Review: The Turning by Helen Ellis

I have to admit that I wasn't so sure I was going like The Turning because I am not very fond of cats. When I first glanced at the book, I thought that the cover was beautiful. I was intrigued by the girl's eyes. It was clever how they put one eye as human and one as cat. Anyway, enough about the cover. Now lets talk about the story behind it.

Mary Richards is an adopted teen who lives in Manhattan with her adopted sister Octavia. Mary is just someone who wants to fit in but can't because of a bully at her school named Ling Ling. Strange things start happening to Mary whenever she touches a cat or even gets close to one. Pretty soon after Mary touches a cat that jumps into her bathroom, she starts to grow fur. Within a matter of days it is time for Mary to make her first full transformation into a cat. She is not alone though, she has new friends that are just like her. Her new life doesn't come without difficulties though.

The Turning is a lovely tale. Its a perfect short read for anyone who is looking for a little fun, adventure, and dare I say it, cat fights.

Review: Beautiful Dead, Book 1 - Jonas by Eden Maguire

* I have done these reviews/interviews on my other blog, but I will still post them here. *

This post is from March 25, 2010.

I was a little hesitant when I first started reading Beautiful Dead because I thought it would be like every other tragic romance novel with supernatural creatures. I was pleasantly surprised when I first started reading. I was sucked into the book after the first page, no joke. I couldn't put the book down! I was always wondering what was going to happen on the next page or the next chapter. Things got exciting and troublesome and I was in a whirlwind of events and emotions. Darina, a girl whose boyfriend, Phoenix, who died in a mysterious murder, goes wandering around grief stricken. She comes across and old barn and when she goes to investigate said barn, Darina spots the dead but somehow alive Phoenix. Darina must help Phoenix and the rest of the Beautiful Dead to give Jonas peace. She must find out who killed Jonas and why. I would definitely give Beautiful Dead a five out of five rating. I absolutely loved the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good romance/mystery novel.

Review: Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

* I have done these reviews/interviews on my other blog, but I will still post them here. *

This post is from March 21, 2010.

Merlin's Harp isn't my usual style of book but it sounded interesting so I gave it a try. It was confusing when I first started reading because the writing style is different from what I have read in the past. After I got through the first few pages though, I began to follow along much easier. Merlin's Harp isn't one of my favorite books but it is a beautiful read. I loved the secrets and the hidden surprises that would show up unexpectedly. I also enjoyed the twists of fate. Nivienne fighting to help the very people she used to hate - humans. The tragic events that happen to her close loved ones had me sympathising for Nivienne. Merlin, a close friend of Nivienne, sang songs with his beautiful harp, Enchanter, that spoke of things that have happened and things that are to come. The songs captured me and had me guessing at what the melodies could mean. Overall Merlin's Harp is a good read, but I would suggest reading twice so you can find all of the different pieces that link the story together. The things that hint at the major surprises at the end. I would give Merlin's Harp a 4 out of 5 rating.

Review: Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation

* I have done these reviews/interviews on my other blog, but I will still post them here. *

This post is from September 4, 2009.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse is a riveting and suspenseful tale full of magic, mystery, and gnomes. It was brilliantly written and I loved the sly sense of humor. The twists and turns kept me wondering what was waiting around the corner. I fell in love with all of the characters immediately and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to read what happened next. I didn’t want the book to end. The attention to detail was beautiful. It felt like I was there with the characters. I could feel what they were feeling, and see what they were seeing. Bran Hambric left me awestruck and wondering what could possibly come next when I finished reading. I cannot wait to read the second installment in this fantastic series. Words can hardly describe how great it is. A perfect read.

Kaleb Nation Interview

* I have done these reviews/interviews on my other blog, but I will still post them here. *

This post is from September 1, 2009.

> What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

I think my favorite part about being a writer is the fact that I can create worlds and characters, and people all over the planet can actually go into a bookstore and discover them. The world of Bran Hambric has been almost exclusively my own for six years now, and suddenly lots of people know about it!

> Do you have any writing routines - i.e. listening to a particular CD or munching on a certain snack while writing?

When I write, I am almost always listening to movie soundtracks. My favorite composers are Thomas Newman, Danny Elfman and David Newman -- and I especially enjoy the Lemony Snicket movie soundtrack. Movie music helps me imagine things!

> How has your life changed since you began writing Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse?

Not long ago, I packed up all of my things and moved to California, which is something I've dreamed of for many, many years. On the way, I suddenly realized that I was literally moving to another state to become a full time writer! It was something that I hadn't really processed before. So writing has certainly helped me accomplish many dreams other than being published!

> If you could go back in time to when you first began writing Bran Hambric, what would you tell yourself?

Don't worry Kaleb: all this hard work will be worth it a few years from now!

> What do you like to do in your spare time when you're not writing, blogging, and etcetera?

I really like to make videos for Youtube! When I'm not doing that, I go to movies with friends or just drive around this new city. I also love to do some amateur photography when I have free time.

> How does the fandom affect your everyday life?

I'm not exactly sure how much it affects my daily life, besides answering emails and meeting people and keeping up with fan websites like yours! I try to interact with people who enjoy my writing as much as I can -- one of the big reasons I got a Twitter!

> If you weren't a writer, what would you be and why?

I think if I wasn't a writer, I think I would be a radio show host. I really enjoyed doing that, and it would be great to have a call-in show!