Category writing

Jan 2 2017

#favreads2016 for Kanundra

So this post has taken me all morning to start to put together, but I think it’s been worth it.

I’ve had the great pleasure of being involved in 2016 with my own audiobooks. That alone immersed me into the world of many authors who I didn’t know or had known but had no real time for reading anymore.

For that, and to listen2abook I am very grateful.  🙂

Everyone remembers their first time right? Well let me know what your first audiobook was and what you loved about it….

For me, I’d personally had my audio account for over 8 mths, and never used it. I got books each month because I had credits to burn but they like my ebook collection was just growing.

When searching for my own narrator, I actually was passed what I now class as my first time, and I think this as an audiobook will still always be one of my very favourite.

Black Dog Blues: The Kai Gracen Series, Book 1 | [Rhys Ford]
Black Dog Blues: The Kai Gracen Series, Book 1

I am going to try and keep this list short…. honest.

2016 All time fav Sci Fi in 2016!

I can’t stress enough about the amazing writers and books I’ve listened to this year, this is my fav category. And knocking this down to One Book was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. 169 amazing books from all genres!

But after being asked to listen to a duel narration and being introduced to Jeffery Kafer, I saw this advertised and picked the first book up.

Quarter Share: A Trader's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, Book 1 | [Nathan Lowell]
Quarter Share: A Trader’s Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, Book 1
Reviewed: 16/05/16

“Different, but amazing.”

When I like someone, I kinda follow them, so when I saw that Jeffrey Kafer posted about a new sci fi. I was like, Oh, yes please!

I did learn that it wasn’t the usual kinda sci fi I read or have started to listen to, but that didn’t mean I did not enjoy this.

Best Female Narrator and Writer Combo –

Broken Skies: Book 1 | [Theresa Kay]

Broken Skies: Book 1
Reviewed: 20/04/16

“Very cool!”

For the most part this story kept me on edge and I wanted to know what happened. I can’t believe the Author hasn’t had the narrator back to do the second book, I’m just gutted, so much so I had to buy the book, and I don’t often do that. I don’t have the time to read a real book. So I do hope that the author will have this on the cards next.

Top book read of the year is her second book in the series. (not available as audio shame)

Best Male Narrator and Writer Combo –

Man of War: Rebellion, Book 1 | [M. R. Forbes]
Man of War: Rebellion, Book 1
Reviewed: 7/7/16

“Excellent listen!”

 

I think when you start to listen to AudioBooks in the way I have, you do become fans of people. Jeff’s books were some of the first I had the pleasure of listening to, even within a genre I wasn’t a lover of, and I am a fan of his.

Add in the sci fi element and well I’m sold before I even know the premise. 🙂 Some things you know are just going to be a good listen. The fact that a story can be written so many ways just excites me.

Best Fantasy –

Heart of Gold: Clans of Shadow, Book 1 | [J. A. Cipriano, J. B. Garner]
Heart of Gold: Clans of Shadow, Book 1
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 12/26/16

“Loved this story.”

This was defo a little more fantasy than I’m used to, with wizards and magic, and all that jazz. But, with Joe narrating, from horror to fantasy I know it’s pretty much got to be a good listen, it didn’t disappoint.

 
Best Horror – Sorry, but again this one goes to Joe Hemple (Fantastic all round Narrator)

Year's Best Hardcore Horror, Volume 1 | [Randy Chandler, Cheryl Mullenax, Jeff Strand, Adam Cesare, Monica J. O'Rourke, David James Keaton, Robert Essig, Clare de Lune, Jack Bantry, Adam Howe, Kristopher Triana]
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror, Volume 1
Reviewed: 8/18/16

“Horrific! but so good.”

This was a fantastically horrific and just gross out collection of horror stories. But they were so so good, and in bite sized chunks that were great for listening at work. There was a couple of them I really wished were much longer and this was the only reason I marked it down a bit. We only just got a good feel for the characters and what was going on around them that when it ended it was too soon.

 

Weirdest (yet strangely satisfying)

The Atomic Sea: Omnibus of Volumes One and Two | [Jack Conner]
The Atomic Sea: Omnibus of Volumes One and Two
Reviewed: 25/03/16

“Dark, mysterious and action packed!”

Would you listen to The Atomic Sea: Omnibus of Volumes One and Two again? Why?

I would listen to both of these books again, because there was so much to the world and story, I felt it was a lot to take in and digest as an audiobook.


 
Longest Series I listened to –
 

Genesis: Arisen, Book 0.5 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs]
Genesis: Arisen, Book 0.5
Reviewed: 23/11/16

“Great Intro listen to at anytime.”

