The Castle Doctrine: Daniel Faust rides again (YES!!!).

God I love Daniel Faust. He is just the right combination of conflicted and naughty to keep me interested.
So it will come as no surprise that I was delighted to crack the (digital) spine of book 6 in Craig Schaefer's amazing and addictive series.

'The Castle Doctrine' rolls seamlessly on from the previous volumes, with Daniel battling his immediate problems (a 3000 year old ego maniacal necromancer and a 30 something gangster with Daddy issues) while trying to unravel the mystery behind the series continuing theme; defeating the seemingly all powerful 'smiling man'.

More so that in other volumes, I was left wondering who was truly friend and foe.
Certainly Daniel's girlfriend, Hell hound Caitlin is a head scratcher.
Does she love him, is she even capable of  love?
Or is she playing a long game? Gradually, with each sweet encouraging nod in the direction of violence and mayhem, honing Daniel into the ultimate weapon to use in the service of Hell?

Certainly Daniel grows ever darker with each succeeding book; leaping across moral lines in 'The Castle Doctrine' that were most definitely left uncrossed in previous books.

So in the face of my growing unease, did I enjoy my reading time as Daniel shot, stabbed and magicked his way though the pages of this book? You betcha I did!

If you share my love for magic mixed with taut story telling and a billowing sense of encroaching doom, then you need to jump on board this series!
Do me a favor, start at the beginning; you will enjoy the show!

Happy Reading!
xoxox LMK

Buy it, Read it!

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia 

Magic Bitter Magic Sweet: A Dark and Delicious Read

If you have read my review of Charlie N Holmberg's series 'The Paper Magician' you will already know I am a raving fan of her delicious prose and being 'delicious' is key to the success of her new book 'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet'.

'Maire', is Holmberg's gifted yet exquisitely confused heroine. 
A baker of somewhat 'unusual' talents, Maire can infuse her edible creations with intent. Cakes to calm and strengthen and promote feelings of love.

Confections full of hope and serenity and 'charm'.

Maire uses her talents to support herself in her adopted home village of Carmine, selling delicious and uplifting pastries and cakes from a small shop in the centre of town.

There is some grit in the batter however, Maire cannot remember any of her life before being brought broken and bruised to Carmine; who is she and from where does her talent spring?

The plot twists begin early as Maire is kidnapped by slavers before being sold into a brutal and vicious life as slave to the disconcertingly odd Allemas.
Utterly disconnected from his humanity, Allemas uses Maire's talents for money. Forcing her to bake less savory ingredients into her creations. Cakes that once promoted hope now lure children into dark forests, biscuits that brought resilience to the down trodden now grant unending stamina to fellow slaves so they can be worked without pause.

'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet' unfolds like a dark fable; there is danger in gifts misused, peril in wanting more. 

Holmberg's characteristic warmth persists in 'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet', even through the frequent plot detours into brutality and violence. Radiating still while the reader is left unsure of the motives of the protagonists and clueless who to trust.

So, no spoilers, I can literally say no more! Except of course this; I wholeheartedly recommend you sink your teeth into 'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet'.
My only further advice, bring a large slice of cake with you when you read!

As always; may your opportunities to read be many and your books be AWESOME!


xx LMK

Daniel Faust: Get in my Kindle!

There is a lot of magic in my world, especially now that I am focusing on reading books with a  'Magical' edge.

So far in my 'magical reading month' I have read two series with a historical flavor; full of dresses with a lot of buttons and propriety galore (both of which are admittedly quite often ripped aside.)

I have loved both these series (check out the reviews via this 'Magic Portal'), the reading has been A-Mazing! 

The time has come however, for some gritty, sexy, darkly modern magic; all of which I found in the 'Daniel Faust' series of books by author Craig Schaefer.

This series, beginning with the aptly name 'The Long Way Down', has all the elements essential to lure readers into eagerly devouring installment after installment.

The main character, (no surprises here) Daniel Faust, is as conflicted as they come.
A self described criminal, with as he sees it, no redeeming features; Daniel manages to still somehow come across as a heroic figure.
A sorcerer who uses a deck of cards and mocked up enchantments to ply his trade, Daniel finds himself deeply ensnared in the hellish (literally) business of the Los Angeles occult.

Employed by a grieving man to investigate the murder of his Granddaughter; Faust is single minded in his pursuit of those guilty not only of murder but of shredding the victims soul into shrieking fragments of horror.

