The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Immortal Detective
D. B. Woodling
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744308013, $26.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Detective-D-B-Woodling/dp/0744308011

Synopsis: Celeste Crenshaw has survived her parents' grisly murders, grueli=
ng and gender-biased police training, a battle with rogue vampires, and eve=
n her own death. While immortality might seem a dream come true, can she ac= cept the strings attached?

Celeste spends the start of her immortal life being mentored by the Elders =
of the Hollow Earth. They release her once they feel certain Celeste has ho= ned her supernatural powers. But little do they know, Celeste isn't wholly = committed to granting eternal life to those deserving.

Upon a return home to her immortal lover, and the Kansas City Detective Squ= ad, she battles mortal foes, not so unlike the demonic undead. And when a f= ellow detective falls victim to a murderous gang member, Celeste faces a gu= t-wrenching decision and the possible wrath of the Elders.

Critique: A new, original, fresh, fascinating and fun take on the Vampire g= enre, "The Immortal Detective" by D. B. Woodling is a 'must read' pick for = the legions of vampire fiction fans and an immediate and enduringly popular=
addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections. Exceptionally w= ell written, (and leaving readers with an interest in vampire mysteries and=
paranormal urban fantasies looking eagerly toward the next installment fro=
m the mind and imagination of D. B. Woodling) it should be noted for person=
al reading lists that "The Immortal Detective" is also available in a paper= back edition (9780744308037, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, = $4.99).

Editorial Note: D. B. Woodling (https://dbwoodling.com/index.html) is the a= uthor of two historical fiction novels: "Shannon's Revenge: Broken Promises=
" and "Retribution: A Lover's Tale"), and The Detective Mike Malone series.

The Meister of Decimen City
Brenna Raney
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744307702, $27.99, HC, 416pp

https://www.amazon.com/Meister-Decimen-City-Brenna-Raney/dp/0744307708

Synopsis: Supergenius and quasi-villain Rex normally can't go a week withou=
t accidentally endangering Decimen City with her Mad Scientist shenanigans.=
It's been two weeks since her genetically engineered dinosaurs rampaged th= rough town (a good streak for her) but the peace is broken when actual vill= ain Last Dance sets his sights on Decimen. And he wants Rex's help.

Before Rex can say "I didn't do it", superheroes who have dragged her to ja=
il on her worst days are crowding her lab to conscript her into quasi-herod= om.

Rex would rather stay out of it and deal with the dinosaurs that keep calli=
ng her Mom, but she can't ignore that she was somewhat responsible for Last=
Dance's villainy. She'd kept a very disorganized lab. And he was such a no=
sy brother. She failed to help him back then, but maybe if she stops him no=
w (and keeps the heroes fooled) she can finally set things right!

Critique: Original, fun, and with a special appeal for anyone who has ever = sided with the Mad Scientist in a superhero movie, "The Meister of Decimen = City" by novelist Brenna Raney is a welcome and mandatory addition to highs= chool and community library Science Fiction collections for supervillain an=
d superhero fans of all ages. It should be noted for personal reading lists=
that "The Meister of Decimen City" is also available in a digital book for= mat (Kindle, $6.49) and in a paperback edition (9780744307726, $21.99).

Editorial Note: Brenna Raney (https://www.brennaraney.com) began her writin=
g career with Amelia Bedelia fan-fiction on hand-stapled printer paper. Her=
early original work was entrusted to gel pens and floppy disks, then ballp= oint pens and flash drives, and briefly, receipt paper from her first job. =
In her Academic Period, she produced dry and esoteric works for which she w=
as awarded a master's degree. She has also dabbled in visual media, and her=
minimalist comic, Ice Cream Money from Grandma, hangs proudly on her grand= mother's refrigerator. She resides in Texas, where she bakes bread, kills p= lants, and teaches anthropology.

Into Shadow: The Tallan Chronicles
Morgan Daimler
Cosmic Egg Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781803412184, $20.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Shadow-Chronicles-Morgan-Daimler/dp/1803412186

Synopsis: Muireann spent six months planning to kill the dragon that killed=
her family. Now the dragon is dead, and she's realized that it was actuall=
y the lesser threat guarding a devastating weapon that, if it falls into al= most anyone's hands, will bring war and destruction to her world. It can't =
be left where it is. It can't be hidden. It can't be trusted in the hands o=
f anyone in power or who seeks power.

