New Release Review: All Thy Sons by K.M. Breakey

All Thy Sons
by K.M. Breakey

Released: February 3, 2019

Genre: Political Fiction

Description:
Life's unfolding on schedule for Tony Fierro. Raised in Vancouver by a loving Catholic family, he's blessed with good looks and self-confidence to burn. He gets the job. He woos the girl. He has the world by the tail.

But the world is acting strangely. Irrationally. Immorally. Tony questions the progressive mantras that pervade modern-day culture, but quietly. Better to ignore them, laugh at them, even as the absurdities multiply and turn dangerous.

His pal Ivan senses the evil lurking and warns of impending calamity. But Ivan's paranoid. An alarmist. He always was. Tony's got better things to do, like raise his boys, pay his mortgage, live his life.

When tragedy strikes, Tony's world crashes. He wakes from his slumber and sees a country at war with itself, a government complicit in the destruction, the pattern playing out across the Western World.

He can no longer stay silent, but will his message cross the line as a new Dystopian order rises. All Thy Sons explores a hellish future of chaos and racial violence. A future where remaining First World sanctuaries vanish with stunning rapidity.

What happens when there are no safe neighborhoods, or cities, or countries? Do we lapse into tribalism? Do we rise? Or does a new master rise?


My Thoughts:
This looked like another exciting, disturbing, and deep read by K.M. Breakey, but I had it on my to-be-read queue for a while, mainly because I wanted to be in the right frame of mind to fully enjoy and process it.

So now that I have read it, what did I think? It was what I expected, in general. A deep dive into one person's perspective of the social and political landscape, but built from their youth, through today, and then into the near future. Unlike Never, Never, and Never Again, this one doesn't stop at the present day, but takes a stab at where today's trends might take us.

Now for why it took me so long to read this. Simply put, I knew from past reads that the scenarios, opinions, outcomes, and examples would directly or indirectly conflict with my own life view. It's tough to prepare yourself to read something that's going to challenge how you perceive the world, but I keep reading Mr. Breakey's books because I think it's important to see the other side, to empathize, if not sympathize, with someone else’s deeply held beliefs.

Did this book convert me to another way of thinking? No, not exactly, but it did point out some interesting things, and I will try to pay more attention when I see them in real life. As for the writing and the story telling? They're spot on. This is a well-thought out story that stays true to its purpose and the guiding principles and influencing events of its characters.

On the other hand, I found it a bit politically preachy in places, especially when the friends in the book would engage in conversations with only one viewpoint or when one of the participants in a scene was portrayed as wrongheaded and unrealistically naive. Are there folks out there like that? Yeah, but not everyone who disagrees with someone's viewpoint is wrong or illogical or to be pitied, no matter which side we're talking about.

In any case, my biggest takeaway from this book is that it isn't necessarily one political leaning or another that can lead our society to its destruction. Instead, it is the polarization, the open hostility, and even the artificial harmony that hides the strong fears and prejudices that people really feel. As in this story's dystopian outcome, this internal strife (and by internal, I mean amongst those in a single country or community) weakens us and makes us vulnerable to outside interests who may want to exploit us or even take over.

Is that what the author wanted me to learn? I'm not sure. But it is what I took away. Does this story leave you feeling warm and fuzzy? Nope, and it doesn't mean to.  In fact, if you're progressive or liberal, I feel like this story might deeply offend or even anger you, so take that into consideration. Still, I think it provides a valuable look into another perspective, whether or not that perspective is popular in the mainstream, wrong or right. That's why I read this book and will probably read more by this author.

Overall, I really liked the book, but found it personally challenging to read it with an open mind. It left me thinking and didn't leave me feeling comfortable with the way things are going in the world, not that I was particularly comfortable anyway.  Recommended for folks who like political fiction and fictional memoirs.

I received the review copy of this book from the author.

About the Author:

K.M. Breakey was born in Toronto and educated at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. He spent 25 years in Software Development before turning full attention to writing in 2016, with the success of his 3rd novel. Johnny and Jamaal fearlessly explores racial dysfunction in America, from perspectives you won't hear in mainstream media. His latest, Never, Never and Never Again, tackles South Africa's complicated history, from Apartheid, through Transformation, and into the chaos currently laying waste to this once-prosperous nation. In an age of mass media distortion and rapid erosion of free speech, Mr. Breakey sees fiction as a powerful vehicle to disseminate truth and expose lies.

