Dystopian Review: Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

Magisterium
by Jeff Hirsch

Description:
On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.

Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea of what might be on the other side of it. Glenn's only friend, Kevin, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn't for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality: Glenn's mother disappeared when she was six, and soon after, she lost her scientist father to his all-consuming work on the mysterious Project. Glenn buries herself in her studies and dreams about the day she can escape. But when her father's work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that will send Glenn and Kevin on the run---with only one place to go.

With MAGISTERIUM, Jeff Hirsch brings us the story of a complex, captivating world that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.


My Review:
Magisterium is a rather odd blend of fantasy and science fiction. The world is split along a rift between science and magic, and Glenn is a child of both worlds.

This story starts off seeming to point in one direction, then goes somewhere wholly unexpected. The shift in Glenn’s goals is well done, and I must say the conclusion surprised me. The magic and Glenn’s experiments with it are fantastic, coming alive in the mind’s eye.

That being said, I would have liked to see more world building, particularly with regard to the history and cause of the rift, but there is enough there to hold the story together. I’d also liked to have seen just a bit more of the science fiction explained, but this book is focused mostly on the fantasy.

Overall, I really liked this book, which I borrowed as an audiobook from the library. Folks who enjoy fantasy with a touch of sci-fi might like this, but I have a feeling the story might just come off better in audio than in text.


About the Author:

Jeff Hirsch lives in Astoria, New York with his wife who blogs and writes about sewing. They have two cats, but on his various author pages, Jeff is sure to mention his future dog who shall be named Jerry Lee Lewis. He studied both acting and creative writing, and has an MFA in creative writing.

I recommend popping over to both his Goodreads and Amazon profiles to learn more (and see his much more witty versions of this bio). Links below.

Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Profile
Twitter @jeff_hirsch

Apocalyptic Review: Desecration (Left Behind #9) by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

Desecration (Left Behind #9)
by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins


Description:
The exciting ninth book in the Left Behind series that has sold over 2.5 million copies in hardcover is now available in trade paperback. In November 2001 "Desecration" was #1 on the "New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, " and "CBA Marketplace" best-seller lists. With 50 million products sold, the Left Behind series is an international phenomenon.


My Review:
This one was pretty good!

What I most enjoyed is that God is getting visibly involved, and not only to his loyal followers. Angelic interventions, Chaim and Buck's mission, the battles, and the crazy cliffhanger. Even mystical abilities and manna make an appearance. On the other hand, the sacrifices are much more poignant, including the loss of a few prominent characters from the earliest pages.

Anyhow, this one was much more exciting than the last two, but it definitely leaves you hanging, though not in the "I wonder if they'll make it" sense, unless the reader hasn't been paying attention. The biblical quotes reveal the answer for the specific targets subject to said cliffhanger. And based on the literal nature of the story to this point, I'd say it's only a matter of describing how.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. Folks who've made it this far will probably dig it, too. It's a good bit more exciting than the last two.

I borrowed this from a friend.


About the Authors: 

Timothy "Tim" F. LaHaye was an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker, best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Timothy "Tim" F. LaHaye was an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker, best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins.

He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye. Jenkins has written over 185 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins now teaches writers to become authors here at his website. He and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.

Books in this Series:

Dystopian Review: The Giver (The Giver #1) by Lois Lowry

The Giver (The Giver #1)
by Lois Lowry


Description:
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.

1994 Newbery Medal winner. Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.


My Review:
The Giver is set in a future where humanity is conditioned for harmony and perfection and condensed into tiny pockets of civilization where life and knowledge are closely regulated. Behind it all, though is the Keeper, a person assigned the onerous task of remembering the full and true history of mankind in all its glory and horror. When Jonas is selected as the new Keeper, the former one becomes the Giver, imparting all of his knowledge in a one-way transfer.

What I love most about this book is how Jonas slowly begins to understand the nature of his society. The emotional underpinnings, which only he and the Keeper can experience, are heart wrenching. I think the author did a fantastic job portraying both the best and worst of humanity. And I also loved that once given, everything about the transferred idea, its emotion, memory and importance, are lost to the Giver.

I saw the movie before I listened to the audiobook, but the two are pretty close. Surprisingly, the ambiguous ending of the film was spot on. The ending in the book left me with that same sense of unease and ambiguity. Did he make it or not? I still have no idea, but it did leave me thinking.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I’d recommend it to folks who enjoy dystopian stories with embedded lessons. It’s a chilling, yet hopeful read.

I picked this audiobook up from the library.


