Tag Archives: fantasy

CTRL Illusion by Sid Visaed (Book Review)

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In the not so distant future the world has free energy, poverty is eliminated with health and education for all. Every fantasy can be indulged by simply slipping on a VR headset allowing individuals to live through their favourite stars eyes. Equality has been achieved and the rich manipulators exposed and stripped of their control. All accomplished by the first sentient benevolent artificial intelligence secretly manipulating events for the betterment of mankind. It was created as the perfect system to help shepherd us through the singularity. It has no greed, no bias or hidden agendas driven only to ensure the continuation of humanity in the best world possible. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out quite a lot as things start unravelling for Detective Rowan Cinn as he gets caught in a botched VR stars kidnapping days before his retirement. Soon he finds himself in a world of humanity manipulating AIs, secret islands, genetic engineered hunters and sentient stars. It’s a lot to take in while trying to deal with the small matter of why his family is vital to the future of humanity.

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images-15(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

With VR (virtual reality) becoming more and more popular, I was highly intrigued with the premise of this story. The book summary caught my interest and, for the most part, CTRL Illusion lived up to my expectations in regards to what I expected to see in a science fiction / fantasy story.

There were hover bikes, enhanced people, animated tattoos (Kutoo), DNA trackers for prior offenders, optical browsers, and the ability to access a victims’s memories through advanced technology.

Side note: The ability to access a victim’s final moments came with one humungous drawback — the detective experienced all the pain and suffering but couldn’t react. With the level of violence in the world, I’m not sure if mankind is ready for that bit of tech yet. I can see it being developed in the future, like with the story’s 3D imaging of rap sheets and crime scenes.

Now with all the techie aspects of the story, there was also a HIGH LEVEL of gore, revolting scenes that had me gagging at times. There were incidences of cannibalism, bloody orgy scene, and just more…… weirdness. Let me just say, don’t read the Interlude chapters while eating because, if you do, you’ll be feeling the need to upchuck. Actually, I’m feeling the bile rising up simply by thinking about the eating scenes….. Just *shuddering*

If you can stomach the gore and continue reading it, you’ll discover quite an interesting plot. There’s a few surprises —- the end of Chapter 12 ended with quite the showstopper.  Plus, the last chapter, Death.

Before I end this review, I want to make note of one thing. A editing point I made to Sid and one I told him I would address in this review. As you read the story, you’ll discover that Sid writes some rather long paragraphs. Paragraphs that I believe would’ve be better suited broken up into small ones. I pointed this out to him and told him the length of each paragraph came across as more textbook like reading material than a novel.

After I read CTRL Illusion, I asked the opinion of four people. I didn’t allow them to read the page, I simply showed them my kindle. They all posed a similar question, “What are you studying?” In my opinion, you don’t want a story to read or LOOK like a textbook. That’ll cause readers to push it aside for another and no author wants their story pushed aside and forgotten. Right? I hope Sid takes my advice when he writes the sequel. 

 

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 

Score: ❤❤❤

 

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Sid Visaed is a science fiction writer taking influences from Cyberpunk, Biopunk, Genetic Engineering, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence genres adding dashes of Horror and Thriller. He describes himself as an Immortal Transhumanist just waiting for science to catch him up.

Born and raised in the less than sunny region of the England known as Torbay: The English Riviera, Sid had a love of science fiction from a young age. Falling into a career in quality management he devoted his spare time to imagining stories to illustrate due to his love of the comic and graphic art form.

His debut novel CTRL Illusion set in the near future asks questions about the agency of sentient AI and the implications of creating life in our image. The novel reflects his naked fears and desires mixing them with the intense pace of a thriller dashed with elements of horror.

 

Contact via email: CTRL_Illusion@outlook.com

Or on Twitter: @BatFonz

Or visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CTRLillusion/

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Beast of All by J.C. McKenzie (Book Review)

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“Two months ago my world collapsed and the beast reigned.

Seven weeks ago the SRD captured me.

Nine days ago, they injected me with something vile.

Today, I break free.

And tomorrow?

I’ll make them pay.”

