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January Book Reviews

Last year, I was a failure when it came to posting reviews. So this year, after noticing how D.L Finn posts a monthly summary, I thought I’d do the same, (posting my 4 and 5-star reviews).
Click on the covers for Amazon links.

*****

Eventide by Mae Clair

Oh my, oh my, oh my, what a great read. Eventide was my favorite of the Hode’s Hill trilogy and polishes off the series with a lot of scary, spooky shine. The suspense in this paranormal thriller starts on page one and zooms right to the last.

The main storyline is basically about Madison Hewitt, her purchase of a haunted house, and how the mystery of the haunting is revealed. Madison and the cast of characters were all present in the first two novels, but in this one, Madison takes center stage. I found the characters well-rounded and believable, free of most of the nonsensical decisions and lack of insight that tend to escalate tension in many thriller novels.

Each chapter starts back in 1878 with the story of Hollande, a young woman employed as a companion for a mentally unstable and bitter woman (in the same house that Madison just purchased). This is a strong subplot, and I found Hollande’s story mesmerizing as little by little the secrets of the house and what happened there are revealed.

And while that’s all going on, there’s a third plotline – a monster is tearing people apart in town. AND there’s a fourth plotline – Madison is being harassed by someone trying to scare her or worse, possibly a murderous thug from her past. Is there too much going on in this book? Nope. The author drip-feeds the reader tidbits of information, plus some red herrings, and the tension builds and builds and builds until all four plotlines come together in a great conclusion. So well done!

I believe Eventide can be read as a stand-alone without much confusion, though I recommend the whole series to readers who love paranormal thrillers and great writing.

*****

Touching the Sun by Steve Tanham

An anthology of spiritual poetry that evokes the universal and personal connection of man to nature, to the past, and the mystery of life and creation. It’s a collection I savored over several days. Each poem is an evocative jewel worthy of moments of contemplation, mystical in nature, beautifully evocative, but accessible to me as a reader. I was particularly fond of the poems: Stepping Stones, The Hushed Portal, and Pass Slowly Over Me, though there are many more that I could add to this list. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a profound poetic journey.

*****

The Wizard, the Girl and the Unicorn’s Horn by Kevin Cooper

An ancient evil power is encroaching on the world of Geo, blanketing the land in shadow and stealing villagers. The story tracks the daring adventures of three groups, two off to destroy the shadow, and one simply trying to survive. They all ultimately come together for a final battle.

One narrative follows the wizard, the protector of Geo. He joins with some rambunctious goblins who lead him through the mountain’s tunnels to Land’s End, the barren home of the shadow and its packs of demon wargs (wolf-like creatures). At the same time, Elyysa, a young girl with a magical past, allies with Geo’s wise trolls who collect tolls at the many bridges. She too heads for Land’s End and carries with her a powerful unicorn horn. The third narrative focuses on the villagers who find themselves swept up by the shadow and stranded in a cave. They must make their way through dangerous passageways to the surface.

The story is simply told with a steady pace and vocabulary that a middle-grade student would be able to handle … but there is quite a bit of tragedy in the caves, including the deaths of children and families, and significant violence during the warg attacks. For these reasons, I’d steer this read to mature middle-graders, preteens, and young teenagers who enjoy a fantastical tale of adventure and can deal with the scary and sad moments. (My 7-year-old grandson couldn’t handle it, but grammy enjoyed it!)

*****

Vengeance of a Slave by VM Sang

Ailbert keeps a running list in his head of all the reasons why he hates the Romans—they crucified his father, stole him as a child from his mother, and enslaved him. As he grows into his teenage years as a slave, the list gets longer. With the help of a network of Britons, he escapes, determined to exact his revenge, but not everything is as clear cut as he once thought.

The plot is straight forward, and though there are some tense moments, battling and mortal danger isn’t the point of the tale. This story has a strong moral message about the nuanced nature of people and how they treat and judge each other. Ultimately, it’s about a young man’s growth and the events that change his perceptions as he matures.