What comes next is a tense, dark and sexy plot, as Daniel uses all his sorcery and courage to avenge (no mere 'solving for Faust') this evil crime.
Throw in a crew of well rounded support cast and a succubus with dubious intent and you are left with a story that grips from page one.

If you enjoy your magic potion with a dash of sex, a drop of self loathing, a sprinkle of horror, a good slosh of mystery; all performed with a hangover, then this series is most definitely for you!

All five books currently completed in the series are available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link:

The 'Daniel Faust' series by Craig Schaefer

Happy reading!

'The Paper Magician': Magic and Love Beautifully Entwined!

Reading 'The Paper Magician' by Charlie N. Holmberg feels like those rare times when I am lucky enough to find myself sitting in a comfortable chair, lit by a warm ray of sunlight, with no one else in the house. There is a feeling of warmth, contentment and underlying bliss that is hard to beat.

'The Paper Magician' itself is golden and warm, lit from within by gorgeous detail and sustained by a unusual and briskly paced plot.

With an unique take on the practice of magic and a realistic historical setting, Holmberg has delivered a novel that feels like peeking into a parallel universe.

The story opens, with a defiant and unhappy young magician, Ceony, set to meet her supervising magician, and perform the ceremony that will forever bond her to the practice of paper magic, extinguishing all other dreams and options she may have had.

Unbeknownst to Ceony, this moment, seemingly filled with despair, will set her on a course of  dangerous adventure and unexpected fulfillment.
She will learn, the hard way, not to judge a  branch of magic, or indeed a magician by its cover. Sometimes that which seems 'average' and bland, can transform into something the heart cannot do without.

Ceony discovers that love, even love unknown and unacknowledged can be the source of great courage ( though I suspect Ceony had a fairly stiff spine to begin with.)

I loved 'The Paper Magician' for it's slow burn romance and genuinely touching moments. Holmberg makes it easy to imagine falling in love and finding your purpose in this gorgeous book.

I managed to read 'The Paper Magician' and then the two subsequent books in the series, 'The Glass Magician' and 'The Master Magician'; in the space of four days. I am pretty sure that anyone taking on board my 'highly recommended' rating for this series, would equally enjoy the devouring of these great reads.
If you are lucky, it might be in a comfortable and sun drenched chair!

All three books in the series are available for purchase from amazon.com, either in Kindle format, or perhaps more appropriately 'paper back'.:)

Happy Reading!

'Poe' by J. Lincoln Fenn: Demonically Good fun!

I have had the recent misfortune of reading a couple of real 'clangers' in a row.
Books that leave your teeth feeling rotted and your IQ level depleted upon completion (yes, I still have that issue with finishing books once I start...).

All this fictional garbage has left me feeling desperate for a 'real book', a book that is as satisfying as a healthy meal after a weekend binge.

'Poe', By J. Lincoln Fenn is just this kind of book; witty and horrific; gruesome and poignant with a twisty wonderful plot to boot.

The protagonist, Dimitri, is a delightful slacker, who does everything in his power to avoid setting foot in his workplace.
When he does show up, Dimitri is the author of the local Paper's most popular column, the Obituaries; which when you think about it, says a lot about his small town.


The story starts when Dimitri becomes column inches for his own byline; drowning in an abandoned well in the basement of a derelict mansion, notorious for tragic events.
Our hero does us the immense favor of not remaining dead; discovering when he does that the life of the miraculously 'not dead' is more complicated and rich than his wildest 'slacker' dreams.

Romance, demon hunting and ghost whispering ensue, all of which left this reader awake into the early hours of consecutive mornings (because unfortunately I did have to leave the house to work in the interim).

I would recommend 'Poe' as a wonderful tonic anytime you feel exhausted by mediocre reads; sink your mind into this book, you will feel all the better for it!

'Poe" is available for download or order from amazon.com via the following link:

'Poe', By J. Lincoln Fenn

I am optimistic that we have  not heard the end of Dimitri, he is a character that deserves at least a sequel!

'Halo Bound':'Redneck Apocalypse' Perfection

There is not much better in life than finding a book that is exciting to read. A book that lures you in, stomps all over your life and then leaves you desolate when it is over.

From my experience these 'Life Stomper' books are not as common as they should be and when I find one I want to shout it from the top of a mountain, or at least a book shelf ladder.

So here I am, on the top of my own personal ladder shouting,

 'For Heavens sake people (in this case sorta literally), 'Halo Bound' is a read you need to get on!'

'Halo Bound' is not a long book, but it is dense; like getting your daily reading calories from dark chocolate instead of a salad.

