Film And Literature Reviews: On Top of the Rainbow by K. Meador

On Top of the Rainbow by K. Meador

When you pick up a kids book there are really two audiences that you have to be aware of—the parents and the kids. I’ve divided this blog into two sections for these respective audiences so that we cover all the audiences involved.

On Top of the Rainbow for Adults

The aspects of a book that make it “really good” are the plot, character development, or really juicy twists you didn’t see coming, but for kid’s books the main concern is the overall message that the book will instill upon the child who is hearing or reading the book. With this in mind I would say that the values that the author is highlighting in this book is the importance of family. Family is the number one thing in the main characters life and this value is pushed throughout the book, it even includes furbabies as part of the family too.

On Top of the Rainbow for Kids

For kids, a book needs to have more than just strong family values. A book needs to have character development & growth, good illustrations, and an interesting plot to keep them interested. This book has all these things and more. One thing I liked about this book for young audiences is that the plot was simple and the motives of the characters were apparent. (I think that a lot of books try to write in super complicated characters or motives to prove a bigger point that isn’t apparent, but that conversation is for another time). I also liked that the story had a couple of mythological creatures that were concerned for the protagonist’s overall well-being. A lot of times when people write about mythological creatures they are usually the tricksters in the plot, which gives kids scary ideas about what could be out there—but this is not the case. Not only will kids definitely pick up the idea that family is an important part of life, but there is also conflict resolution that kids can relate to. The pictures were one of my favorite parts too—so pretty.

Overall, I think that this book is a really good choice for kids. It's a well written, wholesome book that is easy to follow for kids while also showing them the importance of family. It also has enough fun imagery and plot to keep kids interested in what is going on without being distracted by outside sources. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who has a young kid in their life who loves to read.

You can purchase On Top of the Rainbow or any other of K. Meador's books from her amazon page.

CK Dawn Reviews: BloodMarked by Lu J Whitley

Author Lu J Whitley: BloodMarked
Website: http://lujwhitleyauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLuJWhitley?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuJWhitley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25052032-bloodmarked

Jessica's review of Godstone Mage by Rick A. Mullins

Title: Godstone Mage

Blurb and my review:

I read somewhere that the relationship between older sisters and younger brothers are the most powerful of sibling relationships (please don't ask for sources because I don't remember). In his epic historical fiction/fantasy novel Godstone Mage, Rick Mullins capitalizes on siblings relationships to create a powerful and moving tale of justice, redemption, restoration, and and friendship.

A meteor containing godstone, a powerful mineral with protective and magical qualities, crashes to Earth. Meanwhile, a malevolent mage has put a curse on the Quinn family so that during the full moon, the males are pumas. The females are in puma form the rest of the month. This is to keep them from reproducing so the family will die out and the mage can acquire the Quinn's desirable island in the Great Lakes region. To add insult to injury, the mage makes it so that the "forced changes" (which start at puberty when the person is capable of reproduction), especially painful. The reader learns soon that the United States is populated by "changelings" who can change into various animal forms at will and are even given protection by Congress. Liam Quinn and his sister Orlagh (who spends most of the novel in puma form) go on a quest to find the mage who cursed them so they can force him to remove the curse. When the siblings lose their horse in a flash flood, they seek shelter with the Richards family, who has also been cursed by a different mage. It's not 100% clear what Heather's (the sister) curse is, but Fallon, the brother, is trapped in the mind of a child although he retains his ability to "tinker" (design and repair machinery). When Heather and Fallon's parents are murdered by Jack Easton, the brutal owner of a railroad company, the foursome set off on a quest for vengeance against him and the two mages who have cursed both families. Along the way, they are joined by a rag-tag group of help of varying abilities and and ages. They acquire a pair of writers who begin publishing the story of the "Sky Rangers" (so named because of the specialized balloon Fallon designed for them to travel in), and their fame spreads across the nation.

