Among the Dead by Stephen A. Kennedy

 

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

Description:

“A pandemic sweeps across the globe. Everything shuts down. Airports, businesses, schools. Cell phone service and electricity soon follow. The virus turns people insane, causing them to attack anything that moves. Armed forces are quickly overrun, and every citizen is in a fight for their life.

Samantha survives the initial onslaught of infected. But now she decides to venture out from upstate New York to find her husband, who was stranded in Los Angeles. Determined to be reunited with her love, she sets out through the hell that the United States has become.

Along the way, she meets Jason, another survivor, who was separated from his wife in Flagstaff, Arizona. They decide to travel together, helping each other reach their spouses. They soon find they’ll have to make difficult decisions in order to survive.

But how long can someone cling to their values and morals in a world that has abandoned such things?”

Author:

A native of Kansas, Stephen A. Kennedy has been writing for several years. This appears to be his first book of a planned trilogy. For more, checkout his Facebook page.

Appraisal:

I think it would be fair to say that my thoughts and feelings about this book are contradictory and all over the place. It felt like it had a lot of proofing issues, but when I reviewed my notes it hadn’t gone over the limit I’ve set where I’ll start deducting stars from the ranking for that reason, although it came very close to that line. I found that I liked the characters, enjoyed getting to know them, and was pulling for them, curious as to where the story was going to go.

The pandemic at the heart of the story hit close to home, as it might with most potential readers, and yet is enough different from the reality that it isn’t hitting too close. Yet that aspect helped draw me in more than that kind of thing has when I’ve read post-apocalyptic books involving a pandemic in the past.

I hadn’t registered that this was intended to be the first of a trilogy, but didn’t expect the story to come to a clean end for the characters, only a clean ending for this phase of the overall story, which it did. I can’t explain my thinking or any of the details without it being a spoiler, but I can say that the ending of this book hit me wrong. It made it feel like what I thought I knew about one character was a lie. The reaction of the other main character, especially in light of some other significant recent events, seemed illogical. Instead of leaving me wondering what was going to happen in book two I was left wondering if I really wanted to know or still cared enough about the characters to find out.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Borderline with lots of proofing issues, but not quite enough to impact the rating.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons by Nan Sweet

 

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Adventure

Description:

“Ivy and Carrie love their new classroom even if the new teacher is a little strange. When Mrs. Huffity asks for volunteers to care for an egg, Ivy doesn’t budge. She’s had a few scary dreams about that egg and wants nothing to do with it.

But when trouble comes, Ivy defends the egg. In her desire to save the baby that hatches, Ivy is tossed into the middle of an adventure. She discovers more than she ever wanted to know about fierce winds and fiery dragons.”

Author:

“About Nan Sweet: I don't eat dragons, fairies, or toadstools, although I will admit to swallowing the occasional gnat. One really couldn't swallow a dragon or fairy without full knowledge. In addition, I write. You'll find my books are full of adventures and well, dragons. Soon I'll be entering a new galaxy with a science fiction adventure. I look forward to seeing you there.”

To learn more about Ms. Sweet you can visit her website or follow heron Facebook.

Appraisal:

Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons is quite an elaborate fantasy tale. Ivy and Carrie are best friends starting fifth grade with a teacher who is new to the school. Mrs. Huffity is strange. Her voice changes to a low gravely sound at times and she says what sounds like a prophecy to the girls. Mrs. Huffity seems to be hiding this colorful egg by assigning kids to take the egg home with them and then bring it back to class the following day. All the kids think the egg is a fake, except Ivy, who has been having bad dreams about the egg. However, when Ivy and Carrie see David, who was assigned to babysit the egg, stuff the egg in his locker for the night, they break into his locker and take the egg for safe keeping.

Both girls are thrown into a fantasy world full of strange creatures. Carrie is captured and thrown into a cage in an underground world whose inhabitants live in darkness. Ivy ends above ground, abandoned after a heroic rescue mission. Then she navigates this strange world trying to find Mrs. Huffity or Carrie, while trying not to get eaten.

This is a unique story that will capture a middle grade student’s interest with an adventure that is exciting, a bit tense, and a bit frightening at times. Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons also explores familial dynamics and friendships. The journey of these two friends were different, and fun to watch as they grew more confident in their ability to face whatever life throws at them.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons is book 1 in Sweet’s, Dusky Hollows Series.

Format/Typo Issues:

The only significant proofing issue I found was the author spelled Barry’s name, Barrie -- one time. Barry is a secondary character so it was a minor detail to me.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom by Teresa Schapansky

Genre: Children’s Fiction/Fantasy

Description: 

Imogene and her mother, Elsie, visit Aunt Agnes on her huge estate facing the Pacific Ocean. There, Imogene meets Sampson, the butler, who treats her like a princess. Auntie Agnes is not so nice. 

Unfortunately for Imogene, Elsie must join her husband, who left their home on an emergency. Elsie promises she will return for Imogene, but it wouldn’t be for five years.

For the next half decade Imogene lives in the huge mansion with her controlling and humorless aunt. The only plus is Sampson, who becomes the child’s best friend. And why not? Agnes refuses to let Imogene have friends in her home or go out unless it’s to attend school.

When Imogene turns ten everything changes when she learns about her family’s past and the world she came from—the Pacific Kingdom.

Author:

As a child, Teresa Schapansky enjoyed reading fantasies and fairy tales. When she became a mom, her daughters inspired her to write Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom. Schapansky joined forces with Bob Winterford to create Eye Wonder Studios Publishing, Inc. They have created the twelve-book “Along the Way” series for younger readers. Find out more about her at her website.

Appraisal:

With simplicity young children can relate to, Teresa Schapansky writes an entertaining story that digs into the fantasies of every young girl. For example, what little girl wouldn’t want a four-day weekend or live in a castle? The author does so through light-hearted fun and exciting adventure.

The plot for Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom flowed nicely with entertaining scenes and enough action and suspense to keep young readers engaged.  

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

I noticed a few editorial errors that jarred me away from the story. For example, when a writer provides dialogue and description of the character’s action, it all belongs in one paragraph. I often noticed a character speaking and then another character’s actions described in that same paragraph—a huge no-no, and a good way to induce reader confusion. 

Rating: *** 3 stars

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words