Featuring really really nasty fallen angels (makes sense when you think about it.... they were kicked out of Heaven for a reason!) and some seriously conflicted redneck warriors of God.

The characters in Eden Hudson's paranormal thriller are living on the edge, on the edge of sanity, on the edge of love and most definitely on the very edge of survival.

It is the choices these characters make to survive that make this book so intense:

Giving up salvation to save a brother; giving up their bodies to rescue a sister and giving up their sanity to save the world.

Sound interesting? You bet it does! This book only suits those with a pulse and a love of the apocalyptic genre. A warning though, there are most definitely some adult themes, so be aware....

If this sounds like your cup of Whiskey, 'Halo Bound' is available for download or as a paper back from Amazon.com via the following link.

'Halo Bound' By Eden Hudson

Even better news, this is the beginning of a series and there is a prequel to sample as well!

Happy reading :)

Best Served Cold: Brutally Engaging Fantasy Fiction from Joe Abercrombie

Recently, twice in one day, I found myself being recommended Joe Abercrombie's books, from difference sources at different times in (quite obviously) different places.

Enough said, the universe had spoken, apparently I needed to read some of his work without any further delay!

For no reason other than it was the title my husband came home with and he insisted on it (bossy much?), I picked 'Best Served Cold'... as it turns out, it was a case of 'Well played Little Miss Kindle, well played.'

Somewhat like its' cover image, 'Best Served Cold' is dominated by its' strong, beautiful and brutalized heroine Monza Murcatto.

It is the story of her revenge that is 'served' over the pages of the book, with seven confronting courses offered for the reader's vicarious delight.

For me however, it was not so much the grim and brutal main course that satisfied, but the equally dark and engaging side dishes,

From the foreign fighter who seeks to be a better man to the arrogant and sociopathic poisoner (is there another kind?), to the prisoner who is counting the days (when you read it you will see the pun) until he can be back (safe) behind bars and the drunkard ex mentor who teeters between seeking his own revenge and a parental style love.

It is these characters who add the spice, poignancy and depth to the tale..... and in the case of the mysterious assassin 'Shenkt' the 'lie awake at night and cringe' horror.

If you have read my reviews before, you will know I don't do spoilers, because well, they tend to spoil things.So trust me on this one; if you like your fantasy fiction no holds barred, graphic and brutal, yet still engaging and (dare I say it) emotional, then this one is for you.

Now I am off to read some more of Mr Abercrombie's books before the universe feels the need to tell me again, this time perhaps at the end of a broad sword.

If 'Best Served Cold' sounds like your cup of home brewed sour ale, then you can find it for download or purchase from Amazon.com via the following link.

'Best Served Cold' By Joe Abercrombie

ps: While this book is set in an existing 'Abercrombie' world, it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.

Little Miss Kindle's 'Authors of Excellence' : The (Temporary) Definitive list.

I have read a lot of books in my time; in fact if my Kindle library is anything to go by (using mathematical tools such as extrapolation, estimation and exaggeration) I have read, well, a bloody lot.
If I have reviewed a book in Little Miss Kindle, I liked it, enjoyed the read, considered it time well spent.
If I didn't like a book, well I simply put it aside and moved on, not being in the business of crushing hard working authors with any stinging words or pithy criticisms.

I reckon though, that some authors deserve more, they deserve to be lifted above the ranks of the mere good, or even the great. Some Authors have reached a level of excellence surpassing their creative peers.

Authors whose stories leap so far off the page that their readers are standing within their worlds, surrounded by the plot, living with the characters. Feeling the fear, the cold, the love, the happiness.
Laughing out loud, grieving, experiencing.

In honour of these few brilliants, I have decided to compile a list of those Authors who I consider a cut above, Of course this list will change and hopefully grow as my reading takes me in new directions and new discoveries are made.

Now for some logistics; due to the sheer scope of the job at hand I have split the list into genres, and being me, I have decided to start with a fun one; (unnecessary drum roll please!) 'Epic Fantasy Fiction'.

There is definitely more to come as I ponder the difference between good and great, entertaining and excellent; but for the moment, please hold your applause until the end as I unveil,

The Little Miss Kindle 'Authors of Excellence' List: 

In the category of Epic Fantasy Fiction:

Game of Throne = EPIC

Maybe not the original, but certainly close to being the best; the amazing, if not frustrating George R.R. Martin. As per my earlier post (An Open Letter to George R. R. Martin), Winter is coming! But who am I to quibble, his epic novels are certainly worthy of the title 'Most Excellent'.

