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The Expedition: A Review

Book Reviews April 11, 2019 1 Comment

Genre: YA,Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian

Pages: 347
ISBN: 978-1682618356
Format: Hardcover, Paperback (September 2019), eBook (Kindle & Kobo)
Publication date: December 4th, 2018
Publisher: Permuted Press
Type: Novel (2nd in a trilogy)

*A special thanks to Chris Babu and Permuted Press for providing me with an eCopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

The Blurb:

Having survived the Initiation, Drayden and his gang must go on a deadly mission to contact other civilizations (if they still exist!). The New America’s solar and battery power is failing and they need help in other for the colony to survive. But Drayden has his own plans: he wants to find out what truly happened to his mother and the reason why Guards are accompanying them. It couldn’t really be for their protection now, could it…?

Introduction:

I was offered the opportunity to review the first two books in Chris Babu’s dystopian trilogy by Permuted Press. I jumped on it because, as you lads and lasses know, I’m a big lover of dystopian. The blurb appealed to me. It seemed to have anything I love: logic, realism, courage, quests, trials, a dystopian setting… and I could go on! So, here’s my review of the second book, The Expedition. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for this pleasant opportunity, Chris Babu and Permuted Press!

The Positive Sides:

What did I love the most about this book? The stakes! They’re greater than ever; yes, even than the Initiation! It’s now a deadly mission against the Aeru virus that destroyed most of the human population across the world. It only seems like a simple boat ride Drayden and company need to go on… but you know it’s going to get pretty nasty. Indeed, I enjoyed (big time!) how progressively worse it gets for the characters as the story unfolds. My excitation was high because the suspense kept building on and on. These were delicious steps I had to climb!

Speaking of characters, I liked how they clearly have evolved (like Drayden being more confident in his own abilities and self) to be a more fulfilled version of themselves. I felt as though they were more “complete” to themselves. Plus, their relationships followed the same path, what with Drayden now having a girlfriend in his group of friends. This group of friends is also more tightly knit in the face of danger. It’s fun that they learned from the Initiation and build on it.

Now, something else that I appreciated about The Expedition: secrets are everywhere! You think all’s good but uh! Oh! someone overhears officials talking about a plan and later other secrets come out into the light-Drayden’s light and ours, that is. This was quite entertaining as, while it was obvious the boat mission wasn’t all it appeared to be, it was awesome to catch glimpses of what was truly going on underneath the whole situation.

Moreover, I was happy to find that the puzzles were back and have evolved along with the rest! Indeed, they’re more discreet and while they have you working out the whole plot, there are other puzzles on the side and under (in the subplots!) It was a real delight as I feared the puzzles and general intrigue would be gone… But no, they just took on a different shape!

The Negative Sides:

Frankly, what really stuck out to me was the info dumping. Unfortunately, it happens at the beginning of the book. Even though it’s spaced, it’s still apparent, which is a slight disappointment. Then, the info dumping happens further along the book.

BUT since it’s not big info dumps (they’re cut in smaller bites), that makes them easier to swallow. I told myself “Meh, okay, I’ll roll with it for the sake of this book.”

And I have to admit that the ones at the beginning do help in situating us better, so it’s not that bad.

Of course, if you hate those, it’s a negative point. Most people dislike them, but you can roll with the few in this book for the sake of the awesome story, great writing and the sheer suspense!

And that’s it; I don’t have any more issues with this book.

In Conclusion:

Since I really enjoyed this story, I give The Expedition a rating of 5 out of 5. I kept wanting to jump back in and read more and more of it. What happened to Drayden? What about THAT secret? Now, now, I’m not trusting those guys…

See? It’s just captivating. I’m genuinely hooked to this series and will be waiting for the third (and last) one to come out eagerly.

Can I read it now?

Oh. What, it’s not out yet?

But maybe… just maybe… I could take a peek at-

No?

Oh.

I WANT THE THIRD ONE, OKAY?!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit his Web site, you can also follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (he posts really funny and sweet pictures, so go there!), and Goodreads. You can visit his publisher, Permuted Press, https://permutedpress.com/. You can also add “The Expedition” to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Initiation: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 26, 2019 1 Comment

by Chris Babu

Genre: YA,Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian

Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1682615935
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook (Kindle & Kobo)
Publication date: February 27th, 2018
Publisher: Permuted Press
Type: Novel (1st in a trilogy)

*A special thanks to Chris Babu and Permuted Press for providing me with an eCopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

The Blurb:

Everyone is equal. But no one is safe.

In a ruined world, Manhattan is now New America, a walled-in society based on equality. But the perfect facade hides a dark truth.

A timid math geek, sixteen-year-old Drayden watches his life crumble when his beloved mother is exiled. The mystery of her banishment leads him to a sinister secret: New America is in trouble, and every one of its citizens is in jeopardy.

With time running out, he enters the Initiation. It’s a test within the empty subway tunnels—a perilous journey of puzzles and deadly physical trials. Winners join the ruling Bureau and move to its safe haven. But failure means death. Can Drayden conquer the Initiation, or is salvation out of his grasp?

Introduction:

Thank you so much for this pleasant opportunity, Chris Babu and Permuted Press!

