Blog Tour: The Actuator 2: Return of the Saboteur

Posted by cat2002116 on December 8, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Actuator 2 Review Tour

Actuator 2

THE ACTUATOR 2: RETURN OF THE SABOTEUR, by James Wymore and Aiden James

Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy Thriller

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: 07/20/15

Cover Artist: Michelle Johnson at Blue Sky Design

Find Online: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Description:

The Machine Monks fight to keep control of the Actuator while enemies attack the base. As besiegers wear them down, the rest of the world struggles to adapt to the chaos left in the wake of the great change. Their only choice is to push forward and find the next key and shutdown the fantasy realm surrounding the base. When they do, Xenwyn will die.

Haunted by the incalculable death toll all over the earth, Jon accepts the mission to recover the next key. Despite his injuries and as much as he hates to leave his newfound love, he refuses to let all of humanity suffer if he can fix it.

Desperate to keep Xenwyn alive, Red determines to find a magical cure before Jon gets back with the key. Each time he takes her across a border, might be the end.

Seeing all his friends in turmoil, Dragon Star sets out to find the saboteur. If the architect of this dark world cannot offer any means of setting things right, he will at least see consequences for the horrors he unleashed.

None of them ever imagined the Actuator could still make the world even worse.

 

My Review

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

(This review may contain spoilers).

Having read the first book in this series, I was pretty eager to read the second. I was really glad to have the opportunity to see more of the world (or worlds) and characters.

I did like seeing more of the characters I recognised and liked from the previous book, though it was somewhat difficult to have the book keep jumping between three to four different plots. I still enjoyed seeing how things changed from world to world… and I had a lot of sympathy for Glass, after she got hurt.

I thought it was good to see how Choi was having to deal with his actions in the previous book. I wasn’t quite sure I liked Red’s obsession with saving Xenwyn, to the extent that he was ignoring the needs of everyone else. I did like the romance, but I preferred Jon and Glass to Red and Xenwyn.

I thought that some of the worlds were a whole lot stranger than others, such as the one where people were playing out games. I was intrigued by the fact that the Actuator was trying to ‘force’ people into the roles designed in the world. I found Ricky and Michelle to be interesting characters as I grew to know more about them due to the different worlds they travelled to… and I felt that the zombies were a particularly creepy aspect. Then again, I also thought that the clowns were really scary. I couldn’t have stood the thought of being trapped on the train like they were.

It was good to see more of the Machine Monks in this book and the different worlds that were their obsessions. I did feel some sympathy for Elizabeth, since she had to force a romance that wasn’t really real. I did find myself confused by Dawn and exactly what she was trying to do in her world.

I am hoping that there’ll be a third book in this series, since it would be good to see more of the characters and how they work together. Plus, there’s a lot about this world and the characters that drew me in and made me care about what happened to them. The scary part is that I could actually see myself in the same mindset as many of the Machine Monks.

 

About The Authors

James Wymore

James Wymore (1)

Moving often as a youth, James Wymore’s family finally settled in the desert paradise of Utah.

He spent a couple years in Korea contemplating the balance of opposing forces. After learning chaos theory in college he found the ideal environment to continue his studies of the uncontrollable, and became a teacher. He earned a Master’s degree before departing from the academic path to seek the greater freedoms of fiction. Still fascinated by the borders of randomness, he now spends his free time playing and creating games with his friends and children.

Although he patiently awaits the Tallest Writer in History award, James Wymore has won several awards for his short stories.

His early books, rumored to have been written as young as sixteen, are forever locked away. Now a published author, he has realized one of his childhood dreams.

In his dwindling free time, he draws a line of death themed comics called Parting Shots. You can see them along with games he makes and his disorderly blog at http://jameswymore.wordpress.com

Social Links: Homepage | Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Aiden James

my-picture-for-CQ

I began writing stories roughly fourteen years ago, after pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter in Denver and later in Nashville. My writing career could’ve been a brief one, as it started one night when it was my turn to read a bedtime story to my two young sons. Rather than read the ‘Mouse birthday book’ for the umpteenth time, I began a ramble about a mystical world parallel to our own, a world where sinister creatures sought to take a little boy into their hidden lair… forever.

My first critical reviews from my young audience were mixed. My youngest child, Tyler, was enthralled about the magical place I created, and eagerly awaited more. However, my oldest, Christopher, thought it was the dumbest tale he had ever heard! Luckily, my wife, Fiona, listened nearby. She thought the idea had potential, although she kept that fact a secret until the following spring, 1997. When she suggested I create a fuller blown version of this story, it marked the beginning of my love affair with writing stories.