The plot is very detailed and clearly well-researched. Many of the machinery terms went over my head, but I can't fault the author because I made a D in physics. Mullins blends fantasy elements with history (the action takes place just after the Civil War and has a distinct "wild west" flavor") and aside from one use of the F-bomb (that I remember), the novel would also make a good choice as a young-adult action adventure. You can tell that Mullins put a lot of thought into this novel.

I especially liked the characters: Heather and Liam are as bad@$ as they can be without being malevolent themselves, and one can sense a romance blossoming between the two. Fallon is amazing as the childlike Master Tinkerer who designs machinery and shows moments of extreme wisdom and intelligence. I would have liked to hear more from Orlagh's point of view, and I wish Mullins had taken advantage of a part when she was in human form to write a chapter from her perspective. The diversity of the foursome and their company is delightful. They range in ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and all prove to be useful to the expedition. Some of the characters sort of drop off in the middle of the book, but they are minor so it's not that big of a deal.

Mullins does an excellent job of presenting moral and social themes-justice, courtesy, family, community, and friendship among others-in a way that doesn't come across as self-righteous. I love it when a writer can do that. He also writes a lot of the dialogue on local vernacular, which gives it a neat dash of originality. A few of favorite scenes: the one where Heather torments one of her enemies with her dead mother's cursed, severed hand, the final showdown between Liam and the mage who cursed him, and the "restaurant" scene where the team acquires (among others) the twins who serve as reporters for the group and help spread the word about their adventures. This book is a time commitment, but it is worth the wait for some awesome scenes.

The 'errors' in this book are few and far between, and are entirely forgivable so I see no need to deduct points. Five stars all the way. Great job!

Genre:

Fantasy
Historical Fiction

Links:

1. http://www.amazon.com/Godstone-Mage-Rick-Mullins-ebook/dp/B00NG7IZE2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439741404&sr=1-1&keywords=godstone+mage
2. http://www.amazon.com/Rick-A.-Mullins/e/B00JH10JUY/ref=

Review: SEED: Keepers of Genesis 1 by D B Nielsen

Review and Spotlight by CD Dawn

Review: Soul Journey by Miranda Shanklin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirandashanklinauthor?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mlshanklin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23160203-soul-journey?from_search=true&search_version=service
Website: http://mirandashanklin.com/

Amazon: 

CK Dawn Reviews Dissimilar Shorts 4 by J.B. Taylor

Dissimilar Shorts 4 by J.B. Taylor

Links:

Amazon purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Dissimilar-Shorts-J-B-Taylor-Series-ebook/dp/B00UF071WA/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=ck00f-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=YA6SWWKT2RQORRFY&creativeASIN=B00UF071WAWebsite: http://jbtaylor460.wix.com/taylorworksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JB-Taylors-Books/607339486032493?fref=tsTwitter: https://twitter.com/Insomniac_jbtGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7897578.J_B_Taylor?from_search=true&search_version=service

Book Review by K. Meador of Blood Master written by Kirsten Campbell

Book Review by K. Meador of Blood Master written by Kirsten Campbell

Blurb:

2052: Two-thirds of the human population have been killed by the Great War, the Clover Virus and the Death Plague. Only one man survived the Death Plague, an albino man named Griffin Storm. He’s the only albino in existence. No one knows what happened to the other albinos, but most believe the rumors that they were eliminated by the Guild Faction’s deadly experiments.

Griffin is hiding out in Underground Atlanta. He has special abilities. He can manipulate crystal and glass. He uses these abilities for good, raiding warehouses and old buildings for food and medical supplies to give to the abandoned children that live in the Underground. While on a raid he meets Tassta Vinetti. She’s a resident of the legendary Brotherhood Fortress. Griffin is taken to the Brotherhood and chaos ensues as Tassta, her twin brother Penn and her Uncle Lerin Sanctobous keep their new visitor and his untold powers secret. They can not disclose that the only albino in existence is now at their fortress or they could all be in great danger.