The Positive Sides:

There are many things I liked and even loved about this book so hold tight. The book starts with a heartbreaking moment, Drayden’s mother’s exile from the Dorms into the wilderness that New York has become. This moment is crucial in establishing the stakes, the plot, and the characters. It was also pretty sad and I loved it! It didn’t wait and wait… until something happened. No, it did right upon opening the book! Speaking of writing, Babu, the author, knows how the describe the emotions and events in poignant manner. Kudos to him! I often found myself affected emotionally, so that’s a very good thing. I kept hoping and feeling torn with the protagonist.

Okay, hang on even tighter here because I have A LOT to say about the protagonist, Drayden. Here goes:

Drayden is LOVELY. He’s kind, considerate, affectionate, AND very clever. I don’t know how someone could even dislike him. He’s mine, okay? Mine! His origins makes me so happy: he’s biracial, with a Korean mother and a Caucasian father. It’s so original because authors usually write about the most widely used ethnic groups such as Chinese or Afro-American communities. So, reading about a Korean protagonist is inspiring and a much needed fresh air to the YA category. Moreover, the actual display of Drayden’s intelligence and logic process. It is so well done! I rarely saw this before, except in the Sherlock Holmes books, which is an important point (I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan). It shows and feels that he is intelligent. Most of the times, authors claim their main character is clever but seldom show it. It’s one of the things I love most about “The Initiation” : the truth of Drayden’s intelligence.

Last point about Drayden: he’s oblivious about his own courage. He thinks he’s a coward, but really he keeps facing the challenges and being brave despite the terrible situations he’s in. All in order to find the answer as to why his mom was exiled. He’s also quite helpful to others. He always calls himself a coward, but he’ll do anything that is required of him to either help others or achieve his goals. It’s beautiful to see his actions and words are two different things, in the most positive of ways. In my opinion, he’s quite brave. I particularly love how we see him slowly acknowledge this side of him that was there all along. It’s character discovery at its finest.

Now, what about the other characters? Well, the most distinctive trait is how diverse they are! I mean, their personalities pop from one another and they even clash. It’s refreshing to read such characters; they really seem alive to me and I can never wait jumping back into my reading to join them again. It’s like they became my friends! And that’s so amazing. Usually, characters share a few traits and all sound very similar. Not here, nuh huh.

Let’s talk about “The Initiation”, or more precisely, the challenges it involves. They’re so intense I shuddered here and there and was genuinely relieved when no one was hurt, and so on. There are the physical challenges which are seriously hard and made me shiver with disgust and fear. Then, there are my favorites: the intelligence trials. I love, love, love love love the puzzles! They’re not easy and they’re highly entertaining AND stressful. Wonderful! As I’m not one for math, I was quite surprised to find myself actively working to decipher the puzzles! Seriously, that’s exactly what I’m looking for in book challenges.

I’ve got the tackle the New America’s swear words and vocabulary. They’re so amusing and funny! It goes like: shkat, chotch, wetchop, etc. They sound and look funny and I just love it. It’s varied, it sounds good, and they replace our own swear words. Thinking of it, it just makes sense that they’d have their own lingo because they’ve been living secluded from the rest of the world, or what is left of it. So, bonus points for this creative vocabulary!

Also, the division between the Dorms and the Palace (and other districts) in New America is painfully realistic. It features the never-ending inequality issue and you can see it worsens as you read on. A big issue reflected well and exaggerated (or is it?) in the story. I love this side of it, even though it’s not “positive” per say, but I think it really helps in setting the world up.

Speaking of the world, the Confluence (the confluence of four major issues such as hacked communications and superbugs, etc.) sounds way too realistic to me. It’s a very good but scary thing. Because it could totally happen! And another thing I particularly enjoyed: it’s that FINALLY there’s a YA dystopian story that EXPLAINS what happened before that led to this crappy state of the world now like New America. Bravo! It made it all better, I swear. Much more understandable, too.

The Negative Sides:

It took me a while (the good half of the book) to get accustomed to the writing. It is straight-to-the-point, though emotional (which is good!), and it doesn’t use flowery sentences nor the beauty of language. The writing is practical and functional. It has its own style. It’s not bad, but it’s quite different. So it takes a bit of getting used to. Nevertheless, I ended up rolling with it and liking it for its straightforwardness.

But that’s really the only bad side and it’s not so bad.

Give it a try. Not everyone likes the same things, so you might enjoy it right away.

In Conclusion:

I’m SO glad of having read this book! It’s right next to the Hunger Games and the Maze Runner in my favorite dystopians. All the positive sides definitely beat the semi-negative point. I’m giving “The Initiation” a rating of 5 out of 5 for all the fun I had reading this book and living the actual Initiation with the characters. I was finally shown great puzzles in a book AND explanations as to why the world was dystopian now. And Drayden… I just love him, okay? He’s such a sweetie. And a courageous (though oblivious) one at that!

What’s not to love?

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit his Web site, you can also follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can visit his publisher, Permuted Press, https://permutedpress.com/. You can also add “The Initiation” to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Take (Un)Calculated Risks: Read Other Genres

chit-chatting with Cat, Tips January 19, 2019 Leave a comment

Hi, folks! A writing tip is in order after so long, I think. We talk a lot about how to write specifically for a certain genre, how to fit in that genre, and so on. But what about branching out?

How about diving into uncharted (by you) waters?