I wish I could tell you that the experience has always been a glorious progression, where crafting characters, incredible landscapes with captivating plots, and surprising twists was easy. Far from it. It took nearly three years for me to complete my first novel–based on the bedtime story to my boys who by then were young teenagers—and another two years to decide if I liked it enough to show it to anyone else.

Since then, I have written nine more novels, and presently have five established book series out there, with a brand new sixth series set to start in the fall with Curiosity Quills Press. The first installment of this new series is entitled “The Serendipitous Curse of Solomon Brandt”, and will be a serialized project before it is released as a full book in early 2013. After this series, which explores the true nature of good and evil, who knows what will be on the menu next? Something dark and creepy… Or, perhaps something light and fun?

Definitely, I intend for it to be something well worth your time to check out—Just wait n’ see!

Social Links: Homepage | Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | Goodreads | Amazon

 

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

Cover Reveal: Gyre and Of Scions and Men

Posted by cat2002116 on December 7, 2015
Posted in: Cover Reveal. Tagged: . 1 Comment

CR Banner

Today’s the day for a dual cover reveal: OF SCIONS AND MEN by Courtney Sloan and GYRE by Jessica Gunn! Both books are in the New Adult category and are being published by Curiosity Quills Press.

Here’s a bit about each book:

OF SCIONS AND MEN by Courtney Sloan (February 22nd, 2016)

Geopolitical babysitting while arresting preternatural killers, it’s just the daily grind for Scion Rowan Brady. Brash and sarcastic, Rowan has sold her life, her career and her very blood to the controlling paranormal ruling class of America, all to make sure her kid brother can eat. Now she uses her powers as a scion to kick the ass of any preternatural creature idiotic enough to break the rules and prey upon humanity without a license. All it costs her is her freedom and a pint or two per week to her new Master.

But juggling her job and duties becomes even tougher when she is tasked with keeping a contingency of diplomats from Canada from getting gnawed on. However, negotiations for an International Blood Exchange are interrupted when bodies start showing up.

Now Rowan must rely on her talent and wit to defend the society she despises to save the lives she’s sworn to protect. But as she stumbles into the truth, she chances becoming a target of not only these killers, but of her own government. With shifters, ghosts, vampires and psychics all watching her, can she stop the killings before she is silenced?

ADD OF SCIONS AND MEN TO GOODREADS HERE

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GYRE by Jessica Gunn (February 1st, 2016)

Trevor couldn’t believe his eyes when Chelsea teleported onto SeaSatellite5. The miracle is Trevor’s absolute worst nightmare. Chelsea is Atlantean, which would be fine if Trevor’s family weren’t Lemurian—enemies of Atlantis.

Then SeaSatellite5 uncovers Atlantean ruins and stumbles into the crosshairs of an ancient war. The Lemurians want the artifacts inside the ruins, and Trevor’s the only one onboard who recognizes the relics for what they really are: Link Pieces, tools used by ancient civilizations to wage their time-travel war.

Chelsea and Trevor must brave the gyre of lies surrounding them. If they can’t, Atlantis will be destroyed forever.

ADD GYRE TO GOODREADS HERE

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Are you ready to see the covers?

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Here we go!

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GYRE & OSAM

PRE-ORDER GYRE HERE!

PRE-ORDER OF SCIONS AND MEN HERE!

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ABOUT COURTNEY SLOAN

Courtney SloanA New Orleans native, Courtney Sloan relocated to the hills of Central Maryland after Hurricane Katrina. There she lives with her husband and fellow author, J.P. Sloan, their son and their crazy German Shepherd pup. Adding to her writing life, Courtney is also a professor at the local college and enjoys learning a world of new ideas from her students as she teaches them about writing and communicating. Courtney’s New Orleans upbringing has left her with a love for the macabre and a flare for the next to normal. She writes speculative fiction with a variety of horror and sass mixed in for flavor.

She loves taking the world of politics that haunts us now, and adding the supernatural to create a gumbo of thrills to keep you up at night. A self-proclaimed lover of way too many fandoms, Courtney also loves crafting. From blankets to jams to stories, it’s always better homemade.

Author Links: Twitter | Website

ABOUT JESSICA GUNN

1951de5Jessica Gunn is a New Adult author and avid science-fiction and fantasy fan. Her favorite stories are those that transport the reader to other, more exciting worlds. When not working or writing, she can be found binge-watching Firefly and Stargate, or feeding her fascination of the ancient world’s many mysteries. Jessica also holds a degree in Anthropology.

Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Website

The Actuator: Fractured Earth

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

The Actuator Fractured Earth

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

(This review may contain spoilers).

I read the Borderlands anthology a while back and I found the world to be a really interesting one. It was good to have the opportunity to see how everything all began with the Actuator going wrong and the whole world getting divided into Zones.

I would have liked some more details about the different teams involved in the Actuator creation. I wasn’t entirely sure what their purpose was… if it was a virtual reality thing or something else. I did think it was good that the action started almost straight away. It was difficult to see Red having to make the decision to kill someone else for the safety of his fellow team members and I thought that his feelings of guilt and responsibility came across really well throughout the course of the book.

It was interesting to see how things changed as the characters moved between the different zones, to the point where even their food supplies changed to fit in with the worlds. It was also interesting to see how the characters in charge of the zones apparently changed to fit in with their worlds… but it was harder to see them as anything other than bad guys, due to not seeing anything of them before the world went bad. And Pete was a hard character to like, due to the fact that he was clearly hiding a lot of things… though it was good to see that Hanna’s world was more Dracula and less Twilight.

I didn’t really like Mack’s character, even though I think he had some aspects to his character I could relate to. I also thought it was interesting to see the different totem animals that Red and Dragon Star had.

I really didn’t like Luiz’s character and less so when he and the other soldiers ended up in the fantasy world. I would have liked to see more of the ordinary characters caught up in the world, but the aspect with the pirates was interesting and it was good to see that the characters were in real danger.

I do have the second book in this series on my Kindle and I’m looking forward to learning more about the world and seeing more of the characters.

Victor Frankenstein

Posted by cat2002116 on December 7, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Victor Frankenstein

(This review may contain spoilers).

I know the story of Frankenstein’s monster particularly well, but I liked the fact that this movie focused more on the friendship between Igor and Victor. It was good to see the way this movie started off with a narrative feel to it. I felt a lot of sympathy for Igor. I would have liked more details about his history and how he joined the circus… but I liked that his intelligence was made very clear early on, which gave his character a vastly different feel to most versions of Igor.

I recognised the actors who played both Igor and Victor and I felt they both fit their respective roles really well. I was glad to see that Lorelei was a nice person and I thought the romance between her and Igor was sweet and felt natural… even if I didn’t think it felt all that realistic for that time.

I wouldn’t say that this film should have been billed as a 12A. In my opinion, it’s closer to a 15. Some of the scenes were really quite creepy to watch, especially with the first scene where Igor and Victor bring something to life.

I was a bit disappointed with Inspector Turpin. I had thought he was an interesting character who had more depth to him… but although he’d seemed sympathetic to Igor at first, his obsession made him less likable… even though it did make him more interesting.

It was good to learn more of Victor’s past and what drove him to conduct his research. It was also interesting to get a glimpse of his relationship with his father… who I strongly disliked.

Although there was some violence in this movie, I did think that the storyline was good and it drew me in really easily. I recognised quite a few of the actors and enjoyed their work in this. The ending was kind of unexpected… but still good, even though it was extremely violent. There was a part of me that couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for Frankenstein’s Monster.

The Ghost Tree

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

The Ghost Tree

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

(This review may contain spoilers).

I haven’t read the prequel to this book, but I didn’t feel I needed to in order to get a good feel for the storyline and the characters.

One of the interesting aspects to this book, I felt, was the mix of attitudes towards the supposed haunting. I did question the wisdom as to why Kie was insisting on staying in the house after everything that had happened… he was an intriguing character, but I felt that a lot of what I knew about him was told rather than shown. For instance, one of the characters talks about this charm that he exudes… but the only person I could tell was drawn to him was Libby; and that was because she was attracted to him and quite obviously so.

I did find a lot of thoroughly unlikable characters in this book. It would have been good to see them from different angles, since it’s possible that a lot of my perceptions were coloured by Libby’s, since it was her head I was in the most. However, I would have liked to see less demonising of Catherine and Kie’s mother.

The paranormal elements in this book were particularly intriguing and there was a bit of an air of mystery. I liked the fact that the ghosts didn’t make much of a physical appearance for most of the book… having them act invisibly was a much more effective way of showing tension, I felt.

I did think that some things were glossed over when they shouldn’t have been. There were a few times when a chapter ended calmly… only for the next chapter to summarise events that had occurred after the previous chapter’s end. I did like Libby’s character. She was an interesting, strong woman and although I did think she went after Kie fast (especially given her decision not to go after someone who was with another person), I did find that their relationship and feelings toward each other came across really well.

I am intrigued enough to read the first book in this series in the future, though I would like to see how things go with Libby and Kie in a later book.

