Blog Tour: The Black Oracle

Posted by cat2002116 on June 7, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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The Black Oracle, by Michael Cristiano

Genre: Epic-fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: May 25, 2015

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson

Find Online: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Description:

On a post-apocalyptic Earth, humans are not alone.

Joachim is a hunter. Though generations have passed since the Great Death, something has evolved in the trees beyond the giant glowing mushrooms, mutants that want to see human entrails spread along the jungle floor.

And now they’ve taken Joachim’s wife.

To get her back, Joachim must give the leader of these demons something in return: immortality. A creature knows when he is going to die, after all. In the realm of Zalm, Joachim must navigate a world of magic and darkness to find the ingredients to a potion. Only the Black Oracle knows where these ingredients are, but she’s a little busy at the moment. She leads an army of rebels, revolutionaries fighting for liberation against the High Council.

In a story of betrayal, prophecy, and bloodshed, Joachim must find a way to save his wife while evading a ruthless Empress, one that wants to see the Black Oracle and her associates killed – Joachim included.

 

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

The blurb of this book was one that caught my attention when I originally read it. I liked the fact that it seemed to be a mix of apocalyptic and fantasy… and it definitely did live up to those expectations when I started reading it.

I could really empathise with the villagers and the awful situation they were in. I wasn’t sure exactly where and how the mutant creatures had sprung up and I would have liked a bit more detail about how everything had reached the point it had. There were references made to an apocalyptic event that weren’t really expanded upon.

I found the two different storylines running alongside each other to both hold my attention and I kept wanting to follow their progress. I really liked both Joachim and Rae as characters and I did feel a lot of sympathy towards the elders of their village, who had been faced with such an awful decision to make before the book had even started.

It was really good to see how resourceful the characters were, in particular Tabitha, Rae and Trent. I’d assumed that Trent wouldn’t really amount to much… but despite his obvious fear to start with, I felt he really came through as a fighter and leader.

I didn’t think much of the High Empress of Zalm, I have to say. I much preferred the character of the Black Oracle. It was good to see the way she interacted with Joachim and I found it interesting to read about how her abilities worked and differed in comparison to the ‘magic’ used by the rest of the citizens.

I thought it was good to see bonds of friendship formed throughout. There were very few instances of people working on their own through this book and there were a lot of really intense scenes.

The creatures are quite obviously awful, but it was good that even the gory parts weren’t overly graphic… though that can sometimes be worse, given it leaves so much room for the imagination to work. I also found myself intrigued by Joachim’s dreams. I’d like to know if he has any abilities he doesn’t yet know about.

The book did end on something of a cliffhanger and I’d like to see what will happen next. I cared about the characters and the struggle they were enduring and it seems that it’s not over for them yet.

 

About The Author

Michael Cristiano

Michael Cristiano is a Canadian writer. His relentless obsession with fiction began long before he could even spell the words ‘relentless obsession’. Growing up in endless suburban sprawl, he spent most of his childhood getting lost in fantastical masterpieces and attempting to be published by the age of thirteen.

When he isn’t writing or reading, he can be found planning his next backpacking trip around the world. He is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto with studies in Foreign Language and Linguistics. Previously, he attended a Regional Arts high school where he majored in drama. He is fond of all things dramatic.

Michael currently resides in the Greater Toronto Area.

Find Michael Cristiano Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

About Curiosity Quills Press

Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.

Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

As You Like It (2006 Movie)

Posted by cat2002116 on June 6, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

As You Like It 2006 Movie

(This review may contain spoilers).

I never really liked Shakespeare plays as much as my sister does. I struggle a bit with the archaic language and I sometimes find them harder to follow. But when my sister asked if I’d like to watch this with her, I thought I’d give it a try.

I felt it was good how this movie kept to the play setting. There weren’t a lot of special effects, even though the events obviously didn’t take place on a stage.

Since this was based on a play, quite a bit of the romantic development was left by the wayside, in my opinion. It was good to see that the family relationships were shown a bit more and even if I didn’t understand all of the jokes, due to the more poetic language, there were still some fairly amusing moments.

It was interesting to see Rosalind choose to dress like a man and create a new identity for herself. It certainly seemed to add to the confusion of the movie! It was also a nice touch to see the two Dukes played by the same actor, made up to look like two very different characters. It was a bit disappointing that there was no reason to have the two Dukes in the same scene together.