That’s what we’ll see here and how it can help you either expand your writing knowledge and skills, or even find you a better genre for your writing.

Ready?

Let’s go!

The Fear/Apprehension

I get it: you’re way too comfy in your cozy comfort zone to try anything else. Let’s take myself as an example: I’ve been reading language books, how-to’s, documentaries, fantasy, thrillers, crime, LGBTQ+, teen, YA, middle grade, historical, dystopian, and a little bit of romance here and there when the idea sounds really different to my ears. And this up until last year. I knew what I wanted. No dilly-dallying. I had no time to waste and I wanted to get the most out of it. It’s too pleasant and I didn’t see the point in reading other genres.

Truth is: I was afraid. Probably just like you. Afraid of what? Hang on!

Here goes:

Wasting precious time

Not loving my reading (what is that even!?)

Being scared

Being uncomfortable

Liking it (imagine adding another genre to the big to-be-read list…!)

Not understanding and feeling like a fool

Entering some kind of “secret club” to which I know nothing and would have to work to better know it

Being angry at what I’m reading (from confusion)

I’m one who loves trying new things, activities and I always jump right into it (mostly as the first one to, as well). But reading? Nah, that was my secret altar… Untouchable. But more importantly: unchangeable.

So how come I’ve now expanded my horizons?

My Dabbling in Other Genres

Sci-Fi: One year ago, I was browsing the YA shelves of my public library and the purple spine and title Empress of a Thousand Skies caught my interest. Right away I knew it was sci-fi from the title and I don’t read that genre. Nevertheless, I still picked it up to satisfy my growing curiosity. The cover was just SO gorgeous! With an Asian young lady staring at the beyond over planets and stars on a purple and blue background. I thought it was so pretty that I wanted to read the summary. So I did. In short, it’s about a betrayed young empress who fights to regain her right to rule and avenge her family. I mean: that’s just what I love! So I battled the desire to read the whole story until I checked it out of the library and took it home.

It ended up being a great book and while reading sci-fi felt awkward at first, I enjoyed the discovery of all those aliens and new technology and planets. In short, I liked this sci-fi world! This book started my yearly habit of reading two to three sci-fi stories to diversify my readings. If that’s not fantastic, I’ll be stunned! (You can read my 4-starred review of Empress of a Thousands Skies by Rhoda Belleza here.)

Horror: I’ve always been attracted to the horror and the disgusting what with my loving to watch horror movies (and being so scared afterwards I couldn’t sleep for weeks…) However, reading horror was another matter. Why? Again, I was so scared of being effectively scared. Reading it is worse than watching horror on screen because I feel as I AM there, I am the protagonist! So, I spent years simply skimming the books in the horror aisle (both at library and bookstores), gently touching their spines with envy.

This, too, started about a year ago. As a budding author, I was highly recommended Stephen King’s On Writing and when it was finally available at my library, I read it. But then, it got me even MORE curious… At the same time, It the Movie was in theatres and I. friggin’. missed. it (or It!) And like I told you, I’m a fan of horror movies so this interested me a great deal, but since I always prefer to read the books when there’s one (in this case by Stephen King no less!), I was stuck between actually reading the damn book or just watching the movie once it hit DVDs. So I watched the movie. Then, scared AND interested, I started reading horror short stories by various authors, including Stephen King. I skirted around It, preferring to try other, less terrifying stories… but it was always on my mind, pushing me. I found it at my local library and in a burst of courage I picked it up and took it home. I was hooked! I now have it on Kobo as well as The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King and I’m slowly working my way up the horror genre.

Now, why is this important? First, I’m satisfied (even though I’m a tad scared) because FINALLY I’m reading horror. It doesn’t seem out of my limit now. Also, horror stories started to pour out of me! It’s as though they had been WAITING for me to jump into the genre, creeping up on me. I knew I wanted to write darker things, but never got around to it. Well, this is what it did to me: it freed a part of me somehow.

Memoirs (Travel): Frankly, memoirs and biographies (including autobiographies) held zero interest for me. Reading about people’s ordinary, daily lives often riddled with illnesses, false hopes and mean words? Nah, thanks. That was until I stumbled upon Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian by Frances Mayes, her travel memoir about her life in Tuscany (half of the year or so). As a huge Italy lover and Italian speaker, I fell in love. There is no other way to put this. Her writing is delicate and always uses the best precise word and is quite rich in terms of vocabulary. Furthermore, her memoir really follows an interesting narrative with confidences and anecdotes (both funny and sometimes awful) . I love how the Italian language, art, architecture, people, and food all hold a major place in her book.

I told you: I fell hard for this one. Curious, I went to check out the second volume (I started by the third one… So I’m reading the series backwards, haha) right away to see if it was only a onetime thing, but no. I still love it!

Now, I checked out Paris in Love by Eloisa James because I’ve been dreaming of going to Paris since I was four or five years old. Of course I have to read this book! Plus, French is my native language so seeing French words and expressions sprinkled here and there is an absolute blast. With this, I assured myself that I really love travel memoirs and not just those from Frances Mayes or about Italy. No, I really discovered this genre in its own right this very year!

I’m both amazed and taken aback! (I still can’t stand autobiographies or biographies of stars and celebrities, though, unless it’s historical.)