Muireann's only option becomes a reluctant quest with the elf she rescued f= rom the dragon, a would-be knight, a selkie, and an elven mage to find out =
as much as she can about the weapon and seek a way to understand the magic = that created it. Pursued by a dragon-worshipping cult bent on revenge and a=
hidden enemy that will do anything to remake the world, the five friends m= ust try to find answers before all is lost.

Muireann thought that killing a dragon was going to be impossible. Saving t=
he world is going to be much harder.

Critique: A deftly crafted and epic fantasy saga, "Into Shadow: The Tallan = Chronicles" by Morgan Daimler is a swiftly paced action adventure that show= cases the author's genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative = driven storytelling style that keeps the reader's rapt attention from first=
page to last. While available for the personal reading lists of all dedica= ted fantasy fiction fans in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99), "Into Sh= adow: The Lallan Chronicles" is a highly recommended addition to highschool=
and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

Editorial Note: Morgan Daimler (https://www.facebook.com/Morgandaimler) is =
a blogger, poet, teacher of esoteric subjects, witch, and priestess of the = Daoine Maithe. Morgan is a prolific pagan writer, having published more tha=
n a dozen books under Moon Books alone, and she is one of the world's forem= ost experts on all things Fairy!

Assassin's Creed: The Golden City
Jaleigh Johnson
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082214, $16.95, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Creed-Golden-Jaleigh-Johnson/dp/1839082216

Synopsis: Constantinople, 867 - A murderous plot is afoot. Assisted by the = Order of the Ancients, the emperor schemes to assassinate his own son and t= hrow the city into chaos. In response, the Hidden Ones have dispatched Assa= ssin acolyte Hytham to join his mentor, Basim Ibn Ishaq, to infiltrate the = palace and foil the emperor's plan.

But that is not his only mission. Hytham's brotherhood have also entrusted = him with uncovering where Basim's true loyalties lie and whether the master=
Assassin's personal obsessions outweigh his sense of duty. For Hytham to s= ucceed, he must tread carefully, for Constantinople is a city of shadows, a=
nd danger hides in all of them.

Critique: Another riveting addition to the Assassin's Creed action/adventur=
e fantasy saga, "The Golden City" by Jaleigh Johnson is a riveting read and=
of special interest to dedicated fans of heroic historical fantasy. While = available to the legions of Assassin's Creed fans in a digital book format = (Kindle, $9.95), "Assassin's Creed: The Golden City" is a deftly crafted an=
d unreservedly recommended addition to community library Science Fiction & = Fantasy collections.

Editorial Note: Jaleigh Johnson (http://www.jaleighjohnson.com/index.html) =
is an avid gamer and a fantasy author. Her middle grade debut novel The Mar=
k of the Dragonfly is a New York Times bestseller, and her other books from=
Delacorte Press include The Secrets of Solace, The Quest to the Uncharted = Lands, and The Door to the Lost. In addition to the Marvel novel Triptych f=
or Aconyte Books, she has also written several novels and short stories for=
the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms fiction line published by Wizard=
s of the Coast.

The Tyrant Skies
David Annandale
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081958, $16.95, PB, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tyrant-Skies-Marvel-Untold-Novel/dp/1839081953

Synopsis: The infamous villain Victor Von Doom has many enemies, but he has=
a special loathing for another equally infamous villain called the Red Sku= ll.

When the Red Skull creates a flying haven for the billionaire elite who sha=
re his deplorable values, Doom prepares himself for the worst. When Latveri=
a is beset by a rash of terrorist attacks, his suspicions are confirmed: th=
e Red Skull is coming for Doom's homeland.

Now he must infiltrate the shielded microstate drifting in the skies above = Latveria to save his people from annihilation. But finding a way on board t=
he floating city is just the first in a series of trials that will test Doc= tor Doom to the limits of his beliefs, his strength and his powers.

Critique: With a very special appeal to fans of Super Hero (and in this cas=
e Super Villains) stories set in the Marvel Universe, "The Tyrant Skies" by=
David Annandale is an original and fun read from beginning to end by an au= thor with a complete mastery of the genre. While also available for the per= sonal reading lists of all dedicated Marvel Universe fans in a digital book=
format (Kindle, $9.95), "The Tyrant Skies" will prove to be an immediate a=
nd enduringly popular pick for highschool and community library Science Fic= tion & Fantasy collections.