I was a bit thrown by the wrestling scene, which began with the two characters basically… slapping at each other. It made it somewhat more difficult to take that seriously. Then again, it is supposed to be a comedy, so that was probably part of it.

I liked the elements of brotherhood with Orlando and his brother. It would have been good to have a bit more explanation about why his brother seemed to dislike Orlando so much in this.

Despite the confusion of this movie, it was still entertaining to watch and I managed to figure out mostly what was going on. The ending was fairly nice, too. And I did like the actors and actresses in this, even if there were only two I recognised from past media I’ve seen them in.

I can’t say if this is a true adaptation of Shakespeare’s play… but it was good to watch and did make me laugh in parts. And hopefully, it’ll help my sister with her college assignment.

Luxor: Book of Past Lives

Posted by cat2002116 on June 6, 2015
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Luxor Book of Past Lives

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

Egypt was the other country my mum used to visit when I was younger, along with Greece. Even so, it’s only been fairly recently that I’ve got into reading things to do with Egypt.

It was interesting to see the two different storylines running parallel to each other. I found both of the sets of brothers to be really intriguing characters. It was really good to see how the belief system worked in the time of Ancient Egypt… and how the embalming process worked.

It was a little disappointing that the lines were so clearly drawn in who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’. I didn’t really see much of a brotherly relationship between Abdul and Karim. It was good to see them figuring out where to find the mummified bodies… and how they viewed the customs of the ancient times.

I didn’t really like Iramen as a character. I liked Nebamun a lot better and it was good to see his friendship with Padi. I felt a lot of sympathy for him when he had to figure out the right thing to do when he found out what his brother was doing.

One thing that struck me was how commonplace the sacrifices were considered. I did think that Padi was used as a kind of learning/exposition tool, especially when it came to the hieroglyphics. Although it made sense that Padi might not be able to read and write, I kind of felt like at least one of the exchanges was more of a lesson for the reader. It was an interesting way of providing the information… but still something I would think would be common knowledge.

I liked reading about the respect that Nebamun and Padi clearly demonstrated for those who were dead. Even with someone not from Egypt, I felt they clearly cared for the bodies of those placed in their charge. Even if I did feel that Padi toed the line of disrespect just a little.

There was more violence in the later times of the book than I was expecting, but although I found it difficult to like Karim, I did like Abdul as a character. A lot of research had clearly gone into this book and I found it really easy to read. There are some scenes I feel will stay with me a while yet.

Aqua

Posted by cat2002116 on June 6, 2015
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Aqua

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

After so many books with vampires, angels, demons, fairies… it was a refreshing change to read a book about an entirely unique race.

I found Layla to be a character I could easily relate to. There were times she amused me, but also times I felt somewhat emotional on her behalf. And I could certainly empathise with her love of reading and creating her own stories.

I liked reading about Layla’s relationship with her aunt and mother. It was interesting to see how the three of them handled the constant moving around they had to do and about the personality quirks each of them had.

I thought it was really good that the paranormal aspects didn’t hit me over the head straight away. That gave me a chance to get to know the characters before everything started happening.

I thought that the romance in this book was one that worked really well. I felt that Tristan and Layla had real chemistry between them and it was good to see that Layla didn’t suddenly drop her family for the guy she liked.

I very much liked Pyke as a character by the end of this book, as well as his sister. I enjoyed reading their interactions and I would have liked to see more of them. I felt that they both had a lot more depth to them and it would have been good to learn more about their pasts… Tristan’s, too, especially with what was revealed about his brother.

I also thought it was really good to see how, although Layla’s heritage was important, it didn’t define her character; and it was good to see that she wasn’t perfect when it came to trying to adapt the skills she was being taught.

I would have liked to see more of Cora’s tactical abilities. It was disappointing to only really see that towards the end of the book. It would have also been good to have glimpses of what drove the opposing side.

It was good to see scientific explanations for the race and their abilities. I felt it was obvious just how much work had gone into building this world.

If there are other books set in this world, I’d probably read them in the future. I’d like to see more of the characters and their relationships with each other.

