Tag Archive: fantasy



Forged: A Fantasy Short StoryForged: A Fantasy Short Story by Margaret McGaffey Fisk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a delightful bedtime story. The strong female lead sharing her weaknesses, that are actual strengths, keep the story moving. I love that she is an apprentice to the smithy. That isn’t an easy job even for a strong boy. But she brings her full game and proves invaluable to the smithy and her community.

What I don’t like about short stories: they are short. I just barely was in love with the main character when the story ended. Please, Margaret, I want to know what happens next! I think there is a lot more than can come from this storyline.

Even so, I am glad it wasn’t gruesome or scary as some of the other books I am reading right now. Like I said it was great before bed. I think this would be a story for most people, most ages. It beats Grimm for depth and feminism.

By the way, I feel I am friends with Margaret McGaffey Fisk as she is a member of our writing group. This review, though, is my honest thoughts on a story anyone could have written. Great job, Ms. McGaffey Fisk! I want more!

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Hotter Than Helltown (Preternatural Affairs, #3)Hotter Than Helltown by S.M. Reine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclosure: I was given this ARC edition, by the author, for an honest review.

For something as gruesome and dark as the name implies, Hotter Than Helltown was a fast, exciting read. And funny! I can’t tell you how often I laughed out loud! And there were places of philosophy to make a person stop and think. I like that in a book. I even had to highlight a phrase or two I thought noteworthy. But I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s read by pointing the gems out. Half the fun in is discovery for yourself.

I have grown to like the self-depreciating detective turned witch, Cesar, for his humanity. Though we see him as quite the hunk, he knows he’s not the catch women might think they want. Despite himself he is the reluctant hero of this particular series, Preternatural Affairs. Though you don’t have to read all the books of the series before it, I like that I have the knowledge of S. M. Reine’s worlds.

For an ARC I see less error than I do in many publications out there today. That just proves what a professional author is capable of. Well done, Sara! I can’t wait to read the next one, already cued up!

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Secrets (The Steamship Chronicles Book 1)Secrets by Margaret McGaffey Fisk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I feel I can claim I am friends with the author, Margaret McGaffey Fisk. She has been an important member of the writing group I belong to. I don’t think that comes into play in this review, first of all because I fell deeply into the world she created, and second because I was saddened to find myself back in reality when I finished this adventure.

Safe Haven began this adventure for me. It precludes the series The Steaamship Chronicles of which this, Secrets, is book 1. I had already fallen in love with the characters, Lily and Samantha. To research the burbs and other reviews please check out Amazon and GoodReads.

Meanwhile, my review. Although this started sadly and then got exciting, it leaves me in the heads of Sam and the boy, Nat. I would guess this is the set up for much more fun ahead.

I wish Samantha was set free to do what she does best, but, again, that will happen, I’m sure, in the next books. There seemed to be times where I tended to put the book aside and attend to other shining things. I don’t remember having that problem in Safe Haven. Maybe it is all my own problems and not that of the author. Maybe I am not in the demographic the book is for. I do know I would have had fun reading this to my children, or had them read it to me way back when.

It is: A great bedtime story, a great for Young Adults as Sam learns to fit in her world. And fun for this old lady!

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Confessions of a Pagan NunConfessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I finished this book a couple days ago. I wish I didn’t have to write a review for it. Mostly because I can’t figure out what to say.

What I hope to find was an education about the Pagan ways in a gentle fictional story. Instead there was plenty to tell about the cruelty of the ‘onward christian soldiers’. But the book seemed to tell more about the cruelty and less about the goodness of either religion. Even the awe of nature and all her wonders was minimal.

Emotions seemed to rule the book: guilt, depression and unrequited love.

The feelings that I am left with are the cold and muddiness, disease and death.

Many have left much more eloquent reviews for this book. I leave only the shivering grittiness I feel when thinking of this story.

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Translations by M. Pax


TranslationsTranslations by M. Pax

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another short story. Too much romance not enough action. Didn’t care for the main character. So, um, meh. But don’t take it from me. Many reviewers have given it high praise.

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Prodigal AngelProdigal Angel by N.R. Champagne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclosure: I was gifted this Kindle version of the book for an honest review.

As for star rating I would have given the story 3 1/2 stars. Not that the story was bad. It could just be me. I am a little over angel and or demon books. That isn’t the author’s fault. It is just what I have spent a lot of time reading for other authors. Luckily, the book doesn’t label the people as angels and demons per se. They are just other beings.

There is a lot of death and destruction that would have had me leaving the book behind, but the main character, Miranda, had won me over. I thought she was well developed. She felt real to me. And I liked her.

Many times the story gets a bit preachy on ecology and global warming. But since I believe we need to wake up and start being stewards of this planet, I didn’t mind. Others might find that off putting.

One of the fun parts of the book is getting to go along for the ride, be it bicycle or trailer truck. Miranda has quite the adventure while staying healthy.

There is a bit of romance, not too much. There are a few triggers for some people. But the bad people get their due.

Give it a try. You may like it. I might like it better if I read it again later.