The pace is moderate with some repetition, but I was engaged throughout. The historical details seem well-researched, adding to the authenticity of the story. Point-of-view focuses on Ailbert for most of the book, with occasional shifts to other characters, and all main and secondary characters felt believable to me. Ailbert is particularly well-rounded and likeable as the story centers on his thoughts and experiences.

Recommended for YA and adult readers who enjoy coming of age stories, historical fiction, and adventure.

*****

Poet’s Touch by Kamal Roohani

This anthology of poetry makes for a lovely afternoon, or better yet, a place to pause and drop into over several days. The poetry is sweet and positive with tidbits of wisdom about happiness and love. I didn’t find them sappy but enjoyed the beautiful language and mood they invoked. A few favorite poems were: The Golden Rule, I Thought to Myself, and A Deck of Cards. I recommend this lovely collection to any poetry reader looking to be uplifted.

*****

When I Rise by Karen Ingalls

This collection of 12 short stories uses a single poem and the symbolism of 12 specific trees as the underlying foundation of its morals and themes. The trees don’t appear in the actual stories, but each one is referenced by the author at the end of its tale with a statement about its significance. I enjoyed the stories, particularly Two Sisters, a story about enduring love between two sisters; and The Piano, a well-told tale from the point of view of an Alzheimer’s patient.

The storytelling is primarily from an omniscient point of view and moves rapidly through events and years in a simple straightforward style. As a reader, I didn’t get to know the characters deeply but was carried along by most narratives to a satisfying conclusion. An afternoon’s read recommended for those who enjoy short stories with strong moral messages about love and family.

*****

The Crown of Stones: Magic Scars by CL Schneider

I read the first book in this series several years ago and always planned on continuing. I’m not sure why I waited so long, but I picked up book 2 and 3, and I’m glad I did. Picking up where I left off was easy, so clearly the first book made an impression.

I would characterize the series as grim-dark fantasy. It’s violent, contains profanity, contains a few scenes of erotica, and has a great anti-hero. Ian Troy has a moral compass, but he’s also prone to rage and has the power of the crown of stones within him – a power that can destroy armies. Using that power is a need like an addiction and controlling it is important because it’s going to change him into a beast.

I love the writing. Beautiful imagery, detailed descriptions, emotional fullness. Some readers might find the prose overwritten, but I loved the flow and how all this luscious writing contrasted with the brutality of the characters and story. Characters are distinct and the relationships feel authentic. Dialog is flawless.

It’s a complex plot, the magic intricate and the politics span hundreds of years. It’s never confusing, but there is a lot going on! I’m already part of the way into book 3 and I’m looking forward to learning how this gigantic story resolves. Recommended for grimdark fans who love a great anti-hero.

*****

The Crown of Stones: Magic Borne by CL Schneider

I loved this series and am sorry to see it end. Ian’s transformation is complete from anti-hero to hero, a change that he believes will require his death. The story, to me, was about that transition, the emotional ambivalence, the growth, the sacrifice, and the farewells. As in the previous two books of the series, the writing is superb, the descriptions exquisite, and in this final book, highly emotional.

True to its grimdark genre, there is no happy ending here, but there is a satisfying one. I finished the book yesterday and have been thinking about it all day today – a book hangover, for sure. I think the only cure is to read more of this author.

*****

Happy Reading!

98 thoughts on “January Book Reviews”

  1. Jess@thebookofjess says:
    March 21, 2020 at 6:54 am

    What a great list! Will definitely read Kevin Cooper’s book. Great reviews.