Editorial Note: David Annandale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Annand= ale) is a Canadian writer of Doctor Doom, Arkham Horror and Legend of the F= ive Rings fiction for Aconyte, and Horus Heresy, Warhammer 40,000, Age of S= igmar and Warhammer Horror fiction for Black Library. Among his recent nove=
ls are Reign of the Devourer and The Harrowing of Doom. He is also the auth=
or of the horror novel Gethsemane Hall and the Jen Blaylock thriller series=
.. He is also the Senior Instructor in the Department of English, Theatre, F= ilm & Media at the University of Manitoba, where he specializes in genre fi=
lm and video games -- as well as a co-host of the Hugo-nominated podcast Th=
e Skiffy and Fanty Show.

Into the Dark Dimension
Stuart Moore
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081972, $16.95, PB, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Dark-Dimension-Marvel-Protocol/dp/183908197X

Synopsis: Dormammu, Lord of the Dark Dimension has almost completed his con= quest of Earth, with a stranglehold on the minds of its citizens. Only a fe=
w have managed to resist him. To free the world, Doctor Strange must reasse= mble his Shadow Avengers, while Tony Stark and a team of amoral tech genius=
es cook up a tech defense to break the mind control. As the Shadow Avengers=
defend Earth, even against those heroes under Dormammu's influence, Ms Mar= vel must enlist an unlikely ally to destroy the evil lurking within the Dar=
k Dimension.

Critique: A fun and riveting read that is a 'must' for the legions of Docto=
r Strange fans and firmly set within the Marvel Universe, "Into the Dark Di= mension" is a Marvel Crisis Protocol novel by veteran comics writer and edi= tor Stuart Moore. Also avalable for personal reading lists in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $9.95), "Into the Dark Dimension" is unreservedly recomme= nded for highschool and community librry Science Fiction & Fantasy collecti= ons.

Editorial Note: Stuart Moore (https://stuartmoorewriter.com) is a writer, f= iction editor, and a multiple award-winning comics editor. His many novels = include X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga, The Zodiac Legacy (created and cowrit= ten by Stan Lee), and Thanos: Death Sentence. He has recently written comic=
s such as Deadpool the Duck, Batman, and EGOs. Stuart is the former editor =
of the Marvel prose novel line, founding editor of Vertigo, and of several = other comic imprints.

Bicycles of the Gods: A Divine Comedy
Michael Simms
Madville Publishing
PO Box 358, Lake Dallas, TX 75065
www.MadvillePublishing.com
9781956440041, $19.95, PB, 282pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycles-Gods-Divine-Michael-SIMMs/dp/1956440046

Synopsis: In "Bicycles of the Gods: A Divine Comedy" by novelist Michael Si= mms, the main character, Jesse, presents an earthly incarnation of Jesus Ch= rist come to earth in the body of a 12-year-old boy in the company of Xavi,=
who is the earthly incarnation of Shiva, Destroyer of Worlds, also a 12-ye= ar-old boy.

The pair of young reincarnated gods stand on a hilltop above the city of Lo=
s Angeles contemplating how best to destroy it as a precursor to destroying=
the entire world to rid it of humanity so it can refresh and rebuild. Xavi=
is ready to get on with the task The Big Guy, God, has assigned them, but = Jesse has a problem. He isn't sure that everyone deserves to be destroyed.

Critique: Especially recommended to the attention of readers with an intere=
st in satire, religious and post-apocalyptic science fiction/fantasy, "Bicy= cles of the Gods: A Divine Comedyd" is original, witty, compulsive reading = from first page to last, and especially impressive when considering that it=
is Michael Simms debut as a novelist. An inherently riveting and simply fa= scinating story laced with black humor and philosophical intimidations, "Bi= cycles of the Gods: A Divine Comedy" is available for personal reading list=
s in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49), and a welcome pick for communit=
y and academic library Literary Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Michael Simms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Simms_= (publisher)) is a poet, writer, editor, publisher, teacher, blogger and ent= repreneur. Three full-length collections of his poetry and two widely-adopt=
ed poetry textbooks have been published. He has also been the lead editor o=
f over 100 published books, including the bestselling Autumn House Antholog=
y of Poetry, now in its third edition. In 2011, Autumn House was awarded a = certificate of recognition from the Pennsylvania state legislature. Simms h=
as taught at a number of universities, including Chatham University's MFA p= rogram from 2005-2013.