Why You Should Try It Too

I highly suggest you to read outside your comfort zone. If you don’t want to try all the genres you usually avoid at the same time, then just pick one or two to start your adventure with. Go with one that has a cover that grabs your eye, read the blurb and if it sounds like something you might vaguely be interested into, take this one! If it doesn’t work the first time, look for another.

But why?

As I mentioned earlier, not only did it make me take a risk and discover new genres I never thought I would enjoy, but it also gave me new writing genres. And those two aspects are exactly what it’s about!

After all, reading more widely opens the mind a little more and allows other information, ideas and concepts to enter your mind. And it’s beautiful. Take memoirs for instance. I thought I’d hate those! In fact, it turns out I LOVE travel memoirs. I noticed a renewal of interest in reading in general, but also an increased enjoyment and excitation at reading about other people’s adventures in countries I hope to visit one day (or maybe just read about them). THAT’s a big point. It makes me feel the adventures. Something I only had in fiction before, but now it’s in the same world I’m living in! Wonderful! Now I’m a voracious reader of travel memoirs and I’ve noticed a more intense, more focused writing of mine. So memoirs brought general appreciation AND energy into my reading and writing.

Now, a similar story happens with sci-fi and horror. I now read about 3-4 sci-fi novels a year hoping to find one that leaves its print on me. So far I have found Zodiac by Romina Russell and Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza. I’ll soon aim for the classics by H. G. Wells and other big sci-fi names I can find at the library. It’s diversifying my reading and point of view a hell lot! Speaking of hell, I’m trying (the try aspect is very important here) to read more horror. I’m reading Pet Sematary and other books by Stephen King along with A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis and such. While I might not read more than three horror books (if I get to that number) a year, it’s still interesting, thrilling, and diversifying.

You’re saying: Okay, but what’s the “new writing genres” thing about?

Well, since I discovered an interest in these genres, I noticed a few sci-fi story ideas bubbling up in me. Little bits and pieces, here and there, until there were not only one character fully formed, but two! It didn’t take me long to have a basic plot for a series. Then, other snippets for other sci-fi stories came to me… In other words: science fiction has now become a genre I can write in, even though I still feel relatively awkward in it. Isn’t that great?! See, I did not just discover a new genre for reading, but it also opened my mind enough that I could incorporate it into my writing, too!

What about horror and travel memoirs? Right on that, my friend! I’ve always loved horror movies, but never got around to reading horror books until last year. So, bearing that in mind, it wasn’t hard for my interest in this genre to bloom. And so it did. Now I have about three horror short stories in progress on my laptop. There will be more to come in the future as well! See? It made me go back to horror, a genre (in movies) I had neglected for the last years; it soon caught my attention again and lit my interest on fire (think Carrie here; I love Carrie, the story, though she’s a poor victim). As for the travel memoirs, they fuel my need to write non-fiction further; so I started writing a memoir about how I became a polyglot and the important events I think played a key part in making me choose to learn languages as a fun activity, then as a passion that’s driving my whole life, and now as a job. Since I love travel memoirs especially, and I don’t travel a lot due to many complications in my life at the moment, my languages were the next best topic to write about. Also, it’s pushing me forward in creating my own language learning courses and ebooks.

In Conclusion

Not only do I strongly suggest (and when teachers say that, what I am, its underlying meaning is “do it!”) reading in other genres to discover stories and interests you never thought you’d like, but also encourage you to be inspired by them. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll end up having a few new, different ideas of your own.

I really hope you try this!

Please do tell me, how is it working for you?

What genres are you willing to try out?

See you next post, lovelies!

Never Enough Time: A Review

Book Reviews July 6, 2018 1 Comment

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by R.T.W Lipkin

Genre: YA, Sci-fi, Fiction, Magical Realism

Pages: 243

ISBN: 9780648056905

Format: Paperback, Kindle eBook

Publication date: June 7th, 2018

Type: Standalone novel

*I was given an ARC of Never Enough Time by Advance Read. Thank you!*

The Story:

What if your entire life passed by in just seven days?

16-year-old Delaney Archer’s mother is always complaining that there’s never enough time to get anything done.

Delaney, on the other hand, always waits until the last moment to do everything.

Nevertheless, she’s the top student in her class. She’s even about to graduate as valedictorian . . .

. . . Until one morning, when she wakes up in a strange place.

Suddenly, she finds herself in graduate school. Seven years of her life have disappeared without a trace since she went to bed last night . . . but how?

It takes a while for Delaney to get used to things. But it’s not all bad, right? After all, she can drink alcohol now, and she’s almost finished school . . .

Then she wakes up the next day . . . and another seven years have passed.

Every day is another brand-new adventure for Delaney as she struggles to adjust. But no matter what she tries, she just can’t seem to break the cycle.

Now she just has to figure out what’s happening . . . before time runs out . . .

The Introduction:

This book is my first ARC from Advance Read and it delivered. I had to take Never Enough Time; come on, time travel? Intriguing time travel? With a dangerous deadline?

I couldn’t pass this one up!

The Positive Sides:

The most wonderful thing about this book (besides the sheer idea for the story, which was expertly developed) is undoubtedly the teen talk. It’s reminiscent of a teenager’s voice and thoughts. I haven’t been one for many years now, but I felt like fifteen years old again—or at least an insight into a teen’s mind. Also, it was done without slang, which made it even more enjoyable and true.