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Silver Bullet Silver Bullet by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another quick read. The only reason it took me so long was because it was a bit too intense to read before bed.I must admit that even as distressing as the story became, there was enough humor to offset it.

This will not go down as my favorite S.M. Reine series. I like the others that are with female leads. Riley is so sweet and strong. Elise was a tough cookie and even though she ended up a demon, she always fought for what was good. Cesar is mostly boring to me. And the worst part of the story is that the women in this series are mostly arm-candy.

All that said, the story itself is engaging. I want to know what is going to happen next. And since this one is set in Reno-Tahoe area, I felt quite involved. AND I look forward to the next book in the series, Hotter Than Helltown.

Keep cranking them out, Sarah! Your books are always unique and fun.

By the way, this was a free read for honest review.

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Review: Witch Hunt


Witch Hunt Witch Hunt by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a nice short book. I thought it would be at least as long as Ms. Reine’s other books. But maybe that is just my own interpretation. Maybe it was as long and was just was a fast read? It was fun. Witch Hunt doesn’t align with my goal of reading about strong fem characters written by strong fem writers. In fact, I was a little disturbed by the ‘hunk’ male with ‘arm-candy’ females. One scene made me happy. To prevent a spoiler, I will only say the word: boils.

Now once I got past the MC being a guy, I found the story fun. At times it felt like the old detective movies. There were a couple lines I had to stop and read aloud to my husband. One of those I actually highlighted in my Kindle. Since I finished this early last night I started the next in the series that I was given for review. (I think the same might be said for this book?) Whereas Witch Hunt was located in Los Angeles, the next is in Reno. In both cases, I felt a part of the scene as I have personal experience with these areas.

One thing I can say for all of S. M. Reine’s work is it is exciting and keeps you engaged. As I have said of other books she has written, please go through the books in order starting with Six Summer Moons and then through each series in order (GoodReads has them listed on her page very well.) Although this book could do well on its own, Having acquaintence of the places and people of the other books adds depth to the read.

Once again, great job, Sara!

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Review: Safe Haven


Safe Haven

Safe Haven by Margaret McGaffey Fisk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First of all, I need to say that the author is a member of the writing group I belong to, and I consider her a friend. That said, I want to be as objective and honest as I can. But Margaret need not worry. I was impressed!

I must admit that at the beginning I felt the story a bit formulaic. I started reading once and got sidetracked by other books. But I got back in and put on my text-to-speech on fast to help me get engaged into the story. Once I was, I didn’t want to leave.

Lily, the main character, is a sweet, lovable soul who became real to me. Her sister, Sam, is cute as a button. Both are now orphans. Worse… they hide a secret from everyone. Even the law. Sam is a Natural. Naturals are against the law and put in an asylum.

At first I was confused by what being a Natural meant. But as I understand it now, a Natural is a person who can make and repair things made of metal gears and steam, seemingly as if by magic. To make matters worse, Lily finds herself falling for the local cop, Henry.

I was so sad to see the story end, even with a satisfying finish. Luckily, it seems there will be more to the story. I can hardly wait. Meanwhile, I have Ms. McGaffey Fisk’s other books on my Kindle shelves and ready to read. Great job, Margaret!

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Review: Torn by Fury


Torn by Fury
Torn by Fury by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Before I get into the actual review, I must thank S.M. Reine for allowing me to read/review her book for free.

As usual, Ms. Reine’s book grabbed me in the beginning and wouldn’t let me go until the end. It is so full of action that I actually groaned at the beginning as I wasn’t ready to get up and fight, again. I felt tired of the fights fought in the previous books of the series. I wasn’t ready for the blood, guts and gore, again.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the characters, demons, witches, and werewolves, a lot. I care about them and want for their best lives. So of course, when they decide to gang up together to fight the bad guys (um, angels, yeah) I am on their side. Yay, let’s go get’em! So I ignore my weak stomach and gird my loins for another war. Once I understand that that is what we have to do, I fight and cheer for them.

The gore doesn’t go away and I must admit to wishing I could hide from some scenes. But then I might miss something important.

Weary. That’s what I felt most for the characters. They have been through so much already, why prolong this?

Going into this book I thought it was near the end of the series. After all, Sarah has written the beginnings of another series. But I found at the end of the book that it wasn’t the wrapped up end. Sure some things get solved but other problems are calling for help. I felt so tired at the end of this book and it wasn’t because it was nearly 4 o’clock in the morning. And I had to pull out my latest ‘boring’ read to calm myself down to sleep. (Unfortunately, that book decided to get rousing, suddenly. Why can we rely on books to suit our needs?)

So, in the end, I find myself longing for the next book in the Ascension series. Meanwhile, while waiting for Sarah to finish it, I’ll read her new series, Preternatural Affairs. Even though many of her books contain blood and gore and fighting, I think a lot of people would like to read S. M. Reine’s books. I find it best to start out with the werewolf books, Six Moon Summers, etc. Rylie’s stories, then proceed to the Cain Chronicles. Then there is Descent and Ascension series with Elise and James. Sarah drags all the characters you know and love through all the books. I love that as you get to know everyone so intimately. Charater depth at is best! Enjoy!

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