age because she had to – luckily, she also really liked them. Early exposure to the classics fueled her own writing. At fifteen, a man in a bookstore asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied, “Writer,” without hesitation.

Writer is a title that has driven her both personally and professionally. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Merrimack College and a Master’s degree in Writing, Literature & Publishing from Emerson College. By day, she’s a communications professional; by night, she’s an award-winning indie author.

She lives in a rural community in Massachusetts with her husband, stepson, and three naughty cats. Aside from writing, she loves being creative in the kitchen, belting out show tunes, traveling, throwing epic dinner parties, reading, and scouting out vintage finds at consignment shops.

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WTH – Streetcab Seshjack by Olle Ordsmed @OlleOrdsmed

Posted on September 18, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

First off, I want to let you, the reader, know that this book is outside my reading genre. I am venturing into the unknown, for me. I am reading more ‘digitally’ targeted stories to stretch my imagination and open my mind to new possibilities. My rating may not do the book justice for those who thrive in the cyberpunk world.

Maybe because I am unfamiliar with cyberpunk and this is a novella, but I was confused in the beginning. It took me a while to get involved in the story, a whodunit, a who took ‘my’ money story.

It is definitely a wild ride into the digital world. All I could think of to relate the story to was The Matrix, but I never watched the movie in it’s entirety. I knew the moment Aed gave control to Null, he would regret it, but he does get his answers. I think it is a wake up call for all of us. No matter what…you can be hacked. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I had numerous WTH moments, but, you in the know, know. For a virtual reality novice like me, it took me a while to get involved, but, once I did, I had to know the outcome. No one is immune to betrayal and I had to know whodunit.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Streetcab Seshjack by Olle Ordsmed.

GOODREADS BLURB

Aedan Namakoto is a man torn between two lives. Online, he is the respected founder of a VR network promising virtual worlds free from invasive ads and surreptitious surveillance. Offline, he’s a guilt-ridden single father in poor health, working obsessively to escape the past.

But one day his two lives collide.

When a mysterious hacker pulls off an impossible crypto heist, Aedan is left broke and his network on the brink of bankruptcy. Desperate to take back what’s his, Aedan seeks help from his estranged brother, the powerful CEO of a rivaling VR network. But an enemy is a dangerous ally. And when Aedan does the unthinkable — borrowing a body against the will of its owner — he is betrayed in the worst possible way.

Genre: Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Fiction, Novella, Science Fiction
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2023
ISBN: 9789152764183 (ISBN10: 9152764184)
Language: English

ABOUT OLLE ORDSMED

Olle Ordsmed is a science fiction writer fascinated by humankind’s struggle to adapt to her own inventions. He made his literary debut in 2023 with the cyberpunk novella Streetcab Seshjack.
To pursue a career as an author, he alternates yearly between working as a software developer and writing full-time. His go-to remedies for writer’s block are night walks and pitch-black showers.

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Giveaway – Dominion: First Blood by Richard Mann @rgmannauthor @SilverDaggerSxx

Posted on August 23, 2023 by fundinmental

Humans and Vampires unite in a holy war against an ancient alien menace.

Independence Day meets Underworld.

Hero

Dominion First Blood Book 1

by Richard Mann

Genre: SciFi, Apocalyptic Fantasy

Lost in the desert our modern day hero SAS Captain “Bullet Proof Pete” has strange visions of a priest and an ancient book of prophecy, and a sword of unspeakable power. The Archangel Michael appears when all seems lost and tells him his destiny and his ancient name.

His visions continue, a dark cave, something diabolical within, a blackened sky and an ancient race of aliens invade earth in a monstrous ship. A woman of strange beauty appears in his dreams trying to contact him.

A brilliant archaeologist makes a shocking discovery in modern Iraq.

The magnetic Lucia and Count Cassian – vampires since the dawn of civilisation meet with the US President to persuade him of the impending threat. They also seek the ancient Hero contained in the book of prophecy.

In a frantic race against time our hero goes to New York to find out aboutthe alien agenda, but surrounded by alien forces he is saved at the last minute by two mysterious vampires.

Former enemies, both human and vampire, must become friends. But can humankind learn to set aside their petty conflicts and unite in a common cause?

Issues of race, religion and class are now irrelevant in a fight against a common and vicious enemy – determined to conquer earth and enslave its people. And one human holds the key – Caius.