In the same line of thought, the tone of voice of Delaney Archer (the MC) is clear and sharp. Her humor is sometimes really funny. There are witty bits from all the characters and they’ve all got distinctive, lovable personalities.

The chapters’ endings are worth mentioning too! Most of the times, they leave you guessing for they’re either quite tense or intriguing. Speaking of endings, the last pages of this book are beautiful, kick-ass and full of feels. It’s so sweet—I didn’t expect it. I thought it would end with a small bang, probably an ”ordinary” (a.k.a boring) explanation. Good grief was I wrong! I LOVED it and will always remember how Never Enough Time broke all the barriers of expectations.

The Negative Sides:

One aspect of the characterization got on my nerves. Delaney is supposedly a smart girl with extraordinary grades (much like her scientific parents), yet throughout the book she sticks to stupid explanations for what happened. She never ceases to turn them over in her mind—it’s frigging annoying! But the worst part is that she dismisses reasonable options such as amnesia or a psychotic episode. Or perhaps that was exactly the point… Yet it’s not realistic unless the story stated beforehand that she was interested in the occult.

There are way too many swear words to be okay. It took me half the book before I tolerated them. It was that bad. I understand the author meant to show the character’s voice, but it just sounded as though she tried too hard. Several cussing in the dialogue would have been enough to grasp how foul-mouthed Delaney is—but was it truly necessary everywhere in the narration too?

Speaking of exceeding numbers, I found there were too many italicized words. It becomes natural and breaks the ”special effect” it’s used for. It’s the same thing with repetitions. Delaney repeats the same idea or sentence over and over again in very few pages, even in paragraphs. That is unpleasant to read. I think with it being mentioned once or twice would be enough to get the drift.

Last, there’s a friend of Delaney who’s named ”Marie”. So far so good. But the issue here is that she’s Latina… Her name sounds completely French to me (and I would know since it’s my first language)—it’s even written in the French way! To respect the Latino origins of this character, she should have been named ”Maria” or something similar.

In Conclusion:

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. However, if I considered only the entertainment it offered me, I’d give it a 5, no kidding. But the excessive swearing and over-the-top voice took half the book to get used to, so I had to take a star out for it was driving me crazy.

BUT just to tell you how much I liked it, I even subscribed to her newsletter on her Web site. Yup! I can’t wait to hear more about her work.

Quatre

If you want to learn more about R.T.W Lipkin, feel free to take a look at her Web site. Don’t forget you can follow her author page on Amazon.com. Last, Lipkin was interviewed in June by Ellen from It’s Write Now about Never Enough Time.

Colliding Skies: A Review

Book Reviews March 11, 2018 Leave a comment

36428272

by Debbie Zaken

Oftomes Publishing Official Web Site

Genre: Sci-fi, Romance, YA

Pages: 380

ISBN: 9781999963309

*I received an ARC for free by Oftomes Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

IMPORTANT: I was kindly given this book for reviewing. However, I’m not one for sci-fi and even less sci-fi romance. BUT this is NOT a negative review; it is quite positive, on the contrary! I just want to tell you that my opinion might not be trustworthy when it comes to the sci-fi romance in this book. So, I will focus on other interesting elements and simply skim the actual romance to make a fair review for everyone to read.

The Story:

Since Skye Reilly can remember, she has been looking up to the stars. With high school graduation upon her, her telescope in one hand and her college acceptance letter in the other, she has life as meticulously mapped out as her star chart. That is, until the Celeians arrive and she meets Ethan, an alluring alien. Ethan collides into her like an asteroid, causing a gravitational shift in Skye’s trajectory and hurling her life into a cataclysmic collision course of interplanetary proportions.

The Celeians promise many things. An end to disease, global warming, and famine. The knowledge to help humankind. Despite the suspicions surrounding the intriguing aliens and rising anti-alien protests, Skye gives Ethan her trust, and eventually her heart. The very heart he could stop with a lethal electrifying touch of his hand.
When the Magistrate, a council of alien leaders, threatens to put an end to their interspecies relationship, following her heart could cost Skye her life and the lives of everyone she loves.
Not even light can escape the pull of a black hole.

The Negative Points:

Let’s start with the two negative points for they’re few, as you can see. Best to go through them to better enjoy the positive ones. Whenever the story got a bit slow, new tension or problems arose from all sorts of situations. Also, the more we kept reading, the worse they became (a nice touch in my opinion!). The last point is how the romance sometimes looks… a bit too forced and quick. I mean, yes, there is development, but in a month? And for them to be willing to sacrifice everything for the other one? I sometimes find it too much for such a short time window. However, like I announced before the review, please take my opinion on the romance with a grain of salt.

The Positive Points:

Now, let’s dwell on the positive sides of this awesome story, shall we? First, it’s just marvelous! There, I said it. To me, who usually dislikes sci-fi books AND sci-fi romance even more, this is huge. I loved it so much that I talked my bestie into purchasing his own copy, can you imagine?! My jaw hit the floor when I realized my growing love for this book. You’re not surprised, I am! The main character, Skye, deserves praise. Not only is she courageous, she’s also brilliant! Something I rarely see in female MCs and I always complain about the lack of them. But no-oh in this story! Plus, she’s a real geek and loves all things astronomy and physics-related and I… I just love her, okay? Women are seldom shown loving things that have to do with numbers and such, so this was fun and refreshing. I’m a huge astronomy geek too so the references and the right terms used made me squeal with enthusiasm! No, seriously, Skye always means to call astronomic events by their real name and it makes my day, okay? She won’t settle for less than the truth. That’s my girl! As for Ethan, her interstellar love (a Celeian), he’s both amusing and loyal. He’s even got a funny side, though he can be extremely protective. I like him too. Nonetheless, I think he’s way too ready to give up everything for a mere human—the Celeians are a superior race, so this seems strange to me.

However, I liked how they’re depicted: gorgeous, calm and peaceful. Humans who meet them can hardly look away for they’re that stunning physically. They’re also quite intelligent, which could make or break it. Because are they on Earth for good or evil?

Something else that makes me adore this book? The humour! Actually, it was the first thing that caught my feelings and interest. It’s full of sass and intelligent twists. Speaking of twists, the ending is surprising! I mean, I saw some of the big ‘’revelations’’ coming, BUT the main character does get hurt (and a lot)! Can we all just appreciate that? Usually, main characters get lucky or they’re just SO good and skilled and awesome that they don’t even have a scratch on them at the end of the big battle. Realistic? Hm, no. But in Colliding Skies, let me say I was pleasantly taken aback! It deserves an award for this. The award for ‘’Finally, the MC Gets Badly Hurt Physically’’.

There’s more: it ends with a cliffhanger. A lot of you hate those, but I genuinely couldn’t live without them. They’re fun and only increase my need to know more, which is good for the author (and for me, if I care about the story). It’s nice—there are so few books with cliffhangers it makes me sad. But fortunately, there’s this one.

The Conclusion:

In conclusion, Colliding Skies by Debbie Zaken receives a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from me! It surpassed every expectation I had and it also made me enjoy something I (let’s be frank here) hate. So, if you ask me, it’s quite impressive. This sci-fi romance is, believe it or not, one of the best books I had the pleasure of reviewing. Congratulations, Debbie! Also, dear readers, buy yourself a copy and read it with an open mind, just like I did. You’ll see, it’ll be rewarding in both fuzzy feelings (for those who love romance) AND adventure (for those like me who love to explore the universe).

If you want to learn more about Debbie Zaken, head over to her Web site, Twitter account, Facebook acount or her Instagram account.

Writing Apps on Android: A Review

chit-chatting with Cat June 18, 2017 1 Comment

Hello again, folks!

I promised you a review of two free writing apps available in the Google Play Store. Well, here it is!

Let’s start with World Scribe, my favorite of the two.

World Scribe by Averi Studios

Just like its name says, this app lets you build a world along with all the connections, concepts, characters it must have for it to be believable and great.

Positive points:

It is cute but simple and easy to navigate and create new files (or even worlds). There’s a big ”+” button for that need and it’s quite hard to miss.
We can add pictures!!! (I cannot stress this enough as I am one who loves casting my characters or even add a picture that resembles the place I am creating.)
There is a space for general information, the possibility to create memberships and roles to groups YOU create, residences (worlds), various connections such as relationships to one another or with a certain item, and snippets of information that do not fit in the bio.
A fact I particularly liked: it can backup to Dropbox! So even if you lose the app or it doesn’t work anymore for whatever reason, you can find all you need in Dropbox (if you backed it up once or more, of course).
There are different app themes which consist of five colors and even a night mode (the background then becomes black).
You can create as many worlds as you wish!
There is a search function in each tab (or category) if you ever have too many characters or else.
You can even create concepts about your worlds, items, characters, or whatever it is you want the concept to be about. It is fun to have this possibility because we know that there are many concepts in a world in order for it to feel real…
Last but not least, no ads!

You’re probably wondering where the negative points are… I am as well for I couldn’t find any! For an app, it is quite interesting and worth the downloading and installing bits. Now, you can have your worlds and basic character descriptions at your fingertips, wherever you are. Doesn’t this sound magical? It is! So, I give this cute and useful app a rating of 5 out of 5. I recommend it to everyone who writes! Even if you’re not worldbuilding, you can just enter the basic information of the real place your characters are set in and then expand on the relationships, groups, concepts, etc. Thus, you’ll have all you need to start writing on a whim on the subway or on the bus or anywhere, really!

Writing Prompts by Datamix Soft

This app gives you writing prompts for when your creativity fuel is running low or only to exercise your writing skills.

Negative points:

There are ads, which is annoying.
The interface is dark (bleh) and the pixels show; it doesn’t have a nice and beautiful finish feel to it.
There is a tab titled ”Writing Guides”, but when I click it, it tells me to download another app from them in which there are all of their writing guides. This would have been very interesting if it were integrated in the Writing Prompts app. Otherwise, one must use more download in order to get to them…

Positive points:

The prompts are fun and diverse. However, they are not precise enough with ideas – they’re more about techniques.
Easy navigation.
The ”Online Writing Communities” tab lists the 7 most popular writing communities you can find online along with short descriptions and direct links to them. I even discovered a few! This is, by far, the best point of this writing app.
The interface’s main screen is a fun space – it mimics a corkboard with the prompts written on a small piece of paper pinned to it. If only it weren’t so pixelated…

Unfortunately, I don’t really recommend it unless you want to explore the various online writing communities, that is. I give this app a rating of 2 out of 5 for the easy interface and the discovery of online writing communities.