As I said above, this is a great addition, and you can really listen to it at anytime. I got through all the 12 books and then had the worst hangover, so this was a nice addition to the series. The two Seals with the guys in here, are fab characters, both fought till their last breath, as said in the main series, but going through it with them is hard on the emotions.

 

And Finally some Honourable mentions.

Sci Fi Fun and the most Unique world building –

 

We Are Legion (We Are Bob): Bobiverse, Book 1 | [Dennis E. Taylor]
We Are Legion (We Are Bob): Bobiverse, Book 1
Reviewed: 27/09/16

“Exciting new sci fi!”

Full disclosure. I had the wonderful opportunity to read some of this in one of my author crit groups, but I was super excited to then learn of it as an audiobook! Especially read by Ray Porter, who I enjoyed for some of his other works. So I had to go and buy this. 🙂

Dennis’s Bobiverse was a little strange at first. But, you’re soon taken in by the wonderful humour of Bob and the weird circumstances he’s got himself into and has to keep himself sane from…. I admit there’s a lot going on, and there are some ‘Bob’s I like more than others. But that’s to be expected. They are all so different…. and of course as a trecky fan I love Ryker. And Homer 🙂

Most Emotional and Raw.

Captive: A New Life, Book 1 | [Samantha Jacobey]
Captive: A New Life, Book 1
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 09/09/16

“no words….”

This literally was one of the hardest books I’ve listened to, but not in a bad way at all. I mean it’s just so raw, so emotional and just makes you shiver with what happens. It’s one that really will tear your heart out, make you think and then again still shatter your beliefs in the world.

—————————-

So there you have it, these are 2016’s best books in my eyes. 🙂 Roll on this year. I’ve got an amazing line-up already and I can’t wait.

~ Dawn

 

 

Dec 7 2016

AudioBook Review – BrainRush

RC Bray is the man, and I was introduced to Richard Bard with this fab story!

3 books in one, I can’t complain at all. Took me a week to get through it, but I also know there are more, I just gotta clear some of my backlog before I buy them!

  • The Brainrush Trilogy: Box Set | [Richard Bard]
    The Brainrush Trilogy: Box Set
    UNABRIDGED
    Reviewed: 04/12/16

    “Really enjoyed.”

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Really enjoyed this book set. I was a little unsure going in, as it seemed a little more fantasy than my usual books, but I was highly surprised.

    There was lots of action from the get go, no sooner had we met Jake and his dire circumstances than the whole world was rocked apart and his life drastically changed.

    There was intense character development, and interaction between friends, and those who just seemed to get involved, especially those in the military side of the story.

    Through all 3 books there were huge obstacles, and fights. It got more Sci-Fi than fantasy and I was very happy with the outcome, most of the time I was sat on the edge of my driving seat while listening. So much to go wrong, so many of our fav characters to get injured, or die! eeek.

    Almost tempted to get the next few in the series, but I’ve just got them on my wishlist for now, as I’ve more than a few to get through. 🙂 I’ll defo be back for some more, thanks Richard and of course to RC I’m a huge fan.

Nov 27 2016

Author Interview – Wesley Britton

 

“The Blind Alien is a story with a highly original concept, fascinating characters, and not-too-subtle but truthful allegories.  Don’t let the sci-fi label or alternate Earth setting fool you–this is a compelling and contemporarily relevant story about race, sex, and social classes.”

–Raymond Benson, Former James Bond novelist and author of the Black Stiletto books

 

Hello everyone, I’m Wesley Britton, author of all sorts of things including the Beta-Earth Chronicles ebook series published by BearManor Media. Book One, The Blind Alien, came out in Sept 2015; book five, The Third Earth, was just published this Nov.

 

Book six, Return to Alpha, is presently in the hands of an editor but the most exciting news I’m announcing here is that, throughout 2017, the series is coming out as paperbacks! This is to meet the demands of readers who prefer their books in the old-fashioned way, and reader requests has much to do with everything I do!

 

The epic opens when Malcolm Renbourn, a young history teacher, walks into an ordinary bank on an ordinary day. Suddenly, he feels excruciating pain. Unexpectedly, he loses his sight and discovers he has been drawn against his will across the multi-verse to a slave-holding country on a parallel earth. He doesn’t understand a single word he hears, but he soon comprehends that he  is the focal point in the quest to end  a plague that kills three out of four male babies their first year on Beta-Earth.

 

Branded state property, he must escape, but where can a blind man in a strange world dominated by desperate scientists run? And on a world where polygamy is the norm, how can Malcolm Renbourn adapt into becoming the husband of five independent wives who never expected to be the mothers of a generation a planet hopes carry the genes that will change everything? And that’s just part of the story.

 

—-

So the original premise was exploring how an ordinary human can cope on an alien world after going blind—for which I draw from many of my own experiences.  Here’s what just a few reviewers had to say about the debut novel:

 

“An excellent work of new SF that hearkens back to the classics of Asimov and Heinlein. Told from the viewpoint of the different characters, it is a tale of a man from our earth (Alpha) being unwittingly transferred to a parallel earth (Beta) where he must learn to adapt to new cultures, attitudes, languages at the same time as coming to grips with the loss of his sight. Each of the characters are fully developed and well defined and being able to hear their thoughts about each encounter brings a richness to the narratives. Politics, religion, social mores and relationships are all examined from both without and within.”—Dave Massengale, Amazon review

 

“Spymaster and imaginative author, Dr. Wesley Britton has another big hit! His book takes the reader on a compelling journey of an Alpha earthling who has been spirited to planet Beta. Science-fiction, yes, but much more. The book explores science, medicine, commerce, education, spiritual life, family life and sex on an alternative planet which

at times is insightful and hilarious in its comparison to our own Earth. In an ingenious way, Dr. Britton has created a new grammar and vocabulary to continually intrigue the reader. A true winner!” –Bobbi Chertok, Amazon Reviewer

 

Find out more about The Beta-Earth Chronicles at:

http://drwesleybritton.com

 

And keep up with all sorts of entertainment insights and news at:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295635.Wesley_Britton/blog

 

Oct 15 2016

New Release – Sentient by Dr. Victor Acquista

Today, I’m excited to welcome – Dr. Victor Acquista 🙂 

Dr. Victor Acquista has become a successful international author and speaker following careers as a primary-care physician and medical executive. He previously helped to co-found The Collaborative for Community Health, a non-profit, is a founding member of River Valley Market, a food co-op, and authored a syndicated Health and Wellness column.

His non-fiction and his workshops focus on personal growth and transformation, especially as pertains to health and wellness. His fiction includes social messaging intended to get the reader engaged in thought provoking themes.

Dr. Acquista has a longstanding interest in consciousness studies, is a student of Integral Theory, and strives to do his part to make our planet a wee bit better. He lives with his wife in New Mexico.

Sentient is his debut fiction novel. More info can be found at www.victoracquista.com.

sentient-cover

————— Release day is today Occtober the 15th.

Sentient, an epic tale of humanity’s defeat and resurgence spanning 168,000 years of struggle is a science fiction debut from Dr. Victor Acquista…..

Synopsis

The Mind Warriors of T’rox, intent on being the supreme sentient race in the galaxy, annihilated the home world of Adden, a place where the people had lived telepathically connected in peace and harmony. The species slim chance to survive rests in a distant colony, genetically altered to block telepathy and evade detection by T’rox.

Anyeuros escaped the destruction of Adden, traveling disembodied for 168,000 years before arriving on New Adden, only to learn of the disastrous consequences of the genetic manipulation—violence, poverty, abuse, prejudice.

T’rox is on the verge of collapse, a result of social stagnation and infighting among the clans. Discovery of New Adden, the lost colony, provides a chance to reinvigorate their race with a fresh conquest.

However, discovering their past mission was incomplete, a resulting conflict ensues, but a troubled physicist, his young neighbor, and an artificial intelligence may be the key to defeating them. Heroic misfits and outcasts are woven into three intersecting story lines and will determine humanity’s fate.

Character Quotes

“When we bear triumph or failure alone, we remain alone. Our strength lies in our togetherness. Bonded together, we celebrate our triumphs and we endure our failings. This is the way of our people…this we must not forget.” – Janna, First Colonist, New Adden

“There are limits of acceptability. Weird and eccentric are tolerable but just barely. Once you cross over into crazy, no one wants to have anything to do with you. Sometimes, you don’t even want to deal with yourself.” –Professor Jeremy Strickland, Earth

“When you rise to power on the wings of fear you must depend on fear to remain aloft.”
– Ka ‘Stan, Ghal of T’rox, 5th Epoch

Praise for Sentient

“Sentient is a superb debut, a rollicking sci-fi saga that beautifully combines action and philosophy, visionary ideas, and prescient social critique. In creating an alien world with its own cosmology and rituals, Acquista sheds light on our own struggling little planet, and does so with humor and style. This is a work to be savored.” –JJ Amaworo Wilson, author of Damnificados

Purchase Links

http://mybook.to/Sent

Watch for more links to come!

Want to Feature Victor Acquista?

If you would like a copy of the book for review or to conduct an interview with Dr. Victor Acquista, please contact Erin Al-Mehairi, Marketing and Publicity at Mirror Matter Press and Hook of a Book Media: hookofabook@hotmail.com.

Mirror Matter Press

For more on Mirror Matter Press, publishers of science fiction and fantasy, go to www.mirrormatterpress.com. Immersing Readers in Other Worlds…