The Shadow Regent
Chad Corrie
Dark Horse Books
c/o Dark Horse Comics
10956 SE Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222
www.darkhorse.com
9781506734033, $19.99, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Regent-Chad-Corrie/dp/1506734030

Synopsis: The battle has ended, but the pantheon has survived at a terrible=
cost. Bereft of both Gurthghol and Vkar's throne, they're now weaker and m= ore defenseless than ever. Yet even as the pantheon seek their footing, thr=
ee new gods will be added to the family, further disrupting the former orde=
r.

And then there are the others (both inside the pantheon and out) who are ag=
er for more power, who will make their moves for greater glory and dominion=
in this time of divine recovery and realignment.

Plots and plotters, schemers and plans -- all will have their day and way. = And the cosmos shall never be the same. To the victor shall go the spoils. =
To the pantheon comes a new order. And for Tralodren, a new age shall arise=
..

Welcome to Tralodren, a world rich in history, faith, and tales of adventur=
e -- of which this story is but one of many.

Critique: A god has fallen. A throne sits empty. And ambitious schemers plo=
t in the shadows. Continuing in the aftermath of events of The Wizard King = Trilogy, novelist Chad Corrie's latest sword & sorcery epic, "The Shadow Re= gent" is a standalone story that delves deeper into the Tralodren cosmos an=
d the gods who call it home, revealing the formation of a new era for both = god and mortal alike. Original, imaginative, and a master of the Heroic Fan= tasy genre, author Chad Corrie has genuine flair for the kind of narrative = driven storytelling style that engages the reader's full and rapt attention=
for beginning to end. While especially and unreservedly recommended for co= mmunity library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for the per= sonal reading lists for dedicated epic fantasy fans that "The Shadow Regent=
" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Chad Corrie (https://chadcorrie.com) has long enjoyed creat= ing things but it wasn't until he was twelve he began writing. Since then h= e's written comics, graphic novels, prose fiction of varying lengths, and a=
n assortment of other odds and ends. This sundry collection of works echoes=
part of his background in which he's been an editor and writer for an onli=
ne magazine, owned his own publishing company; -- and has worked as a pawn = broker, bookseller, pizza cook, toy company rep, and magazine/book merchand= iser, among other vocational exploits.

Legacy of Seven
P. J. Flie
https://pjflie.com
Book Forge
9781777733919, $18.99, PB, 480pp

https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Seven-Guardian-Rises-Flie/dp/177773391X

Synopsis: Zairoc, a dark wizard. Sir Francis, a benevolent wizard. Trick Ma= rk, captain of the guard, and the construction robot CD-45. Their destinies=
will collide at the city of Bastion. But concealed from everyone, a young = woman holds the key to each of their fates.

Ondreeal has lived her whole life on the farm with her callous adoptive fat= her. She longs to see the world and witness for herself the magical wonders=
that fill it-and she'll soon get her wish, thrust into an adventure that c= arries her to heights she never dreamed possible, and to the depths of desp= air and loneliness. Ondreeal can never become the hero the world wants her =
to be, but can she become the hero it needs?

Critique: A saga of a novel that will have a special appeal for readers wit=
h an interest in the blending of a coming of age story with a fantasy actio= n/adventure story, "Legacy of Seven: A Guardian Rises" by novelist P. J. Fl=
ie is an original, deftly crafted, and thoroughly fun read from first page =
to last. While highly recommended, especially for community library Science=
Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for the personal reading=
lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Legacy of Seven: A Guardian Rises" i=
s also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99).

Editorial Note: P. J. Flie is an author and educator passionate about worki=
ng with the next generation of artists. He holds a BFA in theatre and socia=
l science, and works in all aspects of theatre production from acting coach=
to director, set builder, lighting designer, and stage manager. He started=
writing at the age of 10, focusing on honing this craft throughout school = and at college. Hailing from Canada, where he currently resides, he continu=
es to create stories.

Surrender
Lee Schneider
Futurex.Studio
https://www.futurex.studio
9798987246627, $29.99, HC, 374pp

https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Lee-Schneider/dp/B0BS8QNVXW

Synopsis: The year is 2050 and Kat Keeper, grieving the death of her husban=
d, hires a young artificial intelligence savant to recreate her beloved par= tner in software form.

A rising startup founder brought low by a crushing business failure, Kat is=
drawn into a love triangle with the artificial mind of her husband and the=
man who created it. She learns that the software savant, Bradley Power, le= ads a mysterious tech company planning to capture all human thought without=
consent. The company will use the stolen, unspoken thoughts of humans to t= rain a machine intelligence to control the weather, all technology and lear= ning, and even human will.