He has also published Creator Class and The World Clicks. To learn more, visit kmbreakey.com.


Books by this Author:

Why do I keep reading these books?

by Patricia Hamill

Why do I keep reading these books over and over?

Back in the day (read pre-ebook), it was because those were the books on my shelf. I already owned them. They were there. I was there. It was like destiny.

Well, maybe not exactly like destiny. Would you buy convenience?

Great. Moving on.

For today though, why?

If you follow my blog (or my Twitter or Goodreads profile), you've probably seen a few things pop up over and over, and let me tell you, that's just the tip of the iceberg. I don't always post my re-reads. Especially not before Goodreads started letting them count towards the annual reading challenge.

I wish I had an answer for you, but it's a bit hard to pin down. Perhaps it has to do with the story. Or maybe my mood. Perhaps it's a reset between challenging reads. Or maybe a time delay, you know, like the story must be read every x years and always from the beginning. Or it could be that a new installment came out (again, must read from beginning, must!).

Really, it's any and all of these things.

Let's take The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I've read these four books so many times I've lost count. Even though I know what's going to happen, I don't care. For this one it's a mix between nostalgia and the need to remind myself why I fell in love with epic fantasy. I first read these books as a tween, sitting in my room, following first Bilbo and then Frodo on their quests. To this day, I can still recall the chills from that first reading when the Ringwraiths made their first appearance.

On par with these, but a much greater investment in time, are the Wheel of Time books. 

Good golly, there are so many! And each one of them is like reading all of the LOTR books. For this one, the re-reads were necessary. These things are not only massive, but complex, interrelated, and brilliant. To keep up, I had to be fresh. Every time a new one came out, I was picking up The Eye of the World to start over from the top. By the last book, A Memory of Light, book 14, yes 14, of this series that literally takes up an entire shelf in my house, catching up was a year and a half investment in time. I must admit that on that last reading I gave up on the re-reads around book 6 and jumped to book 14. I haven't picked them up since so I'm thinking that my guess must be right. I was only reading these over and over to get ready for the next one. I might read them again, but like I said, that's about a year and a half of diligent reading.

Let's see, what else do I re-read?

Ah yes, Harry Potter. This one I jumped in on when almost the whole series was already out, so it wasn't so much the same boat as Wheel of Time; instead, it was the feeling, that sense of wonder and discovery. That magic is real. That I'm a child again, only this time, I'm receiving post by owl and picking out my wand at Ollivanders. Of course, on the fifth book in, that wonder flees and the story goes dark, becomes a thrilling and tragic adventure, but still I read, and I always seem to pick these up whenever I need that feeling of wonder, even knowing where it will take me.

Ok, here's one. My guilty pleasure. 

The Twilight Saga. Oh yes, sparkling vampires and all. Why do I read this over and over? I literally have no idea. Really. I only picked them up for the first time a couple years ago, but since then, I've read the whole series two or three times a year. I guess if pressed, I'd have to say they're like a reset. They're comfortable. They're fun. Nothing too deep. A bit of YA. Some danger. Some romance (albeit not exactly the epitome of healthy relationship). Do I really need a reason?

Oh, one more!

There may be a trend here, but I also read The Death's Gate Cycle over and over, though it's been a few years since the last time I picked it up. Seven books, normal sized, just as epic as LOTR and TWOT. Haplo, the ultimate anti-hero. You root for him and against him at the same time. Alfred, kindly old man with a secret. The Earth splintered into four broken elemental versions of itself, all to save it from an evil race of powerful beings. This story always blows my mind, and I do like to set it aside for a few years between reading, so it feels fresh, and that probably means I'm due to read it again.

As for standalones? 

Well, Battlefield Earth is one I've read many more times than strictly necessary. I always enjoy that it is really two complete stories in the one book. The part leading up to the conflict at the pad, where the humans fight back against the Psychlos (am I remembering that right?), and the second part where they fight to keep what they won. It's a well-done story, highly entertaining.