 

Badass Shifter Andy McNeilly wakes up from a horrible nightmare, only to discover it wasn’t a dream, and she’s no longer quite so badass. Chemically curbed, Andy has lost touch with her feras and beast when she needs them most. Can she regain control of her supernatural abilities in time to reap retribution from her enemies, or will she fall as fodder in a power play for control of Vancouver’s seedy underworld?

 

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No feras. No beast. Whatever they shot me with blocked my communication with the animals. Did it prevent shifting as well? I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to call a form and change. Only a headache answered. Dread flittered across my skin. Was this permanent?

As the Carus, the genetic throwback to the first demi-god progeny of the beast goddess, I caged a beast with rage and power rivaled by few, and possessed more than one animal familiar to shift into.

At least, I did until the SRD shot me full of chemicals. Would I ever regain my abilities? Hear the indignant screech of the peregrine falcon? Or the lusty purr of the mountain lion? Or soulful howl of the wolf?

My heart hammered, punching bone. A buzzing sensation filled my head. The “wrongness” of my condition grated against my nerves, slicing them into slivers like a planer shucking off wood shavings.

Something in my abdomen swelled, as if the beast pushed against whatever barrier caged and hid her from me.

I’ll get you out, I told her, not knowing if she could hear. We’ll make them pay.


All Romance | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookStrand |

Chapters | iTunes | Kobo | Wild Rose Press

 

 

 

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

Even though “Beast of All” is book #5 in the Carus Series, it can be read as a standalone novel. However, after reading it, I know you’ll most definitely be itching to read books 1-4. Why? Because you’ll want, crave, feel compelled to find out more about key players in the series — their pasts and how they got from point A to point B.

After witnessing the passion, heat, basically a tsunami of emotions rolling between Andy and Wick, I never wanted this story to end. Fighting together, fighting each other, there’s one thing evident… they loved each other. However, before a HEA was achieved, we were presented with some outstanding, unforgettable, and BADASS battle scenes. Andy, you are a BADASS woman/shifter (Carus).

The rest of the supernatural beings were just as memorable and smoldering as her (Andy). Seriously, I think J.C. created the sexiest, most lethal group of characters housed in one story.

Various shifters, vampires, witches, and demons…..loved them all!   

Speaking of demons, wait until you meet Sid aka the Seducer Demon. Him, I could’ve had a few more chapters of. Andy’s brother too. But hey, there’s always book #6; which can’t come soon enough. 🙂

  

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 

Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2

 

All Romance | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookStrand |

Chapters | iTunes | Kobo | Wild Rose Press

 

About the Author:

View More: http://photos.pass.us/headshot2

Born and raised on the Haida Gwaii, off the West Coast of Canada, J.C. McKenzie grew up in a pristine wilderness that inspired her to dream. She writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.

 

J.C. McKenzie’s Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Goodreads | TWRP | Amazon | Newsletter

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Watership by Jenna Whittaker (Book Review)

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The world was dying, so scientists worked to create a safe haven in the centre of the earth; hollowing it out for the future generations to live safely.

When the creatures created to watch over the people detected the failsafe program had activated, and that their hollow world was about to collapse, they took them to a sentient, biological spaceship, set with the coordinates to take them to a new world.

But with the aliens who helped the scientists in the past having come back to change the course of the ship, things soon spiral out of control.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

Creatures with multiple legs, claws, horns and milky eyes. Individuals with an unnaturally elongated form, no facial fissures except a mouth and orb-like eyes. Abominations with no facial features at all. Jenna truly did the sci-fi genre justice with her creations. Beings I would expect to see on the Syfy channel line-up.

One Syfy original show came to mind while I was engrossed in “Watership” — Falling Skies (TV Series 2011–2015)The”Skitters”, six-legged aliens on Falling Skies, did communicate using the hive-mind connection. Also, like Falling Skies, there was one special girl whose appearance changed drastically by aging more rapidly than humanly possible, and proved to be the game changer to the plot. Like the show, aliens and humans worked together but, unlike the show, most of the storyline took place on a ship.

Like Jenna’s other science fiction story The Last Immortal, I felt somethings needed more clarification. How is Charn, Queen’s daughter, able to produce a black mist from her fingers and eyes? Also, Aspects (beings created by the core) came about out of the blue. One final thing, I’m surprised Desu wasn’t more aware of certain happenings aboard the ship since she brought the humans there. You’d think she’d know the ship inhabitants forwards, backwards and sideways. Due to these problem areas (my hiccups), I had to dock a couple stars. However, all in all, a great read and worth spending few bucks on. 