If not the original, then the original was no good, of course I refer to Tolkien; Cher before Cher, Madonna before Madge. He of the the one name (initials don't count) and the heartrendingly beautiful 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, as well as many other wonderful fantasy novels and accompanying guides. Props to you Mr Tolkien.

A new (to me anyway) kid on the block, Mark Lawrence has snatched the 'epic fantasy' baton and run with it. I love his books, so vicious yet deep, gory and funny. Bottom line, beyond entertaining, moving into the territory of the life absorbing (books that rob you of days and nights of productive life).

A wonderful 'Book Circle' recommendation, thanks to my good and well read friend Megan.

Then there is the inspiring and thoughtful J K Rowling, whose fantasy works are so good as to almost be cliche. In my opinion, the Harry Potter series was written like an earthquake. Starting small and light and increasing in intensity with each new book; until the finale where readers were shaken and broken before being released into peace and relief and joy.

Now I know what you are thinking, I have missed a LOT of excellent authors. It is true I have, however never fear as:

a) I have split my authors into more categories than the Oscars.... after all, we are not here to read War and Peace (in one sitting anyway)!

b) I want to hear your thoughts. Who have I missed? Who don't I know about? Guide my reading, I will be eternally grateful.

Stay tuned for more 'Definitive and Temporary' Lists.

;) Little Miss Kindle

Staying Lost in Fantasy Land....

Recently I have been quiet on the Book Review front, though I confess, I have read some really great books.
I have even read some really really great series and yet I have not shared any of page turning discoveries.

Truth is I have been a little bit nervous about revealing the extent of my fantasy fiction addiction, which is kind of awkward because for the last month or so I have wanted to do nothing more than escape from the here and now into plots where reality is wonderfully skewed, if not completely absent....

The good news is I am ready to emerge from Fantasy Land and I am bringing with me a bag of books and feature authors tempting enough to lure you away from the mundane and deliver you squarely into your own alternate bookish world.

If you are ready to roll into fantasy land read on.....

'The Master of Crows' By Grace Draven

If blame for my extended silence needs to be assigned, then this is the book that needs to take responsibility!

Rich and riveting (like it's gorgeous cover art) this novel trapped me in its' snare from the outset.

Grace Draven builds a tense and enthralling fantasy thriller with a powerful and sexy hero (think 'hubba hubba' sexy nerd) and a heroine who has strong appeal based on much more than beauty (in fact she is so plain as to be physically forgettable).

With the fallen God 'Corruption' intent on stealing his soul and 'The Conclave' (those who rule the use of magic) equally desirous of destroying his life, 'Silhara' (The Master of Crows) finds himself rapidly approaching destruction. Possession or death promising to take him painfully and permanently.

Can romance and help come in the form of a Conclave spy? You bet it can, and Martise, her of the plain face and mesmerising voice enters his world.

At this point the reader can only sit back and hold on for crackling attraction, soul eaters and a God who drips with menace and reeks of rot.

'Master of Crows' dropped me fair and square into a love affair with Grace Draven..... and this is why I have decided to feature more of her work (read in a frenzy over a number of long days and nights) in future fantasy posts.

If you are willing to take the risk of entering, and perhaps losing yourself in Fantasy Land, then
'Master of Crows' is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link.

'Master of Crows' By Grace Draven

All purchases made via this link with go to support the reading and reviewing addiction of Little Miss Kindle!

An Open Letter to George R. R. Martin

Dear Mr Martin, 

Please accept my sincere congratulations on what is possibly the best Fantasy fiction Series in the known universe! (I refer of course to the magnificent work that is Game of Thrones.)

It has come to my attention however that you are releasing a new book on the 20th of November. Imagine my disappointment when I realised that this 'book' was not the next (loooooong awaited) installment but a 'History of Westeros'. 

I mean really. 

Bottom line is this, I absolutely forbid you to write another word of fiction if it is NOT part of Book 6 of G.O.T.

Honestly, I have nothing to threaten you with to achieve my aims, except to say this. I WILL buy book six when you release it, but I will be disgruntled, VERY disgruntled.

Best of luck with the 'words'.

Kind Regards

Little Miss Kindle

p.s. A signed copy of book six will go a long way towards easing my pain......

'In Death': A series to love 'long term'!

 A few weeks ago I let loose a Facebook teaser after discovering a series that seemed to be always on point, despite having well over thirty books to its' name.