And one more, the one I'm reading again right now. 

The Otherland series. These I read over and over because the story is intriguing on so many levels. Much of the action happens in virtual reality, but one that's so real that those involved aren't quite sure the "puppets" aren't sentient. That brings up questions of morality, of mortality (would you choose to live in VR forever if it meant dying in real life?), and of friendship. That the main love interests must grapple with the fact that they're stuck in VR and one of them looks like a baboon always brings a chuckle. But this story is gripping on a visceral level to me. I had to work for it, too. The first time I tried to read this as a teenager, I got about 70 pages in and gave up. I thought it was a war book.  I came across the paperback again when I was in the Navy (thank you to all who donate to the Navy libraries, by the way). I picked it up again, and this time I kept going. Wouldn't you know about 10 pages past that, it gets good!

Ok, one more, promise.

This one also I re-read because I had to work for it, despite the fact that I always fall asleep when I do. The Circle of Light, first of which is Greyfax Grimwald. I first read this one when I was in fourth grade. I read it and then spent the next 10 years searching for the rest (I'm not kidding). It wasn't until Amazon came about that I finally found it and its companions. That's a long wait to find out how a story ends, let me tell you!

And oh my goodness! 

These are in Kindle! My taped up, out of print Circle of Light paperbacks don't have to be the end. Tearing up a little, to be honest...

Ok, since I'm not actually writing a novel here, I think I'll have to stop. Those are my big ones. My must-read-agains.

What are yours? Share in the comments!

Fantasy Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau

Kingdom of Exiles
by Maxym Martineau

Description:
Fantastic Beasts meets Assassin's Creed in this epic, gripping fantasy romance from debut author Maxym M. Martineau.

Exiled beast charmer Leena Edenfrell is in deep trouble. Empty pockets forced her to sell her beloved magical beasts on the black market—an offense punishable by death—and now there's a price on her head. With the realm's most talented murderer-for-hire nipping at her heels, Leena makes him an offer he can't refuse: powerful mythical creatures in exchange for her life.

If only it were that simple. Unbeknownst to Leena, the undying ones are bound by magic to complete their contracts, and Noc cannot risk his brotherhood of assassins...not even to save the woman he can no longer live without.


My Review:
Kingdom of Exiles takes you on a journey through a world of assassins, magical beasts, curses, and romance.

What I most enjoyed about this book is that it’s both romance and fantasy, and both are done equally well. I get a bit tired of contemporary and historical romances, but toss in some magical beasts, a curse, and a quest, and I’m one happy reader. I loved the dynamic of the budding romance, and the tension builds on multiple levels. None of that mess where the love interests hate each other, but true internal conflict, desire, and sacrifice. Solid.

That being said, while the beast magic is fleshed out, the world building isn’t quite there. I picked up that the Charmers live separately, but didn’t understand where until the very end. I understood that there was a kingdom, but there were only hints and inklings of it and its history, as if it were a faraway place rather than the country where everyone in the story lives. The story tends to focus more on the character interactions, the building tension, and the development of backstory, but at the expense of the larger world.

As for the steam rating, it’s up there, especially later on in the book. Detailed, steamy, and a bit coarse. Nothing is left to the imagination, so yeah. If you’re in it for the fantasy alone, you might be in for a surprise. I read through the first scene, but the others, well, I just kind of skimmed through. The good thing, in my opinion, is that the racy content doesn’t take over the book. It’s a part of it, but not the main event.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of romance who dig fantasy as well. Definitely targets adult readers who either prefer or don’t mind erotic content.

I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley.


About the Author:

 

Maxym M. Martineau is a staff writer by day, and a fantasy romance author by night. When she's not getting heated over broken hearts, she enjoys playing video games, sipping a well-made margarita, binge-watching television shows, competing in just about any sport, and of course, reading.
Following her passion, Maxym earned her bachelor's degree in English Literature from Arizona State University. She's a member of Romance Writers of America, and currently lives in Arizona with her husband and their dogs. She is represented by Cate Hart of Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her debut, Kingdom of Exiles, is slated for release in June 2019 with Sourcebooks.