 

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 

Score: ❤❤❤

 

Kindle Purchase Link

 

 

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My name is Jenna Whittaker and I am an Australian author who has been writing fantasy, science fiction, and horror novels for as long as I can remember! I love writing, my artwork, and caring for animals.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jen_W_95

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennawhittaker

Deviantart: http://ky306.deviantart.com/

Tumblr: http://jenna-whittaker.tumblr.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCObXlq2opvKiBg5PjRhfXRg

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/jenna_whittaker/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennawhittaker

Sketchmob: https://sketchmob.com/user-profile/Jen144/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jenna.artwork

https://www.facebook.com/jennawhittakerauthor

Blog/Websites:

http://jennawhittakerart.weebly.com/

http://jennawhittaker-author.weebly.com/

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The Last Immortal by Jenna Whittaker (Book Review)

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Death was alien to them. The people of the world never knew death for as long as any could recall; yet when their world slowed on its axis, the atmosphere disintegrating, the immortals felt death for the first time.

A wasting sickness ravaged their species. The old could not fight it, and the young who survived were permanently scarred by it, unable to ever bear children. Yet when it seemed that the sickness had passed, further destruction was laid upon them; the earth shattered. What was once a whole world became a mass of small shards of land held together, barely, with never-ending chasms separating them.

But when an immortal girl appears, Kyrilee, who cannot catch the wasting sickness, she tells a tale of dreaming thousands of years past, of giving birth to a cat. Most dismiss her as mad, but some believe she is the one they have been searching for. The one who holds the key to curing the sickness, who can bring the people together once more.

Kyrilee finds that she is no immortal, but instead a mortal body with an immortal soul, constantly reincarnating throughout the ages.
When she discovers the cats, the descendants of the one she birthed in her dream, and she realises it wasn’t a dream at all. These creatures hold the key to restoring the earth. She must take this key from them before they enslave the humans.

 

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

For a science fiction book, I will admit there were certain elements of The Last Immortal which fell in beautifully with the sci-fi genre: immortal women, speaking cats, portals, and soul transference.  The cats, monstrous in size, were thought of Gods because of how they made their appearance to the humans. Humans whose lives were altered dramatically due to radiation and these cats. For the humans in the story, I would have appreciated more backstory on certain people: Marissa and Avery in particular. Jenna mentioned Avery loving her and her hating him in return. No explanation. No flashbacks. Nothing. Their part in the story felt incomplete and I think an expansion of their roles would have benefited their storyline greatly. I also wondered why they were the appointed leaders of their respected groups. Maybe this can be addressed in a prequel?

Now back to the cats, whose roles were the main focal part of The Last Immortal. I didn’t quite understand the whole concept of where they came from but science fiction is the genre of WTF. Basically, the impossible made possible through imagination and Jenna sure does have one helluva imagination.

However, due to the incompleteness with character development and the all-together feel this story was a sequel instead of a first in a possible series, I must dock it stars.

(Ends with a cliffhanger.)

 

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 

Score: ❤❤1/2

Kindle Purchase Link

 

 

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My name is Jenna Whittaker and I am an Australian author who has been writing fantasy, science fiction, and horror novels for as long as I can remember! I love writing, my artwork, and caring for animals.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jen_W_95

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennawhittaker

Deviantart: http://ky306.deviantart.com/

Tumblr: http://jenna-whittaker.tumblr.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCObXlq2opvKiBg5PjRhfXRg

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/jenna_whittaker/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennawhittaker

Sketchmob: https://sketchmob.com/user-profile/Jen144/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jenna.artwork

https://www.facebook.com/jennawhittakerauthor

Blog/Websites:

http://jennawhittakerart.weebly.com/

http://jennawhittaker-author.weebly.com/

 

 

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Precious Cargo by Sarah Marsh (Book Review)

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Evernight Publishing: 88 pgs

 

What would you do if you woke to find yourself confronted with an entirely new universe? Alison Baker deals with it the best way she knows how, one day at a time.

