Brownbird’s Luck
April 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Book Title: Brownbird’s Luck
Author: Kriss Erickson
Niche: Fantasy
Price: $2.50
Size: 38,000 words (143 pages paperback equivalent)
This delightful fantasy is the first in a new series called The Land Behind the Veil. It features elves, unicorns (always a favorite), evil forces, and a quest.
The book will probably appeal most to pre-high school kids (including girls since the protagonist is a 14-year-old girl) and those who are still young at heart. Since I’ve never grown up (I may grow old, but I refuse to grow up), I also enjoyed the story.
If I had to criticize anything in the book, it would be the rather slow start. The scene setting seems to be necessary, but I’m one of those who wants to get into “the good stuff” right away. However, Erickson handles even that part of the book skillfully. I could almost taste the dust of the barnyard in my mouth and smell the crops her “Da” grows.
Her characters are real and engaging. Although they speak with an almost backwoods accent, it doesn’t get in the way of the story nor is it difficult to follow. Rather, it adds to the “reality” of the yarn and draws you into Deila’s world.
The sense that this is more than just a story about a poor farm girl becomes evident early on with the mysterious death of a new foal and the strange new foal that takes its place. Lessons in life given by her grandmother, “The Dark Weaver” add to the conviction that something extraordinary is happening.
Erickson doesn’t disappoint. Soon Deila is drawn into events that are far beyond the mundane world she lives in. A great setup for the next book in the series, Brodentia, which is due out in April.
Let go of your grip on reality and enjoy this trip into a different world of fantasy and mystery.
Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)
No DRM
Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state
By it now at AKW Books
Review: KGB in High Heels
April 20, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Book Title: KGB in High Heels
Author: Valentina Maltseva
Niche: Mystery / Spy Drama
Price: $4.50
Size: 65,000 words (250 pages paperback equivalent)
This book was a best seller in Russia and Israel under the title: KGB v smokinge (you can see why the English version has a new title). It was made into a 16-part miniseries.
Written in Russian, it’s been excellently translated into colloquial English. It reads just like it was originally written in English.
Valentina works on an artsy Newspaper in the old Soviet Union. She’s not political and is happy puttering around in the art world, writing stories and reviews.
Unfortunately for her, her boyfriend gets her involved with non other than Yuri Andropov (head of the KGB) and she finds herself shipped off to Argentina and plunged into the world of espionage.
Nothing goes as planned and the body count rises as her chances for survival plummet. Three spy agencies are after her and two of them would rather see her dead.
Valentina is no James Bond. She’s not suave or sure of herself. She’s just terrified and wants to go back to her safe life in the art world.
Like many people, I love the Bond movies. I also read all of the Ian Fleming Bond books. This isn’t Bond by any stretch of the imagination. This is much more realistic than Fleming’s books ever were. A refreshing look into the spy world from another perspective, where spies are highly fallible and plans rarely go well.
I enjoyed every paragraph. My only complaint is that it wasn’t a longer book. However, sources tell me there may be a “part 2″. Oh goody!
So, grab your knife and gun, and sit down for a great roller-coaster ride into danger.
Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)
No DRM
Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state
By it now at AKW Books
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