Sci Fi/Fantasy Review: First Contact (Heroes for Hire #2) by C.S. Feldman

First Contact (Heroes for Hire #2)
by C.S. Feldman

Description:
Her first—and quite accidental—foray into the field of heroics brought plucky St. Louis waitress Peg Brickner more than one narrow escape from danger and doom in the magical land of Cantrial. But hey, the first Hero’s Quest is always the roughest, right? Right.

Unless maybe the next one involves airlocks that can suck people into the vacuum of outer space, warring alien races that are vying for political control of a planet, ruthless kidnappers, a ticking clock, and the ever-present risk of—God forbid—alien probings. And that’s before what was just supposed to be a simple ransom drop implodes.

Suddenly it’s up to Peg to come up with Plan B before a snatched comrade disappears forever, an alien client’s hapless offspring meet a grisly fate, or all-out war takes over the planet.

And all before her oxygen runs out.

Sure. What could possibly go wrong?


My Review:
Ah, so there IS a sci-fi element to these. First Contact brings us back to the misfit team of heroes (and the thief that keeps showing up at their gigs) introduced in discount prices. This time, the team is on a rescue mission.

If I had any doubt this series crosses between sci fi and fantasy, this installment puts it to rest. Aliens, carnivorous plants, and tech abound. There's a certain blend of whimsy, humor, and adventure that just works. If I had to describe it in one word, that word would be delightful.

I also very much enjoyed the descriptions of the various aliens and the natural way they interact with each other and their surroundings. I found it easy to imagine, though sometimes the imagined images were rather, um, weird, and slimy.

Overall, I loved this story, and am looking forward to more Heroes for Hire. Can't wait to see what they get up to in the next one. I'd recommend this to fans of fantasy and sci-fi, humor, and adventure.

I purchased my copy of this book.


About the Author:

C. S. Feldman loves all things fantasy related and writes both novels and screenplays. Stop by and say hi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCSFeldman or visit her at www.csfeldman.com.

Sci Fi/Fantasy Review: Discount Prices (Heroes for Hire #1) by C.S. Feldman

Discount Prices (Heroes for Hire #1)
by C.S. Feldman


Description:
Sure, everybody knows about the great heroes of legend. The ones people write songs about, the ones who lead the charge against the monsters that lay waste to cities or against an army of invaders that outnumber the good guys twenty to one—you know, the best heroes that money can buy. Trouble is, not everyone can afford their services.

Fortunately, the best heroes are not the only ones on the market.

Which is just what harried waitress Peg Brickner accidentally discovers after receiving an unusual—and, as it turns out, otherworldly—tip from a peculiar customer in the middle of one rotten dinner shift. Life on Earth is hard enough, but life in the magical world of Cantrial? Forget about it. Five minutes after being unsuspectingly yanked into it by an unscrupulous B-List talent scout for heroes, all Peg wants to do is get back home again before something in this crazy new world kills her or eats her with ketchup. Or both.

Trouble is, getting home may be a lot harder than leaving it was. Thanks to a bunch of greedy bureaucrats, Peg’s way home is about to be destroyed—unless she reluctantly joins a trio of magical misfits on a high-stakes heroes-for-hire mission in an attempt to recover stolen property before their rivals—or a roguishly charming thief—beat them to it.

She knew she should have called in sick today…


My Review:
They are literally heroes for hire, and when you meet the team, you understand why discount prices are necessary.

First off, I love the heroes. Every single one of the heroes has something seriously wrong with them. For example, the very best hero is a dog. That in itself is funny, but the author doesn't just leave it at the surface. This used to be a person, a real hero, and he's dealing with this every day, trying to be what he once was and trying to make something of the ridiculous team he's been given. That's one of the things I enjoyed, that these characters have depth, even when they are funny.

I'm not going into all of the characters, though, because meeting them in the book is preferred. I will say that the adventure they go on is rather exciting, especially through the eyes of the heroine, who is new to the whole adventuring thing and would rather be anywhere else doing anything else.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I'd recommend it to folks who enjoy fantasy and sci-fi. This one sort of blends the two, though it is heavier on the fantasy.

I purchased my copy of this book.


About the Author:

C. S. Feldman loves all things fantasy related and writes both novels and screenplays. Stop by and say hi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCSFeldman or visit her at www.csfeldman.com.

Fantasy Novella Review: Fey by C.S. Feldman

Fey
by C.S. Feldman

Description:
Nessa Donnelly never expected to see her estranged and eccentric father again, but a phone call summons her back to her hometown and to the hospital in which the elder Donnelly lies in a comatose state for which his doctors have no explanation. Bit by bit, long-buried family secrets emerge, and Nessa begins to realize that those secrets were kept hidden from her for a reason.

She also realizes that there is something in the woods behind her father’s house that he never told her about, something that can’t be explained.

And she is also not as alone in his house as she thought she was…


My Review:
Fey is about a young woman returning home when her father falls into a coma. As she settles back into her family home, strange things start happening.

I must say I was quite impressed with this story. For a shorter read, it packs quite a bit of danger and suspense, some mystery, and plenty of magic, all in a contemporary setting.

I found this to be an excellent story in a small package and would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy, fey and dark fairytales.

I purchased my copy of this book.


About the Author:

C. S. Feldman loves all things fantasy related and writes both novels and screenplays. Stop by and say hi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCSFeldman or visit her at www.csfeldman.com and get a sneak peek at the upcoming Heroes for Hire fantasy adventure series.


Other books by this author:


I can personally vouch for The Bloodline. That one's super creepy and suspenseful. No gore. I had no idea what was coming. Perfect! I don't think I've reviewed it anywhere because I believe I got it as a beta read. Glad to see it out!