I was nervous about sharing at that time, in case the quality was not maintained; but after conducting some scientific analysis (i.e. reading the five first books), I feel confident enough to let you in on the excellence that is the 'In Death' series by J D Robb (aka Nora Roberts)

The 'In Death' novels chronicle the investigations of Lt. Eve Dallas, a detective who, like many of her fictitious counterparts, has a talent for getting deeply and personally involved in the murderous cases she seeks to solve.

I can almost hear you thinking, 'I have read this before!' and 'Why hook up with another feisty female detective?' and 'I already have Jack Daniels, I don't need Eve Dallas...'.

I am sure I can convince you otherwise with this short list of two reasons, to launch yourself into 'In Death'.

Reason number 1: In Death is set in the (not too distant) future, where life is simultaneously familiar and wildly different. Guns are antiques and (for the most part) play no part in crime. People succumb to their shallowest urges and faces and bodies are more perfect (and yet more fake) than even the most aspirant Botox user could currently hope to achieve. Robb has created a 'future world' that is extrapolated from our own, and therefore recognisable enough for the reader to feel comfortable in. The differences however set these books apart, giving them a flavour all of their own, a unique and engaging edge over similar crime fiction series.

Reason number 2: I offer for consideration the intimacy between Eve and her (ubiquitous) multi-billionaire squeeze  'Roarke' (yes, as in Cher and Madonna). Believe it or not, these (steamy) pages are actually worth reading, a massive step up from crap like Fifty Shades and away from the common author mistake of 'over share' on the details (in honour of my last statement, I am not going to over share examples of 'over share'!). Eve and Roarke have an attraction that the reader can believe in, without having to accept it was a) instantaneous and b) based on nothing more than a smoldering first glance.
It is a rare and amazing treat to be able to read EVERY page of a book without the usual problem of boring and transactional 'romance'.

I admit, I cannot know for sure that book six through thirty nine will be as immensely readable as the first five, but at this stage I am more than willing to drop the cash to find out!

Reader heaven, a nearly inexhaustible supply of sure things!

If you would like to sample some of the 'In Death' Series, all thirty nine books are available for purchase from Amazon.com via the link below.

'In Death Series' By J D Robb

All purchases made through this link will support Little Miss Kindle :)
Many thanks!

'Brilliance': Marcus Sakey's Irresistible Series

It has happened.... my luck has finally run out! I was on a 'series' roll, every series that I discovered and loved (with a major exception... you know who I'm talking about Mr George R R Martin) being complete and whole and satisfying..... and I repeat, finished!
No wondering for years what the heck was going to happen after the cliff hanger ending, just a seamless trip to the buy button on my Kindle to buy book 2 and 3 (and in some cases 4 and 5).

But reading Karma has caught up with me in the form of 'Brilliance' by Marcus Sakey. Bottom line is this, I read book one (loved it), book two (loved it a bit more) and then..... what is this? Book three is yet to be released?

What is there to do but inflict my pain on the world with a BIG recommendation for this fantastic series.

Set in an alternate reality where a small minority of 'Brilliants' (people born with extraordinarily developed abilities, such as reading body language, seeing patterns in numbers and systems etc) find themselves regulated and even hunted by the majority of 'normals'. Problem is, the regular man on the street has moved beyond being intimidated by the potential of these people, to being afraid of a world where they are always outwitted by their more 'Brilliant' brothers and sisters.

Caught in this evolutionary battle, Federal Agent (and 'Brilliant') Nick Cooper has spent his career hunting rogue Brilliants; but what if his mission was based on lies? Will the truth set him free or plunge him into a battle to save civilization from imploding into chaos?

You guessed it..... chaos it is!

With a cast of great characters and plot lines skillfully interwoven into a fast paced whole, 'Brilliance' is a must read for all lovers of Thrillers and conspiracy books alike.

'Brilliance' is available for purchase from Amazon.com through the following link:

'Brilliance' By Marcus Sakey

All purchases made through your Amazon account via this link will support 'Little Miss Kindle'.

'Forgotten Sin' : Not your average Wolf tale.

'Forgotten Sin' is the first in the Avenging Fate series by author Brian Hershey.

If the cover left you in any doubt, the book fits squarely in the paranormal genre, the 'Werewolf' genre to be exact.

Unlike recent Werewolf novels, or even books with Werewolf characters (I am thinking of certain hunky True Blood Characters here), 'Forgotten Sin' finds no romance or nobility in these hairy beasts.

Hershey's Werewolves, for the most part revert to 'type'; viciously dismembering any human that they encounter in their 'Wolfish Form'.