Next up will probably be a book review or my review of K.M. Weiland’s outlining software!

P.S.: I’m so glad I re-read my last post because I had completely forgotten about my sci-fi short story… Don’t worry! I’ll get to it and share it with you in due time. Once the research and writing parts are done, of course.

P.S. 2: Also, if there are apps or sites you want me to review or anything you’d like to know, just comment and tell me! I’ll do my best to help you.

Will you try one of these two apps? If so, what did you like and dislike about them?

As always, thanks for sticking with me and see you next post!

Planning Ahead Before I Lose My Head

chit-chatting with Cat June 7, 2017 Leave a comment

Hello, everyone!

This post is full of updates, so brace yourself.

I decided to let you in on what I would be posting these next three weeks. So here it goes:

A review of writing apps
A review of K. M. Weiland’s outlining program (I just bought it and I’m thrilled!)
A book review (or two)
A freebie (my very first sci-fi short story)!

Moreover, I’ll be sending submissions to online magazines (a first try at a narrative essay, wish me luck!) and short story anthologies. Is it normal that I’m both excited and nervous? Oh, and I’ll send a few of them to editing first! I’ll sure keep you updated about how it all goes.

Meanwhile, a lot of thinking has been happening in my head… I’ve always loved journalism and I noticed online magazines and newspapers are growing in numbers! So I figured I would go and take a journalism degree after my bachelor’s degree in translation. This way, I could write for the Web (in different languages, mind you).

Wouldn’t that be awesome?!

Yes, I thought so, too.

This is all for today!

See you next post, lovelies.

Image result for kiss bye gif

P.S. Do you have any tips for narrative essays? I’d like to know them since I’m quite a novice at it… Also, if you have any idea of what you’d like to see on my blog or just wish to have a discussion, please leave a comment!

Empress of a Thousand Skies: A Review

Book Reviews May 27, 2017 Leave a comment

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.:

Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he’s forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly must confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

This review is spoiler-free.

Let me say that I loved this book! First of all, I usually dislike anything that has to do with sci-fi (except for Star Trek: TOS), but this novel caught my attention on the shelves and I had to take it home! Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. I now call it my go-to sci-fi series.

The main characters, Princess Rhiannon and Alyosha, are quite lovable and deeply flawed, which helps greatly in making you want to see what they can do next. There is a lot of action and twists and turns. No kidding: I was panting while reading the last 50 pages! It was so engrossing. Also, I loved the cube technology (it allows living beings to re-live their memories, sensations, and feelings!) and the different alien races. Although there are aliens, the focus is not on their differences, which I particularly liked. It reminded me of Star Trek with how they all know the other races and live with them like it’s no big deal. Of course, there is tension because of different point of views, but overall it was a nice change. A funny fact: the story is happening in another galaxy than ours! I think it’s a good idea, having them live out their lives out in the open (instead of aliens hiding in our galaxy), all civilized and advanced in technology.

The only negative point I could find was how the author, Rhoda Belleza, uses euphemisms and wording that sometimes reminds me of middle grade fiction. I think her job as a children’s book editor showed in this novel… However, it’s not always like that and it’s worth reading for all the fun and adventure it can give you!

Because of all the action that left me panting and how lovable the characters are and the writing that is sometimes a bit too young for the intended readership, I give this awesome novel a rating of 4 stars out of 5. And that’s coming from a woman who dislikes sci-fi in general, remember? So that’s saying a lot, in my opinion.

P.S.: I just can’t wait for the sequel! I want it now.

Ups and Downs and a Workbook Just For You

chit-chatting with Cat, Uncategorized October 25, 2016 Leave a comment

Hello, people!

I’m writing a short post only to tell you what’s going on. I’m still getting ready for NaNoWriMo, which is taking most of my time (I swear, if I could just—!)

Oh! There’s fun news: Remember that freebie I talked to you about?

Well, guess what? There’s ANOTHER freebie coming your way. Yes! It’s a workbook about how to create a vivid setting for your story. I’ll focus mainly on fantasy and sci-fi, but I guess you could apply it to any story. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

I hope everything’s going well for you. As you can guess, my day has been… rough. But let’s push that aside, shall we?

Now, tell me, what types of workbooks would you be most interested in having? Do you like my idea of giving you a setting workbook?

I’d love to read your thoughts!

Comment below, please. 🙂

P.S.: Remember to stay tuned for Friday’s writing tip!

Black Wings is Landing Here

Book Reviews, Uncategorized January 27, 2016 Leave a comment

Do you remember that awesome novel that should be a bestseller I talked to you about a few days ago?

Yes, that very same Black Wings by Iryna K. Combs.

BlackWings_RoaneCvr

But first of all, what is it really about? It is a science fiction and fantasy romance novel, to be precise. Here is the intriguing summary:

A new time. A new planet. A new world. New technologies. Two new humanoid species. A new war.

The two species separate, but in the removal, some of the best are left behind among the worst. Captured and held as slaves, they are treated cruelly for entertainment. Torture. Pain.