Alison wakes in the midst of a nightmare, complete with monsters included. She winds up being rescued by three alien males but when it comes to her future she’ll need to learn to open up her mind and her heart if she hopes to survive the virus that her kidnappers infected her with.

Clan Drogan are quite content with their lives and careers, when their ship gets attacked by pirates and they are forced to protect themselves, their spoils of war come in the most unexpected of packages. They’ve never met any female like Ali before, and her sweet and caring nature draws them to her like a moth to a flame. But they have commitments of their own when it comes to their future, will the three of them be able to decide once and for all if their intended mate back home is the right one for them? Or will they follow their instincts and see where their attraction to Alison leads?

Ali knows that Conn, Kal, and Tannen are meant for another woman, but she can’t seem to help herself when it comes to falling for the three charming men. They introduce her to pleasures she’s never even imagined; how could just a taste ever really be enough? When they finally arrive on the men’s home planet of Dolak, she sees first hand that her competition for their hearts is fierce and not about to go away quietly. 

Will she find the strength to stand up and fight for what she wants?

 
 
 
 
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Adult Excerpt

 

Kal had been trying all morning to get some work done, but his mind kept wandering back to delectable little Ali, and eventually he just quit what he was doing and went to track down her and Conn to see what they had gotten up to. He certainly hadn’t been expecting to find what he had when he’d walked into the observatory, but the sight of the two of them half naked, kissing on the couch brought his cock to full attention in a matter of seconds.

“I see I’ve arrived just in the nick of time.” Kal smiled as he walked up to the couple and ran a finger gently along Alison’s flushed cheek. “Is there room for one more?”

He loved the way her blush got brighter as she bit her lip and nodded yes to him. Conn lifted his head from nibbling on her neck, and Kal slowly leaned in to take the other man’s mouth in a sultry, deep kiss. Alison’s breathing became even more rapid and her eyes went heavy with lust as she took in the scene before her.

Kal had his suspicions that Ali would enjoy seeing him with Conn and Tannen, and it seemed he was correct. The aroma of her desire was filling the room, causing their own pheromones to increase in return. Their sweet little Alison couldn’t have been a better match for them if she’d come straight from their wildest fantasies. It seemed that his plan to convince his two bond mates of that fact was coming to fruition without much interference from him at all. He stopped for a moment to watch as Conn continued to grind himself against the woman below him, drawing sweet whimpers from her lips.

“Get naked and get over here,” Conn said to him after he broke the kiss, and returned to torment Alison with kisses on her neck as Kal rounded the couch and began to undress.

Just as last night, Kal could feel her eyes roaming over his skin as he took off his clothes, and a thrill went through him at the thought that she admired what most of his people saw as a defect. The only other two beings in his life that had ever looked at him that way were Tannen and Conn, and once he’d found them, he’d vowed never to let them go.

Kal loved the sound of her gasp as he took his briefs off along with his pants this time, revealing his long, hard cock that was aching for both her and his Captain.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” Conn whispered in her ear, as they both watched Kal undress, with rapt desire. “It always takes my breath away to see the contrast of his skin against my own.”

Ali looked from one to the other, a slow smile forming on her beautiful lips, and Kal could only hope that she was imagining them entwined in each other’s arms.

“He is,” she finally agreed on a sigh, as Kal finished and moved towards them.

Conn finally released her arms, only to move his hands down her torso, and he began to slowly raise the shirt that had been covering her.

“May I?” Conn asked, looking deep into her eyes for permission to remove the barrier.

****

Alison was so enthralled by the directness of his gaze that she simply nodded in agreement, biting her lip again once the shirt was removed and she was naked to them.

“Ah, no biting, lovely. That’s our job now,” Kal said as his eyes dropped to her mouth and he knelt in front of them both. “I’ve been dreaming about these lips.”

By the time he leaned in and pressed his soft mouth against hers, she could no longer hold back. She grabbed the back of his head and pulled him in for a deep kiss. He seemed to be surprised at first, but then she felt his hands move down to caress her aching breasts and he returned her kiss with exactly the passion and heat she was craving.

“You two are so sexy together,” Conn said as he claimed one of her breasts with his mouth, sucking her nipple deep into his warmth.