Hershey's main character, Dr Mya Bishop. is however a Werewolf apart from the norm, clinging onto what remains of her humanity, desperately trying to outwit the curse that has overtaken her life.

Afraid to leave the cage in the basement of her estate during the full moon and wracked with guilt over the lives she has taken over the course of her 250 year existence, Mya knows something has to change.

As fate would have it, this desire to combat evil and perhaps redeem her soul proves the spark for a series of events that will tip Mya even closer to the edge of evil.

The first in a series (still to be written), 'Forgotten Sin' is an entertaining read that occasionally shocks as it moves from Sedate and somewhat formal prose (perhaps a nod to Mya's 17th Century upbringing) to grisly descriptions of Werewolf attacks involving severed limbs and the consumption of human flesh.

While this variation is style is surprising at times, it succeeds in adding more suspense and interest to the narrative than may have otherwise been the case.

'Forgotten Sin' is a promising start to this new paranormal series and I have to admit, the end left me wondering..... what next?
Hurry up and write Mr Hershey!

If you are keen to give 'Forgotten Sin' a read, it is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link.

'Forgotten Sin'; By Brian Hershey

All purchase made via this link will support 'Little Miss Kindle'.

'The Giver': A Gift to the Reader.

A little like the cover of the book displayed here, 'The Giver' is a muted yet deeply powerful book.

A small story, with a big message for society, and our constant drive towards 'sameness' and conformity.

While often described as a 'YA' novel, I found 'The Giver', by Lois Lowry, a book for all ages and generations. The narrative is disturbing and saddening, a glimpse into a future altered to achieve a type of perfection. This perfection, designed to remove all traces of the ugliness of humanity, has also eradicated beauty, emotion and most crucially, love.

I first read Lowry's award winning book just over a year ago, coming to it ignorant of its role in creating the 'dystopian' genre of fiction (I am thinking 'Divergent' and 'The Hunger Games here people!).
Without the baggage of knowledge or expectation I was able to be surprised and moved by Lowry's bleak vision.

I suppose I should not be surprised that 'The Giver' has been made into a movie, given the popularity of its YA cousins. I hope however that the director manages to capture the subtle movement of the main character, Jonas, from ignorance to anger and the sadness in the slow reveal of the true nature of the community.

The lesson, without love, humanity is doomed to perpetuate evil in the name of efficiency, survival and perfection.

If at first this book does not grab you, for heavens sake, persist!

'The Giver' is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link;

'The Giver', By Lois Lowry

All purchase made through your Amazon account via this link will help support 'Little Miss Kindle' (and her love of reading and reviewing!)

'Prince of Thorns': Bloodthirsty, Epic, Anti- hero fun!

When I introduced 'The Book Circle' in my last post, I promised only 'Killer' reads would come from the hallowed minds of the circle... for my first 'Book Circle' review, I have decided to go one better with a truly Killer series.

'Prince of Thorns' is the first in this (thankfully fully complete) series and it DELIVERS  in spades.

While I admit it took me a few chapters to fully 'get' where Lawrence was going with this book (please don't give up on this one early), once I did, WOW!

Lawrence has created an immensely intriguing premise underscoring the world in which his characters live.
No, I am not going to spoil it for you, but I will say that when the truth of the 'world' crystallized in my mind I was Impressed (yes, with a capital I) and completely hooked.

The series starts off knee deep in bloody violence and I have to admit I was not loving the characters at this stage; especially Jorg; the 'anti-hero' around whom the series revolves.
He seemed frankly evil and unlovable (as most evil folk are) and I could not imagine why I would want to read more about this horribly damaged individual.
Only the recommendation of my Book Circle buddy kept me optimistic about this books potential.

It was a case of confidence well place as the series unfolds into an epic tale of manipulation, magic and the single minded pursuit of (justifiable) revenge; 

'damn the consequences and collateral damage'.

The supporting cast is well rounded as Jorg attracts both those who are drawn to his rampant violence and those who wish to save him from his own dark and troubled mind.

I read all three books in this series (that yes, as the cover suggests have been compared with the work of George R R Martin in excellence) in four days; relieved, as I mentioned earlier, that the work was complete and I would not have to wait for the conclusion.

Read this series if you love a fantasy epic where the world is recognisable and the story is truly unique and gripping.

All books in the 'Prince of Thorns' series by Mark Lawrence are available from Amazon.com, via the following link:

'Prince of Thorns

Any purchases made in this manner will support 'Little Miss Kindle'.

Vampires; It's ok! We CAN still love them!