Fact is the Guild is hunting Griffin. He is the only survivor of their deadly experiments and his survival will have dynamic consequences. The Guild believes Griffin will transform into a G.O.D., a Genetically-enhanced Omni Dimensional being. If he transforms, he will have inter-dimensional doors within his body, doors that lead to heaven and hell. Griffin will become a Blood Master and he’ll be able to control the demons from the Dimension of Blood.
Will Griffin save the children of the Underground from their tragic life? Will he transform into a G.O.D. and become the Blood Master? Only time will tell…

BOOK REVIEW:

I am not one to leave long reviews. As a reader, I either liked it or not. Few fall in the middle. This book is definitely a like!

Set in the future, Blood Master took me on a journey that surprised me, as well as, brought me great entertainment. I was able to relate to all the main characters and followed the story without a problem. The details given in this book was well thought out and researched. I was drawn into a world where the future has met devastation and, yet, there is a plan about to unfold to bring forth hope and to reunite people by eliminating evil that is out and about.
Genre:Fantasy
Science Fiction

Jessica Wren's Review of Ndura: Son of the Forest by Javier Salazar Calle

Title: Ndura: Son of the Forest

My review:

A native of Spain, Javier Calle is fluent in English and speaks some Swahili. His novel Ndura: hijo de la selva was originally written in Spanish, published in Spain, and has won an award for young adult literature in Spain. I read the English version, Ndura: Son of the Forest, a survival thriller that will keep you turning the pages.

The protagonist, also named Javier, is traveling home from an adventure trip in Africa with his friends, Alex, and Juan, when the plane is shot down by guerillas. Javier is (presumably) the lone survivor of the crash, but finds himself stranded in the middle of the jungle with inadequate resources. He must use his brains, his instincts, and his few resources to survive.

Told in first person journal-style, Ndura gives a detailed account of Javier's day-to day actions, which includes finding food, water and shelter, protecting himself from wild animals and insects, and trying to find his way back to civilization. It also includes-and this is one of my favorite parts-the range of emotions that Javier goes through: grief for the loss of his friends, homesickness, anger, survival guilt, pride at developing new survival skills, and gratitude and friendship towards the friendly tribe of Pymies who briefly host him. The plot is exciting and thrilling enough to keep you turning the pages, and Javier is a character you really start to care about.

Another one of my favorite parts was the fact that the author clearly put a lot of time and effort into doing research for this book. The reader will get to learn about various flora and fauna native to the African jungle, the culture and society of the Pygmies, and to a lesser extend, the state of political affairs in various African counties. Senor Calle even includes a list of tips for surviving in the wild. I thought that was cool. The ending is complet

One caveat: The English translation is imperfect ely unexpected and will leave you with a haunting mental image.and awkward in places but is understandable. Please don't let that keep you from enjoying this treat of a novel. Thank you, Senor Calle, for your contribution to the literary world.

Genre:

Young Adult
Psychological Thriller

Links:

Here is the Spanish version: http://www.amazon.com/Ndura-Spanish-Javier-Salazar-Calle-ebook/dp/B00LPINOUY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Jessica Wren's Author Spotlight and Review of Atomic Aardvark by Ryan Guy

Review

Title: Atomic Aardvark

My Review:

Ryan Guy, author of Atomic Aardvark, is a familiar name among the community of young-adult indie authors. Via his website, atomicaardvark.com, he features YA authors and even gives out copies of the books he features. Additionally, he is also a co-moderator in the Author Promo Co-op group, where he chooses the YA Book of the Month.