Amazon  |  Goodreads

SciFi Review: Crossline by Russ Colchamiro

Crossline
by Russ Colchamiro

Description:
Perfect for fans of Firefly, Flash Gordon, Stargate, and Escape from New York...

Hotdog pilot Marcus Powell has been selected to test Taurus Enterprises' Crossline prototype craft and its newly developed warp thrusters, which, if successful, will revolutionize space travel as we know it.

But during his jaunt across the stars, Powell is forced into a parallel universe -- including a parallel Earth -- where he finds himself at the center of an epic battle he may have been destined for all along.

Meanwhile, back home, reclusive oil tycoon and Taurus CEO Buddy Rheams Jr. -- who sent Powell on that very mission -- has a mysterious past and a secret agenda, one that could prevent Powell from ever making it back to his wife and little girl.  From author Russ Colchamiro, Crossline is a psychedelic, action-packed romp across time, space, and dimension that asks the question: once you cross the line, can you ever really go back?

Goodreads |   Amazon

My Review:
Crossline attempts to tackle the complexities of time, space, and alternate dimensions. Neither of the two Earths are our own, so the author takes liberties with both, imagining the what-ifs and throwing not one, but two dimension travelers into the mix.

The story starts off strong from a sci-fi perspective by launching us into space along with Powell, but for me, I didn’t really get engaged until we shift to Buddy’s story, and oh, what a story that is! It’s one of those cases where I develop a favorite character early on, and then whenever time is spent on someone else, I’m on edge until the story goes back.

I also very much enjoyed Jesse and Chandra’s story, though Jesse would be my favorite if I had to pick between them. She’s sort of the bridge that holds everything together, and the fact that she’s basically a preschooler makes it all the better. She really shines in the finale.

Oddly enough, what should have been the main draw, what happens to Powell, was where I had issues. I found certain scenes confusing and others lacking the emotion that I think they were meant to convey. Despite some intriguing and exciting parts, too many scenes in Powell’s story hop from one to the other or progress only through deus ex machina (the muffins being one example).

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, particularly the parts featuring Buddy and Powell’s wife and daughter, Chandra and Jesse. The unique blend of mystical, scientific, and hypothetical make it an interesting read.

I’d recommend this to folks who dig sci-fi with a bit of paranormal/tribal fused in. It’s a good length and worth a read!

I received the review copy of this book from the author via Lola’s Blog Tours.

About the Author:
Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany SF/F backpacking comedy series Finders Keepers: The Definitive Edition, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, and is editor of the new SF anthology Love, Murder & Mayhem, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two ninjas, and crazy dog Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself. Russ has also contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, Altered States of the Union, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, They Keep Killing Glenn, Camelot 13, and Brave New Girls.

He is now working on the first novel in a new series featuring his hardboiled private eye Angela Hardwicke, and the first of three collaborative novella projects.

Russ is repped by The Zack Compnay.

For more on and Russ’s books, you can visit www.russcolchamiro.com, follow him on Twitter @AuthorDudeRuss, and ‘like’ his Facebook author page www.facebook.com/RussColchamiroAuthor.

You can find and contact Russ Colchamiro here:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Paranormal Romance Review: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray

Sorceress (Spellcaster #3)
by Claudia Gray

Description:
To save the lives of countless people in Captive’s Sound, Nadia has sworn herself to the One Beneath, to black magic. Her plan, and the town’s only hope, is for Nadia to learn enough sorcery to strike back against the forces of darkness. But now that she’s separated from her friends, her family, and her Steadfast, Mateo, Nadia is more vulnerable than ever to darkness. And as the sorceress Elizabeth summons torrential rains and brings the One Beneath closer to the mortal world, Nadia is running out of time to stop her. The final battle lines are drawn, surprising alliances are made, and true love is tested in the action-packed conclusion to the breathtaking Spellcaster series.

Sorceress is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.


My Review:
As with books one and two, I borrowed this audiobook from the library.

This was a great conclusion to the trilogy! I had no idea how they were going to dig themselves out of the holes they dug in book two. Kept me guessing until the end.

I loved how the different storylines play out. Recommended for fans of YA and Paranormal Romance. The audio was very well performed.

About the Author:

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing. 

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