Kat knows she must stop this, but doesn't know how. She is pursued by a sec= ret circle of women who say they have the answer, and want her to lead them=
..

With the fate of human thought in the balance, and her safety at risk, Kat = must choose to lead the secret circle before it is too late, and humanity i=
s under machine control.

Surrender takes place in a future world that struggles to contain climate d= isaster using global machine governance, a world run by computers and the h= umans who are both empowered and controlled by them, and where a small band=
of resisters fight to keep human thought safe and free.

Critique: A timely novel given the new attention being made about the possi= bilities and perils of artificial intelligence (AI), "Surrender" by Lee Sch= neider is a masterpiece of science fiction. A riveting plot, deftly crafted=
characters, reasoned expansions from what we are currently experiencing wi=
th AI becoming a force in human society, politics, economics, technology, a=
nd even the waging of war, "Surrender" offers up a vision of a world that t= hose being born today will spend their last decades living in it. While esp= ecially and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Sci= ence Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists=
of dedicated science fiction fans and readers with a particular interest i=
n the possibilities, potentials, and perils of AI that "Surrender" is also = available in a paperback edition (9798987246603, $18.99).

Editorial Note: Lee Schneider (https://www.redcupagency.com/media-kit) is t=
he author of screenplays, teleplays, stage plays, short stories, and audio = drama podcasts. He is the founder of Red Cup Agency, a podcast production a= gency, and an adjunct lecturer on the faculty of the USC School of Architec= ture.

Rhiannon's Circle
Emily Bex
https://www.emilybex.com
Foundations Book Publishing
B0BTC99CQF, $2.99

https://www.amazon.com/Rhiannons-Circle-Bohannon-Witches-Duology-ebook/dp/B= 0BTC99CQF

Followers of occult fiction who look for stories steeped in paranormal roma= nce and Wiccan power plays will find Rhiannon's Circle the perfect ticket f=
or a moonless night of intriguing reading. A power play within the Bohannon=
family, which has long led a centuries-old witch's coven with its roots in=
Ireland, makes for a thoroughly engrossing story that evolves paranormal s= truggle themes to new levels. Eilish is supposed to lead the coven, but her=
murderous older sister has other ideas about her legacy. Middle sister Any=
a finds herself in the middle of a family power struggle set to not only te=
ar them apart, but threaten the coven's rituals and rules. Vampire Ian Cros=
s never thought he'd land in the middle of a witch's conflict, but he finds=
himself "walking into a minefield of unknowns" as he unwittingly makes cho= ices that lead him into love and danger that hold equal opportunities.

As the characters engage with one another and consider their legacies, prej= udices, and interactions with humans and extraordinary beings, Emily Bex br= ings to life this world and its ability to coexist with everyday humans ove=
r the centuries. Intrigue, traditions, and coven politics play out against = the backdrop of an evolving romance that not only entertains readers, but l= eads them to think about family power plays and the special pressures of le= adership and heritage. Rhiannon's Circle also grows a mystery which conclud=
es in a satisfying manner for this book, but leaves the door more than ajar=
for the finale. Libraries and readers seeking occult fiction that excels i=
n mystery, romance, and family struggle will welcome Rhiannon's Circle's po= werful, compelling saga.

A Measure of Rhyme
Lloyd Jeffries
http://www.lloydjeffries.com
Buckminster Publishing
9798985526950, $20.99 Hardcover/$13.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Rhyme-Ages-Malice-Book/dp/B0C47TGWPP

Readers familiar with the first book in the Ages of Malice series, A Portio=
n of Malice, may well recall the potent blend of thriller and fantasy that = powered the story of a writer assigned to write a billionaire's biography, = only to find that Thaddeus Drake is the leader of a secret society determin=
ed to bring on the apocalyptic end of mankind. It might seem unlikely that =
a suicidal writer would be the savior of the planet, much less in the posit= ion to play a major role in the timeless battle between good and evil, but = Emery Merrick plays a part akin to no other as he confronts both inner and = outer demons.

This measure of courage continues in A Measure of Rhyme, which will best be=
appreciated by those who found A Portion of Malice unforgettable, and who = will find its sequel an equally powerful force of wonder. The prologue rein= troduces Emery and presents the very different task he's assigned, but it a= lso captures an underlying sense of wry observation humor that comes forth = especially strongly in this book. As readers then receive a surprising trut=
h about Emery's condition and foray into spiritual realms usually limited t=
o angels and the dead, they move into a story replete with twists and turns=
that keep them guessing, wondering, and thoroughly engrossed. Some of this=
surprise factor lies in the continual challenges Lloyd Jeffries injects in=
to any preconceived notions of Emery's ongoing journey.