She could feel his still-covered cock lightly rubbing back and forth against her pussy. To have the both of them touching her at the same time was scrambling her senses with sensation overload. The harder Kal kissed her, the more Alison felt as though she wanted to crawl right into him, and she couldn’t help but slide her hands into his wavy dark hair to pull him closer. She felt her nails dig into his skin, but all she could do was moan and suck at his tongue wanting everything he had to give.

Kal pulled away, and Ali was bereft at the sudden loss of contact. When she opened her eyes and looked up both men were staring at her with such a look of hunger it took her breath away.

“Why did you stop?” she asked desperately, panting hard.

“Gods, Ali, you could burn me alive,” Kal said in a low growl. “Why don’t we help our Captain out of his pants?”

Ali watched as Kal knelt on the couch behind Conn and began to nibble and lick on the other man’s neck, causing Conn to moan, his head falling back in pleasure. Kal took one of Alison’s hands in his own and slowly brought it down to caress his bond mate’s chest and stomach until finally they found the closure to his pants and released it. Conn groaned loudly when both Ali and Kal’s hands reached inside and found his long, hard cock and stroked it together.

“Are you two trying to kill me?” Conn growled as he opened his eyes and looked down at their combined fingers gliding over his hard flesh.

Alison looked down at Conn kneeling between her thighs, his dark skin such a lovely contrast with Kal’s silver arms around him and the pale cream of her own hand wrapped tightly around his thick shaft. Their skin was a slightly different texture than hers. It was almost like a soft velvet, and she couldn’t stop wanting to roll her entire naked body against them both.

The pleasure was so decadent, she almost felt high just from touching them, especially with their combined scents playing at her senses.

“You need to take the pants off, Conn,” she said, tightening her grip on his cock and stroking it slowly, gratified to see a small bead of moisture collect at the tip.

“As you wish, my lady,” Conn said, before leaning forward to kiss her and then climbing off the couch to remove the last of his clothes, leaving him just as naked as she and Kal.

Alison was distracted watching the thick muscles of Conn’s well-toned body as he stood back up, and then she felt Kal’s hands move along her thighs and open her legs further as Conn laughed out loud.

“You bastard!” Conn teased. “I knew you would steal my spot!”

 

 

  ~~~~  Review ~~~~

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Many women (and men) can relate to Ali’s plight in the beginning of “Precious Cargo”. She’s 35, single with no prospects. She eats dinner alone, watches tv alone, because she has no family — no one to love her.

Then, in a blink of an eye, her luck changes. 

No, she didn’t meet “the one” on Match.com or eHarmony. Instead, she was whisked away on a spaceship where she was rescued by three hunky aliens. 

Before you ask, cause I know you’re dying to know, yes she was probed but she wanted to be — practically begged for it. 

I could say the Seria 9 strain she was injected with by her abductors was the sole reason why she became so touchy feely. I mean, yes, the side effect of the strain was the need for bodily contact. And, no real surprise skin to skin contact proved most effective. 😉


But really, I think being surrounded by three men who were sexually attracted to her and each other might have something to do with her sexual awakening. It would be hard for anyone not to be affected by them, under the influence of Seria 9 strain or not. Right?

Picture this, at 88 pages, Alison (and us readers) were treated to scenes where everyone got handsy with everyone. 

No one was left unsatisfied and, if you pick up this book, you won’t be either. 

 
Heart Rating System
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
 Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
  

 

About Sarah Marsh

 Sarah Marsh Fiction woman ad

Sarah Marsh was born in British Columbia where she still lives, she has only recently began her writing career finding it the perfect outlet for taking the edge off a nine to five office job. She’s been a science fiction and romance junkie for years and when her imagination started to take the characters she’d read about even further in their adventures she decided to try writing something of her own.

Sarah’s also a former pastry chef and spends a lot of time cooking and baking for friends and family as well as painting and knitting. Her biggest weaknesses are animals of any kind…she even loves the ones that wake you up at four in the morning because they can almost see the bottom of their food dish.

When it comes to life in general she’s a big believer that laughter is the best medicine and that there’s no such thing as too much love, which is why she’s such a sucker for a happy ending.

 

Connect with me!

 

 

 

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