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book reviews |
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Multi-volume, multi-genre author Anna Casamento Arrigo introduces us to her collection of poetry, “Petals”: “Petals,” Anna says, “is, in essence, learning how to walk when you, on some days, are forced to crawl. Moreover, it’s about defining and redefining the self, and, ultimately, learning some new recipes for those proverbial lemons!” Petals showcases her love of life and all that we can achieve, and that the better part of ourselves is ourselves! “But most importantly,” as Anna believes, “Kindness ALWAYS Matters!”  I am always surprised by poetry. My expectations always fall short and this volume captured my heart in several ways. The feelings that arise within me are the result of the poet's words and teach me more about myself than about the poet. I seek a favorite in each volume and that is such a difficult task. Puppet Master will do until I read the poems again. 4.9 stars for Petals!  You can buy this collection of poetry:
https://www.amazon.com/Petals-Anna-Casamento-Arrigo https://www.goodreads.com/-petals https://pagepublishing.com/-petals https://www.barnesandnoble.com/-petals-anna-casamento-arrigo You can connect with the author: https://twitter.com/CasamentoArrigo https://www.annacasamentoarrigo.com https://www.facebook.com/anna.casamentoarrigo https://instagram.com/casamentoarrigo I reviewed a memoir by Anna: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/weeds-beneath-the-open-meadows-by-anna-casamento-arrigo I have reviewed another collection of poetry and short stories by Anna: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/on-the-wings-of-my-fancy I have reviewed 2 books for children: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/my-mocha-skin www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/tessy-turtle Tags: poetry, emotions, senses, sensuality Copyright © 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.
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Debut, paranormal, horror, thriller author Samantha Weiss introduces us to her first novel in the Altered Planes series, “Cynosura 99”: “The night the moon bleeds is the night the world will end. There’s death in the moon. And the moon is you.” Atra Hart has spent the last seven years locked away in Vanishing Plains Psychiatric Hospital. In that time, her shadow has transformed into its own entity and is growing stronger by the day, threatening to devour her mind. She calls that shadow Dread, and only her missing father knows what it is. When a fire breaks out at the asylum, Atra makes her way to freedom just in time to see an electric-purple rift sunder the sky. Like Dread, the rift is only visible to her. Atra’s already loose grip on reality unravels when she learns the rift is a gateway to the world of the dead. And the Queen, an ancient evil lurking on its fringes, wants Dread for her own. Even worse, Atra can’t tell if any of this is really happening. She might have escaped one asylum, but the closer she gets to unearthing answers about Dread, why her father knows it’s there, and its role in the Queen’s plans, the more she risks getting trapped inside her own mind forever. Maybe some truths are meant to stay buried.  This story unfolds from multiple points of view and the intersections appear slowly, that is what creates such a rich and perilously dark story. Atra's struggle with Dread and those who are trying to control her will keep you on the edge of your Kindle! I know I was on the edge of mine! The rich prose and full-bodied characters really bring the story to life. Though she says little I am certain the Queen thinks she is the story's star. She scares me right out of my socks! Get this book, you will love the chills!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Cynosura-99-Altered-Planes-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-cynosura-99-altered-planes You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/SamwiseStrange https://authorsamweiss.com https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamWeiss https://www.instagram.com/samwisestrange Copyright ©2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, horror-and-science-fiction author Craig Crawford introduces us to the first volume in his genre-mashup series, Project Threshold, “Team Berger: Division 1”: In a multiverse where the walls are thin between our world and others, Project Threshold stands between humanity and monsters crossing over to threaten us. Harris Berger and his team intervenes on our behalf. Death waits around every corner but dying isn’t the worst thing they have to endure. Berger wades in with his team: Sam, Billy, Jacks, Jessie, and their new recruit, Pendelhaven. Team Berger faces an unknown advanced civilization, mimics loose on the streets of Chicago killing homeless people, dealing with the aftermath of witnessing awful things, mermaids in the Midwest and an apartment where people start committing suicide for no apparent reason.  These short stories are connected by an overarching mission to keep the public safe and ignorant of serious, paranormal threats to humanity. They share different characters within the same secret agency and there is a joint history for some and a short history for others. The extraterrestrial bend is unmistakable and there are definite elements of horror. Mermaids in the American mid-west might be considered part of the urban fantasy genre. I am not a fan of large amounts of gore but I enjoyed all of these stories and got chills in a number of places. I can't say anymore because I am committed to not spoiling a story for others. I award 4.8 stars to “Project Threshold: Team Berger: Division 1”.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Project-Threshold-Team-Berger-Division-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-pt-team-berger-craig-crawford https://www.barnesandnoble.com/project-threshold-team-berger-craig-crawford https://www.thriftbooks.com/project-threshold-team-berger-craig-crawford You can connect with the author: https://twitter.com/CRAIGLCrawford https://www.facebook.com/CraigLCrawfordWriter https://craiglcrawfordbooks.com https://projectthreshold.com I reviewed the second book in the series here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/p-t-team-talise I reviewed the third book in the series here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/team-riker-by-craig-crawford I reviewed the fourth book in the series: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/project-threshold-finale I have reviewed the fifth book in the Project Threshold series, Season Two: "Team Berger": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/p-t-season-2-team-berger I have reviewed the sixth book in the Project Threshold series, season two, "Team Riker": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/project-threshold-season-2-team-riker I have reviewed another book by the author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-beginners-guide-to-being-evil-by-craig-crawford I have reviewed another book by the author: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/zombunny-by-craig-crawford Tags: alien, demon, paranormal, supernatural, science fiction, urban fantasy, horror Copyright © 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction |
Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
May 2025
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