    Like

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      March 30, 2020 at 6:38 am

      Hi Jess. I found your comment in spam. So sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Thanks for the visit and if you picked up Kevin’s book, I hope you enjoyed it. It was a sweet one. Happy Reading and take care, my friend. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • Jess@thebookofjess says:
        March 31, 2020 at 1:26 am

        Oh, that’s alright! Happens all the time.
        I will be reading Kevin’s book soon.
        Hope you and yours are doing well, Diana. Lots of love.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Julie Holmes, author says:
    February 19, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    Great reviews, Diana! My TBR list keeps growing … problem is I’m not reading fast enough 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. markbierman says:
    February 19, 2020 at 2:26 am

    Great reviews! I’m looking forward to Reading Eventide.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. H.R.R. Gorman says:
    February 12, 2020 at 5:12 am

    Interesting combination of books – and a lot of them! I’d be pleased to read so many books that I liked. Many of these look really good!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. ParentingIsFunny says:
    February 10, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    Fun seeing titles by fellow bloggers on here. Love that a fellow blogger shamed you into posting reviews more often! Ha. 😉 I’m glad you all do this. I could never keep up with you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 11, 2020 at 6:07 am

      Ha ha ha. Yes, I was shamed. Lol. And I’m happy and relieved to have stolen her idea of monthly round ups. It makes for a long but easily browsed post. Thanks for the visit, Betsy. 🙂 Have a great day.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. January Book Reviews ~ D. Wallace Peach | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo says:
    February 8, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    […] Continue reading at Myths of the Mirror […]

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Jessica Bakkers says:
    February 6, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    Hm, some interesting titles in this batch D. Of course I’m hanging to read Eventide, but I hadn’t heard about Crown of Stones which seems like it would be right up my alley. I’m also interested in the Roman title, Vengeance of a Slave. Sounds similar to something I’ve been kicking around in my head for far too many years. Sigh, onto the TBR they go 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. acflory says:
    February 6, 2020 at 3:34 am

    Great reviews, Diana, and a couple have definitely piqued my interest. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Jan Sikes says:
    February 5, 2020 at 7:20 pm

    Fantastic reviews, Diana!! I can’t wait to get to Mae’s new book! I have loved all of the Hode’s Hill series!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Sean P Carlin says:
    February 5, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    My reviews on Goodreads have gotten appreciably shorter — a victim of my busy schedule! — but I always aim to at least put down a few salient points; if nothing else, it becomes a “book diary” to which I can refer to remind myself what I thought of a given work. I like the idea of doing a “roundup digest” like this!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Annika Perry says:
    February 5, 2020 at 9:38 am

    Diana, I had to smile at that you were remiss, not with writing reviews, rather with posting them! 😀 Wow! You’ve treated us to a feast of books here and I love their variety! All excellent and thoughtful reviews – thank you for sharing these here. You’ve reminded me that I have Kamal’s poetry book on my Kindle and look forward to reading it soon!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 5, 2020 at 1:15 pm

      Thanks for visiting, Annika. I have no problem writing reviews and getting them posted to Amazon and Goodreads, but I have such a hard time getting them on the blog. It feels overwhelming. This year, will be a big improvement even though it means hefty posts. I hope that with the variety, visitors will scan through and find one they like. 🙂 Kamal’s poems are sweet. I hope you enjoy them. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  12. House of Heart says:
    February 5, 2020 at 7:56 am

    Dear Diana, it’s lovely to read your reviews again. As always they are brilliant in their detail, I have my eye on several of these books and though my indie stack is humongous, how can I resist? How fortunate to have a book review with your amazing insight and instincts ! Thank you so much! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  13. arlene says:
    February 4, 2020 at 11:49 pm

    Hi Diana, thank you for these wonderful reviews. I am curious about these books.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Sean says:
    February 4, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    That’s a lot of reading! Sounds like you found some good ones this month. Thanks for sharing these reviews!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Steven Baird says:
    February 4, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    Another collection of enticing reads. Thanks again, Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Jacquie Biggar says:
    February 4, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    You read some good books this month! I loved Eventide, as well (even if I was freaked out! lol)
    Wonderful reviews, Diana ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    February 4, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
    Diana Wallace Peach shares her four and five star book reviews for the last month with great recommended reviews for C.L. Schneider, Karen Ingalls, Kamal Roohani, V.M. Sang, Kevin Cooper, Steve Tanham and Mae Clair.. Head over and read Diana’s reviews and top up your TBR..