“I wanted to write something that plays out in the imaginations of readers like a movie,” explains the author. “At its core it’s fiction, but the novel also asks some much deeper questions about race, religion and the basic survival of humankind. I believe readers will turn the last page with plenty to think about.”

Continuing, “There’s lots for everyone – including hardboiled hallmarks of sci-fi and fantasy for those who like a solid read, as well as lots of technical descriptions and some rather advanced weaponry, for readers who have a taste for the unconventional!”

**Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Vendetta

Dominion First Blood Book 2

Our modern-day hero SAS Captain “Bullet Proof Pete” and East End gangster Vinnie find themselves in Los Angeles and discover the shocking truth about the alien agenda.

His waking visions continue – ancient battles by the Nile and a family in ancient Rome.

Lucia and Count Cassian – vampires since the dawn of civilisation finally meet the ancient Hero contained in the book of prophecy, “Bullet Proof Pete” aka Caius. Together they battle the aliens in a cruel guerilla war, but Peter soon finds himself torn between his wife Jennifer and the magnetic and sexy Lucia.

But Why is she familiar – is this the woman in his visions?

At last they discover critical information about the aliens and their monstrous ships as a counteroffensive begins, but then Lucia tells Peter Jennifer has been taken. But where is she and what is the connection between Jennifer and Lucia?

Meanwhile on the alien mothership a secret conspiracy is uncovered and something diabolical is released to Earth.

Our hero has a waking dream of a dark cave, with something terrible inside and is gripped by terror. He now realises that there are forces of darkness and light at work on both sides of the conflict. Can he fight his own battles and become the warrior everyone expects him to be?

The US President stands alone – all seems lost. But then our hero turns up with important new information and physic Lucia informs them of a shocking revelation that changes everything. In a frantic race against time former enemies, both human and vampire, must become friends.

But can humankind learn to set aside their petty conflicts and unite in a common cause?

Issues of race, religion and class are now irrelevant in a fight against a common and vicious enemy – determined to conquer earth and enslave its people. And one human, and his supernatural sword, holds the key – Caius.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Caius

Dominion First Blood Book 3

Lucia and Count Cassian – vampires since the dawn of civilisation team up with the ancient hero contained in the book of prophecy.

The nightmares of our hero, SAS Captain “Bullet Proof Pete” become a reality when he must face his ultimate challenge – only then will he become the warrior he is destined to be.

The leader of the alien cult shock troops steals the ancient book of knowledge so he can gain occult power over mankind and their ancient enemy the nightcrawler vampires. But it contains a secret that could change everything.

Peter, now Caius the demi-god and his lifelong friend Vinnie, are desperate for information about the whereabouts of their kidnapped wives, but then a befriended alien clone reveals vital information, raising their hopes.

The traitor US general is now beginning to regret his allegiance to the alien cause as the mothership retreats to a safe distance – He aligns himself with the alien cult leader as they make plans of their own.

Caius and his team prepare for the final assault. Will he find his wife Jennifer and will he find out what he has suspected all along about Lucia the femme fatale vampire and his wife?

In a nail-biting climax all will be revealed.

This Sci-Fi Thriller will grab you by the scruff of the neck and take you on a roller coaster ride…sometimes horrific, sometimes comic, always gripping – It will keep you guessing right until the climatic finale.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Richard Mann grew up in being an avid reader of books, even from an early age he loved the literary giants Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Frank Herbert and Douglas Adams. He is also a big fan of Bernard Cornwell, the historical novelist and Frederic Forsyth, the great thriller writer. (Hint: If you love these authors you will love Richard’s books). He started writing at 16 but the dream faded until a few years ago when he started writing again. During his twenties he studied business studies and accountancy. During this time he also studied Shaolin and Wing Chun Kung Fu and even starting a school with a friend. He has worked as an accountant, Software developer in the City of London for banks and insurance companies, and is now an author.

HERO- Dominion First Blood is his first book. His mercurial book is action packed, fast paced, and guaranteed to keep the reader turning pages to the end. This wholly original book falls within the thriller, fantasy horror, and sci-fi genres. It combines incredible action, hair-raising scares and big laughs. It will shock the reader into thinking about his own place in the world. Warning: This book may keep the reader up all night!

Richard is a fellow Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians, Member of the Institute of Analysts and Programmers and a Member of the British Computer Society. He is 57, married to Brenda, has two sons and lives in Berkshire.