I read Atomic Aardvark after hearing from several friends that it was hilariously funny. I wasn’t disappointed. Marissa Mallory (‘Sirena’) has taken a job as a waitress at Aardvark Pasta to gain independence from her father, a junk food tycoon. The restaurant’s mascot is an aardvark named Aardy, to whom Marissa has become attached. She is also chatting with Conley (‘Ennui’) via social gaming and the two have plans to meet in person. A series of comical events prevent this meeting, the main one being a meteor that has landed in the Precipice, a giant drop-off that Marissa’s father uses as a dump site. Long story short, the combination of something within the meteor and the toxic waste give Aardy and an ordinary skunk later named Surly supernatural abilities, including the ability to communicate with humans. When Surly comes up with an absurd plan to kidnap Marissa, it is up to Conley and Aardy to rescue her.

The entire book is a bizarre and humorous comedy of errors. The randomness of it is the best part. Although it is intended as a comedy, Guy does address some more serious issues (albeit in a comical manner) such as environmentalism, corporate responsibility, identity theft, and over-dependence on technology. This is a highly recommended and enjoyable read for all ages.

Genre: 

Comedy

Young Adult

Science Fiction

Links: 

http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Aardvark-Ryan-Guy-ebook/dp/B00FVYWFR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437195370&sr=1-1&keywords=atomic+aardvark

CK Dawn Reviews Atomic Aardvark by Ryan Guy

Ryan Guy author of Atomic Aardvark

Links:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Aardvark-Ryan-Guy-ebook/dp/B00FVYWFR6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1437168454
Website: http://www.atomicaardvark.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atomicaardvark?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/that_rye_guy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25118066-atomic-aardvark

Author Spotlight-Lynne Murray

Title: Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone

Blurb and my review: 

Have you ever traveled to a foreign country? If so, do you remember how different it felt, and some of the local customs felt strange? Imagine visiting a foreign planet. In Lynne’s Murray’s novel Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone, which is a science-fiction comedy with just the right amount of erotica, Val-Sybilla (better known as Sybil) finds herself in that very situation.

While making a trip to transport a shipment of “Gravitas,” a powerful aphrodisiac within the Ritual Jewelry that the powerful women of the planet Valkyries wear, she and her companions stop at a market, where, to her horror, she finds her first (and favorite) husband Josu, chained and being offered for sale. Determined to find out the truth about what happened to Josu, she enters a ritualistic meditation state to conjure up the three (very interesting and diverse) “demons” who live in her head. When her meditation is interrupted by Gelbraves, a loutish delegate from a rival planet, they both, along with Josu, fall into a portal that makes them crash-land in the Forbidden Zone (known to us as “Earth.”).

One of my favorite parts of this novel is the witty dialogue. Although Sybil’s clueless culture shock is endearing, she turns out to be confident and resourceful as she attempts to figure out a way to return to Valkyries before the load of Gravitas that she is still carrying overwhelms her to the point that she can’t focus. I will have to add that the effect of the Gravitas on Sybil’s mental state is a tad underplayed, but readers will get that it is slowly having a debilitating effect on her and especially her “demons,” who are still trapped in her mind.

Valkyries is a matriarchal society. Women hold the positions of power. The women of Valkyries are polyandrous; they are not only encouraged but expected to have multiple husbands (even though Sybil briefly hints that she would prefer a monogamous marriage with Josu).Although Gravitas does have a feminist theme, this theme is presented very matter-of-factly so it’s not “in-your-face” and doesn’t appear to have a hidden agenda. 

I give this book five stars. A+ for character development, A for plot development, and A+ for plot flow. A highly recommended read. Check it out here:

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy/Comedy

Review: A Whisper in the Shadows by Tom Fallwell

Review: Renaria: Into The Abyss by J.L. Wilson

J.L. Wilson: Renaria
Website: http://author-jlwilson.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJLWilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJLWilson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23607791-renaria?from_search=true&search_version=service

Review: The Legend of the Light Keeper by Kelly Hall

Kelly Hall: Legend of the Light Keeper
Website: http://authorkellyhall.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkellyhall?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkellyhall
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25081972-the-legend-of-the-light-keeper
Amazon buy link: