Ice Phoenix - reviewed by Jake Vyper of Fantascize.com
- Sulin Young's Ice Phoenix is a rare kind of novel that melds elements of science fantasy and manga to create a dreamlike experience full of wonders, exotic worlds, and epic battles. Much of Ice Phoenix'scharm is pinned on the book hitting different fan sectors. Young-Adult readers would find its adventurous story exciting. Anime fans have the novel's fast-paced Shōnen-style action, mobile suits, and an energy or "qi" system that reminds me of the chakra in Naruto or the power in Dragon Ball Z. Comedy fans have Baneyon (a significant comic-relief character). Lastly, the epic fantasy fans would relish its vast and outlandish milieus, and its undying struggle against evil.
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Read Jungle Adventure by Ian Serraillier
A very long time ago, when I was young and carefree, with all the time in the world to do nothing because my house was stuck in the middle of nowhere and I had no one to play with, I wandered into the storage room and dug this out of my sister's carton of discarded curriculum. Not many people have heard of this book, because it was only circulated around schools and the recommended reading age was between 8 and 12 years old.
Anyway, I was only 7 when I started reading this and I remember making my way to the living room, settling down on the carpet with a glass of orange juice and diving into Brazil. Even to this day, this has been the only school curriculum book that has remained with me - I detested all the others, 'Hamlet, Swiss Family Robinson, The Old Man and the Sea, etc., etc.', simply because studying literature at school was the ultimate buzz kill. But seriously, I hated The Old Man and the Sea - it made me want to stab someone, pull my hair out, or scream at the old man to jump into the sea to end his deluded life. Ironically, Ernest Hemingway, the author, did take his own life ... sad. The man had quite a life, survived 2 plane crashes, a bush fire and served in the war.
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Read Affairs of the Dead by A. J. Locke
Publication Date: April 17, 2013
Help ghosts, stop a thief, and try not to die…
Necromancer Selene Vanream helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can move on. But when breaking the rules gets her in trouble, she’s bumped down to tracking ghosts trying to avoid the afterlife. Ghosts like Ethan Lance, who claims he was kicked out of his body when someone else jumped in. Which might be plausible—if such a thing were possible. And if Micah, Selene’s partner, didn’t pull her into an investigation of brutal murders that lead directly back to Ethan.
But when the whole mess puts Selene’s life in danger, she suddenly has very personal reasons to get Ethan’s body back. Between her uncomfortable relationship with Micah, and problems with her boss, Selene learns just how much trouble it can be when you don’t follow the rules…
Publication Date: April 17, 2013
Help ghosts, stop a thief, and try not to die…
Necromancer Selene Vanream helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can move on. But when breaking the rules gets her in trouble, she’s bumped down to tracking ghosts trying to avoid the afterlife. Ghosts like Ethan Lance, who claims he was kicked out of his body when someone else jumped in. Which might be plausible—if such a thing were possible. And if Micah, Selene’s partner, didn’t pull her into an investigation of brutal murders that lead directly back to Ethan.
But when the whole mess puts Selene’s life in danger, she suddenly has very personal reasons to get Ethan’s body back. Between her uncomfortable relationship with Micah, and problems with her boss, Selene learns just how much trouble it can be when you don’t follow the rules…
Read Stones Data by Jacob Whaler
Publication Date: August 22, 2013
Alexander the Great. Genghis Kahn. Julius Caesar. Attila the Hun. Mao. Stalin.
For thousands of years, the Stones have been hidden among us, giving a privileged few the power to rule over masses, destroy old empires and create new ones.
Now it's near the end of the 21st century. On the eve of a trip to Japan, Matt Newmark finds a dark rock in the shape of a claw, and it changes everything. With the help of a Shinto priest, he discovers it’s a Stone, a piece of ancient alien technology that gives him a sweeping view of history and control over time, matter and energy.
But Matt is not alone. Mikal Ryzaard, a survivor of the Nazi death camps, has a Stone of his own and a burning vision to eliminate suffering and bring back Paradise. With all the resources of the world's largest multinational corporation behind him, he tracks down Matt and makes him an offer. Join me or die.
This is the first book in the Stones series, a new techno-thriller quadriligy by Jacob Whaler. More information available at http://jacobwhaler.com. Read full review.
Publication Date: August 22, 2013
Alexander the Great. Genghis Kahn. Julius Caesar. Attila the Hun. Mao. Stalin.
For thousands of years, the Stones have been hidden among us, giving a privileged few the power to rule over masses, destroy old empires and create new ones.
Now it's near the end of the 21st century. On the eve of a trip to Japan, Matt Newmark finds a dark rock in the shape of a claw, and it changes everything. With the help of a Shinto priest, he discovers it’s a Stone, a piece of ancient alien technology that gives him a sweeping view of history and control over time, matter and energy.
But Matt is not alone. Mikal Ryzaard, a survivor of the Nazi death camps, has a Stone of his own and a burning vision to eliminate suffering and bring back Paradise. With all the resources of the world's largest multinational corporation behind him, he tracks down Matt and makes him an offer. Join me or die.
This is the first book in the Stones series, a new techno-thriller quadriligy by Jacob Whaler. More information available at http://jacobwhaler.com. Read full review.
Reading Beware the Ills by Patrick W. Marsh
Publication Date: July 7, 2013
Description: For the last 30 years he has been the sole protector of the legendary Diamond Town. Every hour it snows, howls, and storms. Every week, wave after wave of invaders crawl through the woods scouring for a bit of fame and glory on this lost island -- and he cuts them all down with indiscriminate slashes of his sword. No one has survived being the Guardian as long as him, and the shadows are seething with vengeance in the forests and mountains.
A vengeful cannibal from a lost invasion, ancient beasts stalking about the mountains waiting to attack, and a fresh new batch of invaders with a beautiful berserker and emotionless captain are just a few of the festering plagues on this cursed island. There will be no respite. There will be no end to the war and strife. The winters are growing longer, the cold harsher, and the enemies bolder. Take a walk in the footsteps of the Diamond Town’s Guardian and his world, through his own blood-weary eyes. Count your footsteps and mind the silence, it’s time to hunt, and to fill the graveyard again. Review to come.
Publication Date: July 7, 2013
Description: For the last 30 years he has been the sole protector of the legendary Diamond Town. Every hour it snows, howls, and storms. Every week, wave after wave of invaders crawl through the woods scouring for a bit of fame and glory on this lost island -- and he cuts them all down with indiscriminate slashes of his sword. No one has survived being the Guardian as long as him, and the shadows are seething with vengeance in the forests and mountains.
A vengeful cannibal from a lost invasion, ancient beasts stalking about the mountains waiting to attack, and a fresh new batch of invaders with a beautiful berserker and emotionless captain are just a few of the festering plagues on this cursed island. There will be no respite. There will be no end to the war and strife. The winters are growing longer, the cold harsher, and the enemies bolder. Take a walk in the footsteps of the Diamond Town’s Guardian and his world, through his own blood-weary eyes. Count your footsteps and mind the silence, it’s time to hunt, and to fill the graveyard again. Review to come.
Read Hunter's Navy by Douglas Mumphrey
Rating: 3/5
Description: This is the first book in the Hunter's Navy series.
The Galactic Empire is splintered by rebellion and is on the verge of fighting a two-front war with a rival empire. James Hunter, an eighteen year old midshipman in His Galactic Majesty's Navy begins his career under dark clouds of treason within his own family. As Hunter embarks on a mission to arrest his father, suspicions from his crew-mates and captain plague the youth. Will the baptism by fire prove his loyalty? Will he do his duty to his King or will family ties prove his undoing?
Rating: 3/5
Description: This is the first book in the Hunter's Navy series.
The Galactic Empire is splintered by rebellion and is on the verge of fighting a two-front war with a rival empire. James Hunter, an eighteen year old midshipman in His Galactic Majesty's Navy begins his career under dark clouds of treason within his own family. As Hunter embarks on a mission to arrest his father, suspicions from his crew-mates and captain plague the youth. Will the baptism by fire prove his loyalty? Will he do his duty to his King or will family ties prove his undoing?
Read Beneath the Willow - a short story by Gemma Farrow.
Description: A story of love, death and betrayal.
Thomas loves Keziah; he'll do anything for her. On a night out with friends, Keziah calls Thomas. Something terrible has happened. A new reality is born and Thomas is trapped in a nightmare. Should he stand by Keziah and help conceal her secret or contemplate something far worse? The problem is love doesn't die easily. This is something Thomas learns.
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Description: A story of love, death and betrayal.
Thomas loves Keziah; he'll do anything for her. On a night out with friends, Keziah calls Thomas. Something terrible has happened. A new reality is born and Thomas is trapped in a nightmare. Should he stand by Keziah and help conceal her secret or contemplate something far worse? The problem is love doesn't die easily. This is something Thomas learns.
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Read Bounty Hunter - a novel by Shelly Hollis.
Description: 14-year-old Kai Koson had nothing to do with the apocalypse, thank you very much. He was just a baby the day a coven of blood witches ripped a hole in the universe and the demons fell screaming from the sky. Earth and its magic perished. Witchkind was hunted and annihilated.
Now, because he was born a witch, Kai must spend his life running and fighting for survival. Even his own uncle seems determined to abandon him.
With nothing left to lose, Kai runs away and joins a team of galactic bounty hunters. But instead of providing an escape, it sets Kai on a path that will destroy everything he believes about himself and the apocalypse, transforming him into the most wanted teenager in the galaxy.
Written with humour, imagination and darkness, Bounty Hunter and its protagonist Kai Koson stand confidently beside Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, Young Bond, Mortal Engines and Harry Potter. See full review ...
Description: 14-year-old Kai Koson had nothing to do with the apocalypse, thank you very much. He was just a baby the day a coven of blood witches ripped a hole in the universe and the demons fell screaming from the sky. Earth and its magic perished. Witchkind was hunted and annihilated.
Now, because he was born a witch, Kai must spend his life running and fighting for survival. Even his own uncle seems determined to abandon him.
With nothing left to lose, Kai runs away and joins a team of galactic bounty hunters. But instead of providing an escape, it sets Kai on a path that will destroy everything he believes about himself and the apocalypse, transforming him into the most wanted teenager in the galaxy.
Written with humour, imagination and darkness, Bounty Hunter and its protagonist Kai Koson stand confidently beside Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, Young Bond, Mortal Engines and Harry Potter. See full review ...
Read Galactic Energies by Luca Rossi
Description: The artificial intelligences of DataCom are trying to save the planet… by exterminating the human race. Aurelia finds her perfect man: a robot. The space explorer Captain Arcot sacrifices his life for an impossible conquest, the heart of Vril the vampire queen. A shape-shifting mutant ignites the erotic desires of the galactic police officer who's been tracking her down. Alessio fights against corruption in a universe of his own creation. An innocent man is forced to submit to the domination of a ruthless prison director. A king who's forgotten his own past wanders through a magical dimension where he discovers his own history. Two souls separated after one abandons the other meet again in another life. In an exciting virtual reality game, the hunter of the fearsome black widow becomes her prey. See review ...
Description: The artificial intelligences of DataCom are trying to save the planet… by exterminating the human race. Aurelia finds her perfect man: a robot. The space explorer Captain Arcot sacrifices his life for an impossible conquest, the heart of Vril the vampire queen. A shape-shifting mutant ignites the erotic desires of the galactic police officer who's been tracking her down. Alessio fights against corruption in a universe of his own creation. An innocent man is forced to submit to the domination of a ruthless prison director. A king who's forgotten his own past wanders through a magical dimension where he discovers his own history. Two souls separated after one abandons the other meet again in another life. In an exciting virtual reality game, the hunter of the fearsome black widow becomes her prey. See review ...