Annabel, endures a year of such cruelty, kept alive only by way of syringes which, while healing, cause a greater agony. She discovers a secret held by their leader, and decides to help her own kind by escaping–even if it means a final death, preferable to the life she has endured.

Her escape succeeds, and she joins her own kind at the other end of the planet. Among her new friends she meets many who help her adjust to their happier life. Will Annabel find romance? Or will another war break her down?

I figured it was time for you all to get an insight (more than just a review!) just so you can see if it suits your fancy or not.

So, here is an excerpt I picked for you:

She grabs the bottle and drinks rapidly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her drink so quickly.

“Don’t eat the bottle!” I joke, hoping to put a smile on her face. She thanks me with a small smile. Suddenly the door opens, and our moment of joyful peace is broken. Lucas walks in. He comes over and grabs my hand.

“You will pay for that, damn girl!” He threatens as he hauls me off my bed.

“What did I do?” I shout at him, confused, and draw back.

“You—trying to be so nice…helping your poor beat up friend who is not supposed to have water!” He’s yelling, taking the blanket and dragging me to the door.

“Leave her alone!” Kate screams at him, jumps up to stop him. The Varkin turns around and hits her so hard she falls to the floor. Holding my hand tightly, he walks me to the elevator. As we walk in, he presses the SS button. I barely get right in before the elevator door closes, almost pinching my leg. He pushes me against the opposite wall.

“Where are you taking me?” I demand, but I’m panicking—I’m in trouble.

“Relax,” Lucas puts his cold arms around my waist. “You might still have a chance to change things…”

He pulls me close to him. I feel his ice cold lips on my neck. I close my eyes, disgusted as never before. He pushes me to the wall with his body and rips my shirt from my back.

He’s going to beat me. I’m not going to make it easy.

I shove him away. He picks me up, throws me against the wall. He slaps my face, his nails scratch my cheek.

“Stupid, damn Anlight! You will get it good this time! I promise!”

His tone brings chills, all the way down to my legs.

When the elevator stops on the SS floor, he drags me down the hallway, the blanket in his hand. My ripped shirt is left lying in the elevator. All I have on is a dirty old black brassiere that’s seen better days. He looks back, and catches a glimpse of my stomach. A couple of days ago I’d been given a deep scratch, and he’s just noticed the scratch has gone.

“What happened to your scratch? It could not possibly heal so fast!”

Lucas takes me to the room where Victorius beats me if I don’t do what they tell me. We walk in and there are about twelve other Varkins in groups. Red lights and smoke make the place into a horror scene.

“She needs punishment like never before!” he screams, tossing me like a grubby rag to the middle of the room. All the Varkins turn and look. Glowing eyes look at me—without a shirt—as I try to break my landing.

“What did she do, my dear friend?” Victorius asks. He’s calm, still sitting in his chair.

“Her room-mate was not allowed to drink,” the Varkin replies. “But this one hid water and gave it to her friend. She stole this blanket, knowing she is not allowed to have one.”

Victorius’ face is serious as he listens closely. I get up, stand right in front of him. He stands, walks down to me, around me. I feel my pulse beating with each step he takes. My body tenses—I expect him to hit me any moment. I’ve been hoping I’d get used to this torture eventually, but every new punishment brings new terror and fear.

“Well, well…” Victorius stops in front of me. “Seems like I see your pretty face here more than other Anlights. We do not have many left…but I do remember you well…” He smiles. “Let me first inform you, this Varkin here is my ‘right hand’. The one I trust the most. And now he is telling me terrible things about you. Hmm…” he looks in my eyes, “…should I believe his tales?”

I know if I tell him the truth, no one will believe me for a minute. And it would make my situation even worse. I don’t think he’ll even let me open my mouth.

“Believe what you like.” I keep looking downwards, and the other Varkins whisper around us. They didn’t expect my careless answer. They’re probably trying to figure out why I won’t try protecting myself by finding excuses.

“Lucas!” he shouts and his right hand comes to him.

“Yes, my majesty.”

“What do you think we need to…do…with her, considering everything she has done?”

“Victorius, there is something interesting you might want to know about her…” Lucas said.

“What?”

Lucas comes up to me and points at my stomach. I don’t know how to deal with this. I’m shaking as I try to cover the healed scratch with my hands.

“Two days ago she had a long cut on her stomach. It was bleeding. Now it is not there anymore. It is healed. There is something going on with her.” Lucas pulls my hands away.

“It’s not true,” I burst out. “The cut was not too deep, and it was more than two days—” Victorius slaps me before I can finish talking.

“I have noticed things like that as well, but I thought it was just my mind playing tricks with me,” Victorius talks slowly, calmly, as he turns my face back toward him with his cold hand. “Now here is evidence.” He’s smiling, which isn’t necessarily a good sign.

“We need to take her blood, do tests on her,” Lucas suggests.

“My friend,” Victorius looks at him, “tests have killed almost all my Anlights. I cannot afford to lose any more of them. But we will surely take her blood and see why she is different.” Victorius comes to my side and puts his arm around my shoulders.

“But there is one test I can do right now…”

Now, if that doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will. I really hope you enjoyed the excerpt and got a better understanding of what is the story about. If you want to read more, you can buy Black Wings by Iryna K. Combs on Amazon or CreateSpace.