Doctor Who Season 9

Posted by cat2002116 on December 5, 2015
Posted in: Reviews, Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Doctor Who Season 9

(This review may contain spoilers).

Despite having been drawn into the newer series of Doctor Who, I found Twelve quite difficult to get behind. For a lot of this series, I felt he lacked the compassion for people in general that was so prevalent in the previous Doctors… in particular Ten, but Nine and Eleven demonstrated that well, too.

Although I didn’t mind Clara as a character at first, I did feel that, by the end of this series, she’d crossed a line. I found it hard to take her seriously as a companion and I thought that the Doctor seemed pretty obsessed with her.

To be honest, it wasn’t until the episode with Ashildr in that I felt the Doctor was starting to care more about people/races, rather than just his companion. I thought it was an interesting element to show that he’d chosen the face of his current regeneration for a particular reason… and he became a much more likable Doctor over the course of several episodes, in particular the one where Bonnie made an appearance.

It was good to see that there were some running themes through this series… in particular when it came to Lady Me. Her second episode caused me to develop a strong dislike of the character… but by the end of that one, I liked her a bit more. I felt that she came across as a more compassionate character… though I felt bad that she lost the innocence she’d once had.

I was a bit disappointed when it came to the episode with the sand men. The ending of that one was left hanging and I thought it should have been ended properly. Besides, there was an issue that wasn’t dealt with at all at the end… and I couldn’t help feeling a lot of empathy for the female Grunt soldier.

I wasn’t especially keen on the fact that each of the episodes ended on a cliffhanger. I would have preferred seeing more of a self-contained storyline. The episodes with the ghosts were especially creepy… but the effect was ruined due to the Doctor’s lack of compassion.

I’m not sure I really liked the ending of this series. There was a lot of potential that I felt fizzled by the wayside… and the twist didn’t really work. What happened to Clara had happened so much to her, I found it hard to feel anything other than annoyance at her.

I do intend to watch the Christmas special and hope that it’ll have a better version of the Doctor. But I won’t be watching this particular season again.

Krampus

Posted by cat2002116 on December 5, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Krampus

(This review may contain spoilers).

When I saw this film advertised originally, I was instantly curious. The ‘bad’ Santa is something I’ve heard of before… but it was an interesting movie to watch.

There were some members of the family who were thoroughly unlikable. I was disappointed not to see much depth to some of the characters. I did like Max and it was sweet to see his relationship with Nomi. I also thought it was really easy to empathise with his desire for things to be the way they had been.

It was good that, although most of the movie was violent, there wasn’t much blood and gore shown. I felt that enough was left to the imagination, which was a good way of doing things.

I liked being able to see the conflicts and affection between Sarah and Linda. I would have liked some more details about their history and different home lives. While there were parts of this movie that were a little amusing, I wouldn’t say it’s actually a comedy-horror.

I did like the opportunity to learn more of Nomi’s past, though it was confusing to see that her son didn’t have any idea. When Nomi was talking about her past, I thought that the use of a different style worked really well… and I had a lot of sympathy for the child she’d been.

The puppets were really creepy, but I would have liked more details about how they related to Krampus. The atmosphere in this movie was really creepy and chilling… and I felt that the town looked really deserted and creepy. I was confused about why Krampus was targeting the whole town, though.

It was interesting that Krampus himself didn’t appear very much in the movie. I thought it was more scary when he wasn’t there than towards the end, when he was.

I would have liked the ending to be more certain and less open-ended. There were a few jump scares in this movie, but nothing that left me absolutely terrified and on the edge of my seat. It was entertaining to watch, but not all of the characters were easy to relate to and I felt that the storyline didn’t go into as much depth as it could have done. I don’t know if I would watch the movie again.

Interview With Zainab T. Khan

Posted by cat2002116 on December 4, 2015
Posted in: Interviews. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Zainab T. Khan is the author of Sanctuary:

Sanctuary

1) What originally inspired you to get into writing?

It was once upon a time, the tv show. It doesnt even make sense now when i think back about it. i remember, as i was watching the show I wanted to write a story about a girl who gets her happy ending. And then things happened. Two drafts later, one finished and one lost, I finally wrote one that didn’t seem kiddish to me. So i published it in February 2015. It just went from that.

2) Where did the idea for Sanctuary come from?

That’s easy. I’ve always wanted to write about a place where no one is being discriminated on any basis, whatsoever. Thus, Sanctuary came into existence.

3) Was there any particular character that you liked or felt able to relate to? Conversely, was there any particular character that you disliked?