The best way to keep up with his latest news is to sign up for his newsletter.

www.richardmannblog.com

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Techy Aliens – Xenome by Vivek Pravat @VPravat @booksirens

Posted on August 21, 2023 by fundinmental

I want to thank Book Sirens & Vivek Pravat for the opportunity to read and review Xenome.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

All I had to see was…a remote Pacific Island, something new birthed and not of this world, and I was curious. But, it was a little over my head when it came to the scientific information.

We started out with something I am familiar with, Holly’s mother being found dead. She goes to Melanesia to search for answers. All kinds of red flags were flying for me, and I asked myself, “Would I do it?” It doesn’t take long for danger to mount, guns blazing and bullets flying.

Holly needs to be on her toes, because danger and betrayal lurk around every turn. She has her boyfriend, David, at her side, and he is the only person she can trust. He is injured early on, and she is left to her own devices. As the story develops, other characters come into play that will be important to her.

The something new birthed is nothing I anticipated and I like that, but Vivek’s scientific explanations were confusing and stopped the flow of the story. I think others, more technically minded will grasp the concept quicker than I did, but once we got past that, the action ramps up, evil rises, betrayal and friendship come from unlikely sources, and savagery and death surround her.

I do love an author who isn’t afraid to kill off their characters, even ones I have come to count on and was saddened when they died a grisly death, but I have to consider the players in a game of world domination. Greed and power are at the forefront and the players will stop at nothing to go where no man has gone before. (LOL) Haven’t humans learned not to play God? Nothing good comes of it.

In the Afterword, Vivek Pravat shares elements of the story that are fact and fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Xenome by Vivek Pravat.

GOODREADS BLURB

ON A REMOTE PACIFIC ISLAND, SOMETHING NEW HAS BEEN BIRTHED. SOMETHING NOT OF THIS WORLD…

Holly Truong is a field biologist on the verge of an experimental breakthrough on swarm intelligence. But when she receives news that her estranged mother has been found dead in faraway Melanesia, she is compelled to put everything on the back burner and go in search of answers.

Waiting for her there is an experiment of a completely unexpected kind: a recreation of alien life, made possible by a secret SETI program called Metis Eye. Earth is now host to a bizarre new life form—one utterly unlike anything the planet has seen in its four and a half billion years of existence.

However, as shocking as the revelation is, a deeper, far more terrifying secret lurks in the heart of the jungle. A secret that if left uncovered could mean the end of civilization itself.

Nature, red in tooth and claw, has returned to claim its dominion, and Holly is about to find out that she is the only one standing in its way.

Genre: Action and Adventure, Aliens, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Horror, Science Fiction,Technothriller
450 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 31, 2023

ABOUT VIVEK PRAVAT (from his website)

Vivek writes books under the pen name Vance Pravat. Software engineer by profession, the author has been an ardent fan of science fiction since childhood. During the course of his work, he has lived and worked in several countries around the world, and prides himself on his ability to assimilate alien cultures and cuisines with all the gusto of some benign version of the Borg.

His love for fiction that doesn’t hesitate to ask big questions eventually compelled him to overcome the demands of his day trade and pen his first book.

His main areas of interest are AI, philosophy, history, physics, and geopolitics. When he is not too busy writing, reading, or entertaining his baby daughter, he likes to indulge in PC role-playing and collectible card games.

He is always happy to chat with his readers and can be found just an email or a PM away.

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Review – The Parade by Matt J Pike @booksirens @SoothsayerMatt

Posted on August 15, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Parade is my first Matt J Pike novel. I was looking for some apocalyptic/dystopian books and came across it, so I clicked. Even though it is the fifth book in the Apocalyptic Survivor series, it is the first book in the Apocalypse Survivors Subseries, I never felt lost. And it is a great cover, that Matt designed himself.

My name is Zoe Carter, this is my story, and the story of all the members of the Norwood Hub during and after the impact of Comet 2014DM3 in April 2014.

How would you spend your time if you knew a comet would hit the Earth? Would you give up and part like it’s 1999? Would you be a prepper and gather resources, hunkering down to see who is left standing? Would you gather arms and weapons to protect yourself?

I love apocalyptic books, because I wonder what I would do. I think in desperate times, the best and the worst of humanity comes to light…and The Parade has a lot of the worst. Sometimes there is no choice, it’s a me or them situation.

Violence, vendettas, selfishness and greed – that’s what came out in us the most.

Of course, you have those who step up to lead, often through fear, and making sure they get what’s theirs first. When food runs out, they have a big target on their back. People have to have someone to blame. The simplest injury could mean death, as medical supplies run out or are non existent, not enough, or no doctors to help.