I know that Vampires have lost their shine recently; in fact it seems that in terms of popular fiction, Vamps have gone from hero to zero remarkably quickly.
I would go so far as to say that even Zombies, with their gaping, toothy smiles are currently more marketable than their pointy toothed paranormal friends.....

I can't however, throw my love for Vampire fiction over that quickly, there are still some non cliched blood suckers out there to love, and I have the list to prove it!

Vampires we can still love:

1. Samantha Moon: The wonderful creation of author J R Rain, Samantha Moon is a Vampire 'second' and believe it or not, a mother and Private Investigator first. I love the gutsy and driven Sam, who actively battles the evil inside (as in this case Vampirism is a form of possession by a demon) while embracing the benefits, such as super strength and the ability to fly in the form of a massive and terrifying bat like monster. Can she hold out against the Demon inside or will she gradually be overtaken by blood lust? I for one am going to keep reading the 'Vampire for Hire' series until I find out! 
2. Kiera Hudson: Hmmm, I am seeing a pattern here, another kick ass crime fighting 'lady' Vampire. Though if I am going to be honest Keira is not exactly a Vampire, she is a vampire human hybrid fighting in a complicated war to save life as we know it from being completely 'reset'. Completely compelling stuff. 
3. Doran: This charming fellow is know as a 'Day Walker' and is a recurrent character in the Rylee Adamson 'Tracker' series by Shannon Mayer . He is absolutely incorrigible, sexy and cheeky. Better still, he doesn't actually get the girl, so he has to keep his mojo dialled to 11 every time we encounter him. Frankly, he is lots of fun without all the macho superiority complex common among fictional Vampire blokes!
4. James Asher: In all fairness, James is not a Vampire. He is a human; he is an ex British secret service human. He is an ex British secret service human hired by Vampires to find the person behind the seemingly calculated 'murder' of Vampires in post WWI London. He is also solid Gold fantastic at his job, all the while looking for ways to outwit his Vampire employers and find safe haven for himself and his beloved wife. This series is proof positive that Vampires can participate in actual 'plot driven' literature.

So throw off your Vampire love shame and get back with the programme! I have high hopes that Vampires will be back at number one (or at very least three) within the next decade (or so....)

All books in these series are available from Amazon.com via the following links; download or order for your Vampy fix ;-)...

Samantha Moon series; By J R Rain

The Kiera Hudson series; By Tim O'Rourke

The Rylee Adamson novels; By Shannon Mayer

The James Asher Novels; By Barbara Hambly

The Divergent Series: Sometimes life isn't fair....

The Divergent series, by Veronica Roth, has been compared in scope, theme and even success to the recently epic 'Hunger Games' Series.
Both feature a feisty, capable and conflicted young woman thrown into situations far beyond the pale of our 'real' society ideas of normal, fair or ethical.
Situations that require ruthless decision making and violent actions.

This is not where the similarities end, both series feature young people as the courageous catalysts for change in horribly corrupted worlds. Both also involve difficult romances and hard choices.

Unlike the Hunger Games however, the Divergent series has experienced both devotion and fervent backlash as the series moved towards conclusion.

Without being a 'spoiler' for anyone who has yet to read the books or (shudder) watch the movie (by the way, always read the book), the 'haters' take issue with the conclusion of book three (Allegient).

These unhappy folk have tweeted, facebooked and pinterested their disgust seemingly in their hundreds of thousands, and very nearly stopped me reading the books altogether.

Thankfully I ended up ignoring the many warnings and delved into the series for myself.

While I understand the disappointment of many readers in the concluding chapters, I say this in defence of this well written and intriguing series;

Sometimes life is not fair, in fiction and the real world alike.

That doesn't mean we should not enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Finally I would say, chill out, it's not real...... yet!

The complete series is available for purchase via the following link:

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

Happy (or at the very least 'intense) reading :)

Divergent:

Finally I have given into the pressure (my own) and read 'Divergent'.
For those of you who have been living under a rock, Divergent is the first installment in an uber successful YA series, penned by Veronica Roth.

Personally I love a good Young Adult (YA) read; I mean who can look past the The Hunger Games trilogy or the magnificent Harry Potter series. Wonderful books all of them!

So it was not the YA aspect of this series that had me hesitating over the buy button, it was the reviews.
Scathing, upset, angry reviews! They had me running scared. I did not want to be sucked in to the series only to be left high, dry and cranky at the end of book three. Frankly it seemed a little masochistic for my taste.

With this in mind, I really cannot explain why I eventually read the book, perhaps I was just feeling left out?
Cutting to the chase, was it any good? Am I going to bite the bullet and read the rest of the series?