Blog Tour: A Curse of Ash and Iron

Posted by cat2002116 on June 5, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Ash & Iron eBook 1000

A Curse of Iron and Ash, by Christine Norris

Genre: historical-fantasy romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: May 21, 2015

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson

Find Online: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Description:

Benjamin Grimm knows the theater is much like real life. In 1876 Philadelphia, people play their parts, hiding behind the illusion of their lives, and never revealing their secrets.

When he reunites with his childhood friend Eleanor Banneker, he is delighted. His delight turns to dismay when he discovers she has been under a spell for the past 7 years, being forced to live as a servant in her own home, and he realizes how sinister some secrets can be. She asks for his help, and he can’t refuse. Even if he doesn’t believe in ‘real’ magic, he can’t abandon her.

Ellie has spent the long years since her mother’s death under the watchful eye and unforgiving eye of her stepmother. Bewitched and hidden in plain sight, it seems no one can help Ellie escape. Not even her own father, who is under a spell of his own. When she sees Ben one evening, it seems he is immune to the magic that binds her, and her hope is rekindled along with her friendship.

But time is running short. If they do not find a way to break the spell before midnight on New Year’s Eve, then both Ellie and her father will be bound forever.

 

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I found this book to be a really good take on the story of Cinderella. It was good to see the friendship between Ben and Ellie at the start of the book and I couldn’t help feeling a lot of sympathy for Ellie. I was glad that Ben had his mother, and that she cared about him as well.

There were times in the book that I didn’t especially like Ben, I have to say. Despite his promise to help Ellie, I felt that he neglected even thinking about her problems for a while, even when he didn’t think she’d lost her mind. He did come through for her, though, and I felt that they had a real relationship.

I was glad to see that this book didn’t follow all of the cliches of the Cinderella story. For instance, Rebecca (Ellie’s stepsister) was actually a really nice person. Olivia… was pretty far from that.

It was interesting that there was a cat, since a cat does feature in the Cinderalla story. No mice, though, even if they were referenced.

It was fairly cool to learn a bit more about the kind of illusionary magic that Ben was interested in. I would have liked to know if his family was actually related to the Grimm brothers, but I suppose it didn’t really matter in this.

I really felt for Ellie through this book. The situation she was in came across as a really awful one. And the scenes of her trying to talk to her father were heartbreaking.

I felt that the author showed the time period this book was set in really well. I felt like a lot of research was put into this book and the way the characters interacted was realistic for that time period. I did think that some of the romance moved a bit too fast, though.

I would definitely be interested in reading more books by this author in the future, especially if there’s a sequel to this book, where I can see how the characters are getting on. There were some things I would have really liked to see a bit more of, especially in regards to one of the romances.

 

About The Author

Christine Norris

Christine Norris is the author of several speculative fiction works for children and adults. She is extremely overeducated, having a B.S. Temple University (Kinesiology), a B.A. from UMUC (English), AND a Masters in Library and Information Science from Southern Connecticut State. All of which means she loves to be in the library, which is her secret day job (whoops…).

She is married with one son, two rescued cats, a rescued Jack Russell, and a rescued palomino rabbit. There’s a lot of rescuing. She also has a complete weakness for Doctor Who, Sherlock, and other British television shows, as well as an addiction to movies, re-told fairy tales, and police procedural shows. She believes in fairies and lives in New Jersey.

Find Christine Norris Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

About Curiosity Quills Press

Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.

Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tron: Legacy

Posted by cat2002116 on June 4, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Tron Legacy

(This review may contain spoilers).

I don’t really know how long ago I originally watched the first Tron film, but I’m reasonably sure it was on television. It became one of my favourite films, so when I discovered a sequel was being made, I immediately jumped at the chance to watch it.

I was disappointed that the character of Tron was shown very little in this movie, but I liked the fact that Kevin’s son, Sam, was one of the main characters. I felt for him when he was a little boy and his father didn’t come home and it was good to see his relationship with Alan, in particular, in the material world.

I thought this film was good in that it acknowledged how much time had passed between the two movies. But I also felt that, although the digital world itself was much more vamped-up, it managed to stay true to the digital world seen in the original.

I didn’t really like Kevin all that much in this movie, I have to say. He came across as much more passive than in the first one and while I could understand why, I felt that he hadn’t really matured. He still spoke like he was much younger than he was and I felt that he didn’t really treat Sam as a son, barring their first scene together after being reunited.

I did like Quorra. I felt the actress who played her did a good job of demonstrating her capability when it came to the digital world and her naivety when it came to learning about the world Sam came from. I would have liked to see a bit more depth to her character, but I enjoyed seeing the way she and Sam bonded.

There were some really intense moments in this movie and I did have a little bit of sympathy for Clu… though not a whole lot. It was interesting to see the way the programs fought each other, but I couldn’t help wondering how it would all look for someone out in the material world.

Although the film did reach a somewhat satisfying conclusion, I felt I would have liked to see more. I think it would be good to see a sequel to this… just not waiting another twenty-odd years for said sequel.

I did thoroughly enjoy watching this movie and the special effects were really quite cool. It made me want to seek out my copy of Tron and watch that, too.

Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes: Doctor Strange

Posted by cat2002116 on June 4, 2015
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Marvel's Mightiest Heroes Doctor Strange

(This review may contain spoilers).

When I first saw Doctor Strange in one of the previous graphic novels, I’d assumed he was incredibly old. It was a bit strange to see that he wasn’t as old as all that.

Once again, it was interesting to see a character I’d already seen something of in the other graphic novels. I thought it was an interesting concept to have a hero who was entirely a magician… though he did seem capable when it came to having to physically fight.

It was really good to get looks at the other dimensions. I was a bit confused by Doctor Strange ‘shielding’ himself when he was entering the dark dimension, though. I found myself particularly intrigued by Umar’s story… and her relationship with Clea. I did feel for Clea, considering her father didn’t seem to like her very much.

I didn’t see a huge difference in the artwork in the two comics, but I still enjoyed reading both of the sets. I was intrigued by Dane’s storyline. It was an interesting concept to see him affected by the evil contained within the sword he wielded as the Knight. I did also notice a connection between Strange and Victoria… but that didn’t really seem to have anything come of it in this series of comics.

I noticed that the first comic in this graphic novel was a very short one, but it did do a good job of showing Strange and introducing his abilities. I also liked seeing some of the other characters that he had more than a passing connection with.

I liked seeing the hints of Clea and Strange’s relationship and it was interesting to see how the Outcasts were treated in the Dark Dimension. I also found it interesting to read the final comic in this collection… though it was a bit disappointing to see that the new character introduced (and I’m not sure who or what he was supposed to be) wasn’t explored in this. I might read some of the other comics involving Doctor Strange, since I think his storyline was one of the more interesting ones. I’m all for the characters who start off as arrogant jerks but reveal a heroic side to them. *Cough*Tony Stark*Cough*.

Blog Tour: Shadows of Asphodel

Posted by cat2002116 on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Shadows of Asphodel

Shadows of Asphodel, by Karen Kincy

Genre: Historical-fantasy romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: May 11, 2015

Cover Artist: DamonZa

Find Online: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Description:

She never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer.

  1. Austria-Hungary. Ardis knows better than to save a man on the battlefield. Even if he manages to be a charming bastard while bleeding out in the snow. She hasn’t survived this long as a mercenary without some common sense.

When she rescues Wendel, it isn’t because he’s devilishly handsome, but because he’s a necromancer. His touch can revive the dead, and Ardis worries he will return from the grave to hunt her down. Besides, a necromancer can be useful in this world on the brink of war.

A gentleman of questionable morals, Wendel drops to one knee and pledges his undying loyalty to Ardis. She resists falling for him, no matter how hot the tension smolders between them. Especially when she discovers Wendel’s scars run much deeper than his skin, and it might be too late to truly save him from himself.

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I don’t read too many historical-themed books with elements of the paranormal, so this was a fairly good change of pace. It was interesting to see that magic was widely accepted, at least in some parts of the world… and also to see how people viewed those who could use magic; including the scarier forms, such as necromancy.

I did find Ardis to be a really interesting character, though I was a little confused about what she’d said about her father. I’d assumed he’d been killed, but then it turned out Ardis knew that he lived… and I don’t know if I misunderstood, or if that was something left in there accidentally.

I had some mixed feelings about Wendel in this book, I have to say. Although I found his powers quite cool to read about, there were various times when he came across as darker than even his history suggested… particularly towards the end.

I found Konstantin to be an interesting character and one I would have liked to learn a bit more about. I was hoping the romance would run a slightly different route… and it was disappointing to see that it followed the usual formulae. Even though I felt the chemistry between Wendel and Ardis was real, I did think it moved a bit fast between them.

I found the concept about Ardis’ sword to be quite intriguing, but was a bit disappointed that she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about it and the enchantment placed on the weapon.

I would have liked to know a bit more about the different kinds of magic there were, though the ones that were explored sounded really interesting. I was confused about the concept of the Lazarus Project and what exactly it was supposed to be.

I’d probably read the sequel to this book at some point in the future. I’d like to see more of Konstantin in particular, but it would also be good to learn more about Ardis’ own past… and see how things go with her and Wendel a little way down the road.

 

About The Author

Karen Kincy

Karen Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.

Find Karen Kincy Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

About Curiosity Quills Press

Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.

Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Immortals

Posted by cat2002116 on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Immortals

(This review may contain spoilers).

I’ve probably mentioned before how much I like ancient mythology. The Greek myths were the original ones I enjoyed. I always read every book I could get my hands on which featured those myths. So when Immortals originally came out, I was naturally very excited.

Although this movie does use many of the characters from mythology, I couldn’t say this was accurate to the myths at all. I did like Zeus’ character in this and the close relationship he had with his daughter, but none of the other relationships between the gods are explored and I felt there were a lot of areas they could have been.

I felt the actor who played Theseus worked really well. I could really believe in him and he worked really well as a hero. It was interesting to see that Zeus refused to interfere in the affairs of mortals… a stark contrast to his mythological counterpart, who was a faithless husband who had affairs with a large number of mortal women.

Although there was quite a bit of fantasy in this movie, it was a really violent one, with scenes of torture both implied and outright shown. It definitely isn’t good viewing for people who don’t like torture-fests. While I do appreciate that some attempt was made to give Hyperion more of a background and round his character out, he was a pretty awful person even so.

Although the concept of the virgin Oracle was an interesting one, it did seem (to me) that one vision in particular wouldn’t have really worked… since I’m fairly certain there was no way it could have come about.

There were quite a few nameless characters who I found difficult to care about when they were killed. I did like Stavros as a character. His banter was amusing at times and I felt he was one of the good ones. I felt that many of the other characters didn’t get the screen time they could have, which was a shame, since they came across as kind of one-dimensional at times.

I do think Zeus was a hard character in this. I like the actor who played him, but one scene made me dislike his character a bit more. I did think that the fight scenes towards the end were pretty cool, though.

It’s a shame that no sequel exists for this movie. Personally, I would very much like to see the aftermath of the events in this.

San Andreas

Posted by cat2002116 on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

San Andreas

(This review may contain spoilers).

This isn’t the first disaster-type movie I’ve seen, but I found it a really intense viewing. I was sitting on the edge of my seat for a lot of the film, drawn in very quickly.

Almost from the start, it was obvious how intense this movie was going to be. It was good to see something of the work that Ray did and what went into being part of a rescue team. I really like Dwayne Johnson as an actor and I thought he worked really well in the role of Ray.

It was also good to see some of the family situation that Ray was in. I liked Emma and Blake and I was intrigued by the obvious tragedy their family had suffered. It was also really good to see that Emma and Blake were really strong characters in their own rights.

Many of the scenes with the earthquakes in during this movie made me tense up and hope for the safety of the characters. I didn’t think this film let up a great deal. It was good, but the action was fast and hard-hitting… with very few moments to diffuse the tension. Though I have to say that there were a few amusing moments in this movie, particularly with Ben and Ollie.

Ollie was probably my favourite character in this movie, even though I did like most of them. I enjoyed seeing the real brotherly affection between him and Ben and how Ben continued to treat him as a priority. Too many romances show family members being treated as much less important than the love interest and it was good to see that didn’t happen here… though they did pick the wrong times to share a kiss.

One of the things I thought was really good in this was that the movie showed people helping each other. There was one particular scene right at the beginning that I found really emotional.

I also thought it was good to see the effects of the earthquakes in another part of the world. I recognised quite a few actors in this movie and I liked them in their roles… even the characters I didn’t particularly like. This is a film I would probably enjoy watching again, especially because I do like the family style relationships more than romance.