The blend of spirituality, myth, and history both confronts and confounds a=
ny prejudices or inherent beliefs about these facets in a story that is esp= ecially adept at not just confronting illusions, but ripping them apart. Em= ery's ongoing journey is that of Everyman, reflecting humanity's relentless=
progression towards destruction, but also its hopeful possibilities of red= emption that go hand-in-hand with salvation and damnation. Drake's ability =
to shut down the place and people involved in his deadly ritual is not quit=
e complete. Remnants remain to evolve new possibilities, while Emery's self= -destructive routes receive continual challenge from God, Cain, and others = mirroring new beginnings that rise like phoenixes from the possibilities of=
endings and total destruction.

Lloyd Jeffries cements these journeys of God and man with dialogues and ref= lections that will serve book clubs and readers with thought-provoking oppo= rtunities for discussions of spiritual and psychological revelation. Power = blossoms not just in Emery but in Cain, Igneus, Sebastian, and a host of ot= her characters whose strengths, weaknesses, and observations contribute to =
a greater good and realizations that continue to rock the worlds of those w=
ho populate this novel and their readers. Chaos is both called for and real= ized, and denied, as events emerge with fiery repercussions to portend new = directions as well as the inevitable results of humankind's social, politic= al, and spiritual entanglements. The backlash is inevitable. It's also unex= pected, diverging from anything readers could anticipate to forge new avenu=
es of spiritual and historical inspection.

The gift of love and the notion that evil can be timeless make A Measure of=
Rhyme a thought-provoking blend of fantasy, thriller, and philosophical in= spection well on the level of Dan Brown's spiritual bent, with a little Rob= ert McCammon thrown in for good measure. Libraries and readers who relished=
A Portion of Malice will find A Measure of Rhyme equally powerful in its s= ynthesis of fantasy, history, and religious inspection. It drops a bomb on = any notion of predictability, leading into experiences and outcomes that wi=
nd up feeling almost inevitable despite their many surprises.

The Singing Shore III: Spirit and Flame
E.P. Clark
Helia Press
9781952723391, $25.00 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Shore-III-Spirit-Flame/dp/1952723396

The epic fantasy trilogy The Singing Shore opens with a puzzle for newcomer=
s: while Spirit and Flame is clearly the third book, it's also the seventh = book in The Zemnian Series and the fifth in Dasha's Story. This translates =
to the fact that Spirit and Flame will best be enjoyed not just by prior re= aders of the series in general and this trilogy in particular, but by follo= wers of epic fantasy who enjoy a wide array of characters and ongoing quest=
s that keep their missions both lively and unpredictable. Dasha is heir to = the throne on a mission of peace to the Rutsi, the warlike tribes of her ki= ngdom. Her life is complicated by the promise of a magical power she has ye=
t to command, Dasha is accompanied by escorts who struggle to keep her safe=
against the attention of a murderous magical wolf who covets her power to = add to his own. The adventures haven't ended with Dasha's prior discovery o=
f her abilities, but continue here as she wields them on behalf of her king= dom, which is falling increasingly into war.

The second book ended with a fleet of Rutsi intent on invading. This book p= icks up where that moment left off, continuing to follow Dasha as she comes=
into her power and makes decisions about how best to unite her divided wor= ld. A spirit cannot be separated from its body for long, or it will die. Da= sha's rare gifts translate to uncommon and hard decisions as she faces spec= ial challenges both within and outside. As in the other books, E.P. Clark e= mbeds the story with action and reflective moments, exploring the motivatio=
ns and psyche of Dasha and those around her and adding components of intrig=
ue and discovery. These power a hard-hitting quest that operates on differe=
nt levels, from considerations of honor and pride to visions that introduce=
portents of danger and demand responses from Dasha that are well out of he=
r comfort zone.

The strength lies not only in this book's expanded connections with its pre= decessors and the series as a whole, but in the psychological and magical c= onundrums faced by Dasha as she steps up and into her own abilities and the=
hard decisions they exact. Why are facets of her world alive and yet not a= live? Dasha's pursuit of final answers in her journey provides just the rig=
ht amount of intrigue, purpose, and uncertainty to attract fans of epic fan= tasy and magical transformations, romance and action; particularly prior re= aders and libraries that have seen patron interest in the other books.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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