Answers as follows:

Yes and I already am.....

There is a good chance that I am more of a masochist that originally thought, however I did enjoy Divergent. I will admit, I did not LOVE it as much as, say, the aforementioned Hunger Games, but I did find it engaging and entertaining. More importantly I do want to know 'what next?'.

I will keep you posted when I get to the end of the series.

If you want to take the journey as well, the Divergent Series is available through Amazon.com via the following link:

The Divergent Series

World War Z: Read it or Watch it?

It is not that often that I watch a movie and then read the book, (The Hunger Games Trilogy was another read inspired by the movie) however I enjoyed the Zombie Flick so much, reading the book seemed like the next logical move.

'World War Z', by experienced 'Zombie author' Max Brooks, is almost unrecognisable as the inspiration for the movie.
Oddly enough, this is not a bad thing for the reader, rather it allows them  to experience 'World War Z' from a different, yet completely absorbing, angle.

Book vs Movie; how both come out on top:

• Watch the movie to see Brad Pitt. There I said it, I just love looking at the man and as a bonus he is a rather fine actor.
• The book is narrated 15 years after the end of 'World War Z'; where a series of key interviews have taken place to determine the political and cultural failings that allowed the near extinction of the human race. While this might sound dry, it is actually fascinating. In the absence of actual Zombies, Brooks leaves the reader with the feeling that society is teetering on the edge of disaster.
• Fantastic use of CGI leaves you gasping in scenes of mass chaos as the Zombies take hold (literally.... with their teeth). Refreshingly though, while the movie is scary it is not excessively gory (how that was managed in a Zombie movie I will never know).
• Personal stories told to a nearly invisible narrator make the book version of 'WWZ' seem dreadfully real. Stories of government misinformation, inaction and intentional genocide mixed in with personal heroism and in some cases dumb luck hit home hard.
• The movie does have some clever links to the book, without providing a spoiler, the Israel approach being the most obvious of these. The book is clever and the movie draws on enough detail to seem clever too. The floating sanctuaries, the variation in national responses all seem logical enough to be real.

If I had to choose I would say this: 

The book is better as an intriguing and unique look at the Zombie apocalypse, focusing less on gore (though there is plenty of that) and more on the human response. 

The movies is better for sharing the experience, as I did with my significant other, eyes glued to the screen, shuffling a bit closer with each passing scene.

So all in all, good news! Feel free to read the book and watch the movie in any order, you won't be disappointed!

Both the book and the movie can be purchased through Amazon.com via the following link:

'World War Z'

Want a quick life 'escape'? The top three escapist 'worlds' on my Kindle

Reading is the ultimate escape, there is nothing like looking up from a book and being surprised to see your own home.
In point of fact, this is the ruler by which I measure the success of an escapist read. When my home seems less real than the world on the page.... well the author's mission has been accomplished.

Here are my top three picks for immersive reads.

1.  'A Song of Fire and Ice, The epic series by George R. R Martin has to be
the last word in 'alternative world' creation.
Don't rely on the television to bring you the mere 'gist' of the world Mr Martin has created. You need to 'read' the books to feel the cold seep into your bones, to shiver as the lurking evil creeps slowly from beneath the slow laden trees, to feel revulsion as the feral offspring of Cersai and Jaime reveal their true nature. For heavens sakes people, you HAVE to READ this one.

Ok, I might need to take a moment here before I move on....



2. 'The Remaining'. If you like your escapist world to be distinctly on the
apocalyptic side.... then this series by D.J Molles is for you. I know it was for me. A great premise, a soldier trained specifically to guide survivors
through world shattering events, finds himself adrift in a world full of 'infected' who are intent on, you guessed it, chowing down on the 'remaining' human population.
Don't be put off by the grisly nature of the Zombie genre, sure this series has
its fair share of gross, but the focus is firmly on the disintegration of the rule of law and decency as the 'scum' attempts to rise to the top.

3 The 'True Blood' series. God Bless Sookie Stackhouse, the sexy, gifted, part fairie, adventurous heroine of the True Blood Novels. Escape
to our world, only with more blood suckers and shifters and less need for clothes.
You have to love this exuberant mix of scares with, well, sex.
You might not want to live in her town, but it sure is fun to read about!
(p.s I won't judge you if you do want to live in her town!)

Keep posted as there is MUCH more escapism to follow of the pages of this blog, after all, isn't that what reading is all about?

All books in these series are available for purchase through amazon.com
via the links in this page.