Able to relate to? Probably not. As for liking and disliking, I like all of them. I still haven’t reached up to a stage where I can discriminate between my own characters. It’s just not possible, at least now.

4) Were there any scenes in particular that were particularly challenging or easy to write?

I’m thinking real hard right now, trying to come up with an answer to your question. As far as I can remember, not really. I had to do a lot of research though. But it was really interesting. I guess the scenes between Adelaide and Kivanc were the easiest to write. Their relationship just somehow made me comfortable writing it, alog with Ruelle and Raina, though with them there was still some things with which I needed to be very careful. 
The challenging scenes were the ones in which I had to write about the festivals. I’ve never been to any of the festivals mentioned in Sanctuary, so the scenes are based on my google research and imagination. Lots and lots of imagination.

5) Are there any particular authors or books that have inspired you?

Inspired me in writing? Meg Cabot. Growing up, I’ve read a number of Meg Cabot books. And my second draft was a teeny tiny bit inspired by her Mediator series (if you haven’t read them, you’re missing out, really.)

6) Do you have any advice/pearls of wisdom for budding writers?

Write. Just write. Don’t worry about mistakes. Don’t worry about making errors. Don’t worry if your book is not selling. Just write. It’s that simple, trust me.

Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes: Professor X

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

Marvel's Mightiest Heroes Professor X

(This review may contain spoilers).

I’m wavering a bit at how many stars to give this particular comic book. I thought that the first one contained a bit too much in the way of exposition… even though it was interesting to see the Professor before he couldn’t use his legs, as well as a much younger version of Storm, I wasn’t sure how it fit with the scene where the X-Men were lost on a boat; or with Charles’ and Lilandra’s relationship, even though it was nice to see them interacting with each other.

I found the second set of comics to be really intriguing to read. It was interesting to see the tensions brought to the front with the X-Men and how they had to deal with being forced to confront the darker sides of their own natures. It was particularly difficult to see Wolverine and Jubilee, both before and after the effects were broken.

I would have liked to see a bit more of Charles’ relationship with his son. I didn’t feel like there was enough shown to allow me to know how they felt about each other. I did feel a lot of sympathy for Polaris in this comic book, even though I hadn’t met her beforehand.

It was good to see that not all of the characters succumbed to the effects by the mutant and I also thought it was good to see Mystique actually working with the X-Men… and I really liked being able to see Nick Fury, too. There were a few good elements of humour, like with the Chinese whispers being passed along of ‘He’s all right’. And I liked being able to see Charles and his students fighting alongside each other, even though I would have liked to see a bit more of how they all interacted together.

I felt able to empathise really strongly with Jean and the others when they were outside Xavier’s body, waiting for him to battle the enemy and having to watch his body carry the effects. I was a bit unclear as to why the original X-Men weren’t around at first… but it was nice to see them come through and help.

I’ve seen Professor X in some of the other comic books and it would be good to see more of him again in the future, since I hope to learn more about him and his relationship with his students.

Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes: Guardians of The Galaxy

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

Marvel's Mightiest Heroes Guardians of The Galaxy

(This review may contain spoilers).

Having seen the film Guardians of the Galaxy, I was definitely interested in learning more of the team… even if it did take me a while to get to their comic book.

I thought it was interesting to see the contrast between the two different teams. It was good to see Thor have the opportunity to battle alongside the original Guardians of the Galaxy and I liked seeing how Astro recognised him. I thought The One Who Knows was a fairly interesting character and one I would have liked being able to learn more about.

It was interesting to see the darker team of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the second set of comics. I liked being able to meet them… although I would have liked to see more details about their history and how they all knew each other. Rocket the Raccoon made me smile at various points… and it was interesting to see the team members interpreting for Groot.

I liked the opportunity to see part of the Skrull invasion and it was pretty cool to see some of them who could actually be considered ‘good’ guys. I thought Cosmo was an interesting character and he was one I would have liked to see a bit more of, especially considering the obvious tension between him and Rocket.

Drax was an especially scary character. Even though I thought his actions made sense (as soon as he provided an explanation), the fact that his motivations weren’t explored as thoroughly didn’t help me be able to empathise with him. Peter Quill seemed like a character who didn’t take things seriously at first… but by the end of the comics, I thought that he had a lot more depth than he seemed to at first.

It was interesting to see Astro make an appearance in the second set of comics, though I was confused by the apparent hostility his former team mate expressed towards him. It was also interesting to see the way he was discovered; a way that mirrored how the Avengers found Captain America.

I liked Mantis, even though I would have liked to see more of her motivations and learn more of her history. I am interested in learning more about the team members in the future.