About the Author:

Lois Lowry is known for her versatility and invention as a writer. She was born in Hawaii and grew up in New York, Pennsylvania, and Japan. After several years at Brown University, she turned to her family and to writing.

She is the author of more than thirty books for young adults, including the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader.s Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, NUMBER THE STARS and THE GIVER. Her first novel, A SUMMER TO DIE, was awarded the International Reading Association.s Children.s Book Award.

Ms. Lowry now divides her time between Cambridge and an 1840s farmhouse in Maine. To learn more about Lois Lowry, see her website at www.loislowry.com.

The Giver Quartet:
Hmm, now that I'm prepping this post, I see that this is actually a quartet, and the ambiguous ending doesn't seem that bad anymore now that I know there is more.

Contemporary Romance Excerpt and Tour Stop: Helping her Remember by Kate Carley

I am excited to share HELPING HER REMEMBER by Kate Carley. Fans of second-chance romance will find this heartwarming story of redemption. Follow the tour for exclusive excerpts, reviews, and a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card + three runner-ups will get an ebook copy of HELPING HER REMEMBER.

Helping Her Remember
by Kate Carley

Release Date: February 26, 2018
Series: The Crawford Falls Series
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description:
Kelly’s back. How can two simple words make Dylan Bronstad’s heart ache and sing at the same time?

Even seven years ago, Kelly Anne Leeson had possessed that power. Back then, all Dylan wanted to do was drink and make love to her. Really, it was no wonder she’d climbed out of his bed and walked out of his life, leaving him with nothing but a nasty hangover and the lonely memories of their time together.

Today, Dylan’s life is on track. He’s sober with the support of his family and his tight-knit group of friends. But Kelly could derail all he’s worked to accomplish. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to stay away from her.

Lured by the offer of her dream job, Kelly returns home to Crawford Falls and the friends she’d abandoned a lifetime ago. Mending those broken relationships will require some honest answers and a fair amount of forgiveness.

But facing Dylan will take a lot more—like maybe a suit of armor to protect her battle-weary heart and the secret she fears she’ll never be able to keep.

While Kelly searches for a way to maintain the safe life she’s created for her son, Dylan works to remind her of the relationship they once had.

Just as they rekindle their relationship, secrets and half-truths threaten to destroy everything.

Buy Now: Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Chapters


Read on for an excerpt...

YA Fantasy Review: Trial by Fire (Worldwalker #1) by Josephine Angelini

Trial by Fire (Worldwalker #1)
by Josephine Angelini


Description:
Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted... which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of all the Crucibles is Lillian... Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the savior of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?


My Review:
Lily, in a moment of weakness spawned by her best friend’s betrayal, is swept into another world by another version of herself.

What I liked most about this was the magic system. The Crucible’s magic and the bonds they make with their guardians, the idea that one could choose to become so powerful, but only by submitting to the will of another, intrigued me. That the main love interest was betrayed by such a bond added quite a bit of tension, as did the identity of the betrayer. Fantastic.

As for the love triangle, it is rather standard. Enough pros and cons for each fellow to allow the reader to fall into one camp or another, but still the author’s preference shines through. The complexities of the cross-world doppelgangers are exceptionally done, providing a great deal of conflict as the characters have to constantly overcome their preconceptions.

On the other hand, this story didn’t really catch me up and pull me in. It just felt a little standard and expected, despite the multi-verse aspect. The activism and save-the-planet themes felt a little heavy-handed, even though both worlds’ Lily’s approached it in vastly different ways.

Overall, I liked the book, but it was a little standard to the genre. I think folks who enjoy a bit of fantasy, alternate reality, and romance would enjoy this book.

I borrowed the audiobook from the library, and I must say the narration was very well done.


About the Author:

Josie was born in a tiny town in Massachusetts called Ashland. When she meets people from Massachusetts and tells them ‘what part’ she hails from, she usually gets one of two answers. The first is: “Isn’t that in Oregon?” And the second is: “I drove by it once on Rt. 9, I think.”

Her next stop was about as different from Ashland as it gets without leaving the country. As soon as Josie was legal, she packed a bag and moved to New York City to attend NYU. Somehow, she managed to squeeze in a little higher learning between bartending shifts and graduated with a BFA.

Massively in debt with college loans, she then moved to Los Angeles for reasons that are still a little blurry. Something about the weather was mentioned, and a vague idea to write poetry and find herself. She found that she is a terrible poet, but she never gave up on the writing bit.

Josie still lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter, and now writes YA fiction.

Author Links:
Author Page
Amazon
Goodreads
Twitter @josieangelini