The ‘grenade’ event was quite clever.

An unlikely group of characters were drawn together for protection and survival. No one can predict who will survive and not all of them do. We have some sad moments, but that was to be expected. We have plenty of violence and death, and that was to be expected too. Your friend can quickly become your enemy. There are no winners in an apocalypse, just survivors. Would you be one of them?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Parade by Matt J Pike.

GOODREADS BLURB

“Perhaps, like the scars left on the world we live in, the scars left on our species will take decades to heal – centuries even. May I – we – be forgiven for what we have done.” Zoe Survivor
You’ve heard from the heroes. Now get ready for the villains…
In the latest instalment of his award-winning Apocalypse Survivors series, Aussie author Matt J Pike returns to where it all began with a new origin story – this one told from the perspective of the bad guys. But when life on earth has been all but wiped out by an comet, simple ideas of good and evil aren’t as simple as they appear.
As the comet unleashes an ash cloud over the planet, stealing the sun and bringing on permanent winter, a brutal new era dawns for humanity. In a small corner of the world, in a broken city called Adelaide, a group of survivors gather on The Parade, a resource-rich shopping strip that offers shelter, warmth, water and food. What unites them is the simple desire to survive, what divides them is how far they’re prepared to go to make that happen.
In the power play for control of this frightening new world, one thing is clear. No one is getting through unscathed!
There is no good and bad. Only survival.

Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction
242 pages, Paperback
Published May 25, 2023

ABOUT MATT J PIKE (from Amazon)

Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.

In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.

Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has.

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Would you want a super power? How To Start Your Own Country by Stephen Henning #stephenhenning

Posted on August 14, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been with Samantha and James Blake since the beginning. Their parents did their best to keep them safe, keep their identities hidden. Lolly is Sir Michaels’ daughter. She is responsible for many deaths, but, since, meeting James, she has done a one eighty.

Sir Michael is trying to recruit all the people with superhero powers to populate Liberation Island and has a flash drive with the names of many of those with superpowers, and those who may develop them later in life. His goal is to give them a save haven, to protect them from governments and people that would like to ‘own’ them for their own designs. It sounds like a good idea, but, I am leery. Is that the real reason? Does he have an ulterior motive?

I won’t tell you who has possession of the flash drive once it has been taken from Sir Michael. That would ruin the fun of you finding out for yourself, but there are those that would do almost anything to get it.

Samantha is missing. Is she alive? Dead? Does someone have her?

You can find out what the book is about by reading the synopsis, so I won’t go into that. I will tell you, Lolly has become my favorite character. I love a good bad guy, and she has definitely proven she is not to be messed with. No one approves of James and Lolly being together, especially with her background. It would be hard to think she could change from a blood thirsty killer to a young woman wanting to do the right thing and be with her boyfriend.

He is her conscience. Can love conquer all?

It all comes down to…who you can trust. Where can you be safe? Many ruthless people would love to keep them hostage, use them for their own gain. Money? Power? Weapons?

We shall see how it plays out in this mini series that is part of the Class Heroes series. So buckle up and hold on tight. I am sure there is a lot of action, danger and intrigue to come.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of How To Start Your Own Country by Stephen Henning.

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Freedom always has a price

How to Start Your Own Country is a mini series of three episodes within the overall Class Heroes book series. It continues the adventures of James and Samantha Blake, and a small group of people who have developed special abilities.

Previously, in Class Heroes….

Teenage twins Samantha and James Blake have developed superpowers following a bus explosion caused by pharma-tech mogul Sir Michael Rosewood.
Al Lester, known as the Alchemist, triggered nationwide riots in the UK by giving out ‘Super D’, a drug which temporarily gives users super strength.
Sir Michael, who’d been captured by the British security services, was rescued by his daughter Lolly.
Samantha and Al are both missing, presumed dead, following an attempt to kidnap them by the Russian mafia.
Sir Michael, reluctantly aided by Lolly, has established a small community for people with superpowers on an artificial island between Britain and France, where they continue their mission to find other people with abilities.
Deenpal Mander, a teenager with the power to heal people from any illness or injury, has escaped the clutches of a gang of evil people-traffickers, and has reached out to Sir Michael for help…

In How to Start Your Own Country Episode 1 “The Rise of Superhero Island”:

Sir Michael’s recruitment drive for superheroes is finally paying dividends, but a jealous rival threatens to sabotage his plans; James and Lolly’s ill-advised relationship heats up; Deen is terrified by the changes happening to his body; and the mystery surrounding Sam and Al’s disappearance is revealed.

ABOUT STEPHEN HENNING

I began writing the first Class Heroes book on my laptop in February 2011, but these stories have probably been continually playing in my head since I was aged five or six, when I would act them out with toys and with my friends. I then branched out into using pencils, colouring pens and paper, moving on to writing pads and then my first computer.

So, as you’ve probably gathered, I have always enjoyed making up stories and the super-hero genre has been one of my favourites.

The CV-type stuff is that I went to Sheffield Hallam University to study English. I then trained and briefly worked as a journalist in Salford. After that, I moved into publishing – which was great. An interesting and fun industry to be in and fascinating to see how books are put together and sold.

After that I started doing technical writing, which led me to start my own business with my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. My love of writing, generally, led me back to writing fiction. Our company, Elucidox Ltd, publishes the Class Heroes books.

If you want to know a bit more about me, what kind of super powers I have and the kind of super villains I have to tangle with on a daily basis, then feel free to watch Rage. This is a short film, that took a long time to make. It’s a simple day in my life :-). Actually it’s just a fun movie that I made with the very kind help of some of my best mates. We had a laugh doing it, hope you like it too. And if you do, then why not explore the super world of the Class Heroes books?

Website / Goodreads / Youtube

MY STEPHEN HENNING REVIEWS

A Class Apart (Class Heroes #1)
What Happened in Witches Wood (Class Heroes #2)
Where’s Lolly (Class Heroes #3)
London Belongs to the Alcheist (Class Heroes #4)
Hearts and Minds (Class Heroes #5)
Jesus of the North (Class Heroes #6)

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Review – Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson @booksirens

Posted on August 7, 2023 by fundinmental

I want to thank Book Sirens and Lava Lake Books for the opportunity to read and review Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketchseon.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I grabbed Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson not realizing it was going to be a series. It seems like most of the books I read any more are series. It’s okay, as long as I get to find out the final result, beginning to end, but that doesn’t always happen. Anyways I did enjoy Sketching Rebellion. I was on a binge of apocalyptic/dystopian reading and got a little click happy, grabbing willy nilly.

Sketching Rebellion’s target audience is teen and young adult. I do enjoy a good coming of age story and Breel was a fascinating character. Normally, I like a little more brutality and depth of despair in my apocalyptic reading, but the blurb states that Breel is seventeen years old, so that is a clue for the target group.

As usual, those in power wield a heavy sword to keep everyone in line, using the threat of execution for the slightest infraction, like sketching/drawing, when she is forbidden to do so. How far can you push someone, no matter the age, before they push back? And what happens when they do?

One of the scariest things is…there is no punishment for those who report other citizens. In fact, they are rewarded for it. Who can you trust? You can never be sure what is going on in someone’s mind. Family turning in family, friends turning in friends, coworkers…Instead of ‘lock her up’, it’s take her out.

Some of the most unlikely people will be those who support taking action against the regime. Some will fall, and the ending….I was saddened, afraid for the ones who chose to reshape their world into something better. BUT, that is for another day. I am hooked and I look forward to finding out what comes next. I rated Sketching Rebellion with the target audience in mind.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson.

GOODREADS BLURB

Conformity is mandatory. But seventeen-year-old artist Breel rebels anyway.

In the city of Lexum, personal choice is nonexistent, and defiance is severely punished. Breel is alone in seeing the injustices in her world. Isolated due to her beliefs and haunted by the disappearance of her uncle, she finds solace in the forbidden act of drawing. Creating art is a rebellion against an oppressive regime that stifles self-expression.

When a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of a resistance group, Breel faces a decision. Will she risk execution to join their fight for a society which would celebrate rather than condemn her artistic skills? Or will she continue hiding her non-conformity?

The outcome of her choice will not only define her own fate but may also set in motion a revolution that could reshape her world forever.

2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist (Juvenile/YA) .

Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense, Technothriller, Thriller, Young Adult
[ Previously published as Intercludae.]
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2023

ABOUT FELICIA KETCHESON

Felicia Ketcheson is the author of Intercludae, which was a 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist (Juvenile/YA category). At age seven, she wrote her first book about a dog, cat, and bee. Four years later, she randomly started writing a short novel, catapulting her into the world of series writing. When she’s not devising ways to destroy the lives of her fictional characters, she works as a medical researcher and database developer. Database developing is a passion she simultaneously loves and hates. She lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

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