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Bette A. Stevens says:
    February 4, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    Excellent reviews, Diana! 🙂 Sharing…

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Steve Tanham says:
    February 4, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    Thank you, so much, Diana. Unexpected and a wonderful moment in my life… 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  20. EDC Writing/Believing Sight Unseen says:
    February 4, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    Enlightening reviews, Diana – I’m drawn to ‘Vengeance of a Slave’ – will give it a go.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. jenanita01 says:
    February 4, 2020 at 11:25 am

    Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. jenanita01 says:
    February 4, 2020 at 11:23 am

    What a fabulous collection of reviews, Diana…

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Priscilla Bettis says:
    February 4, 2020 at 11:14 am

    I like the idea of a monthly round up. I noticed the cover art of Roohani’s Poet’s Touch is like it’s on watercolor paper. (I love watercolors!)

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 4:10 pm

      Thanks so much for the visit, Priscilla. I wasn’t able to keep up with posting reviews last year, and I think this solution will work. A long post but easy to scan and perhaps browse a few. I had a fun month of books and look forward to more. Happy Reading!

      Like

  24. Mae Clair says:
    February 4, 2020 at 10:48 am

    Diana, thank you for that fabulous review of Eventide. Wow! I loved it!
    I’m delighted to see my book included here with so many other wonderful authors and stories. I read Kevin’s book several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m also seriously attracted to Crown of Stones series, as I do enjoy a good anti-hero, especially when potential redemption is involved.

    Congratulations to all the authors for such insightful reviews. You were busy reading, LOL!

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Your book was fabulous, Mae. My favorite of the series. Crown of Stones is a dark fantasy series – my favorite genre with an excellent anti-hero. Thanks for the visit, and Happy Reading!

      Like

  25. Teri Polen says:
    February 4, 2020 at 10:35 am

    You’ve been busy, Diana! Glad to see Mae’s and Kevin’s books with such fantastic reviews. Happy Reading and Writing!

    Liked by 3 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Teri. It was fun getting these reviews lined up and posted. And of course a fun month of reading. I enjoyed them all. Have a great day as you count down to your release. Happy Reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  26. D.L. Finn, Author says:
    February 4, 2020 at 9:59 am

    I loved Mae’s book, too. It was a great series, but that ended with a huge bang! Great reviews and they all soubd like good books:) I have The Wizard on my TBR list. The Crown of Stones sounds like a good series. Thr poetry is on my radar. I moved my reviews to once a month, or in two parts if a really good month, and found it easy to keep track of that way:) Thanks, Diana!

    Liked by 3 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      Thanks for the idea to share reviews in bulk, Denise. I just couldn’t keep up last year and I think this will work. Yeah, Mae’s finale was a doozy! All the others here are worthwhile reads, a range of stories. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  27. boundlessblessingsblog says:
    February 4, 2020 at 9:40 am

    Diana you have given a fantastic review of all the books will go and read few of them. A big thank you for giving your expert review of my poetry book. Am feeling overjoyed and full of gratitude 🙏 for your encouragement. Love and light to you.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Jill Weatherholt says:
    February 4, 2020 at 9:22 am

    Great list, Diana! You were a reading machine in January!

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Jill. I’m determined to share all reviews this year, and this is the only way I think I can do it. Makes for a long post, but hopefully a quick scan will spark some interest. Have a great day and Happy Reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Writing to Freedom says:
    February 4, 2020 at 8:38 am

    That is a lot of reading and reviews Diana. They sound like a delightful if slightly dark collection. I would probably enjoy the poetry books more. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  30. amreade says:
    February 4, 2020 at 8:37 am

    What a list! You had a busy January. They all sound good.

    Liked by 2 people

  31. balroop2013 says:
    February 4, 2020 at 8:20 am

    Nice reviews Diana, thanks for sharing. A few of them are on my wish list.

    Liked by 2 people

  32. robbiesinspiration says:
    February 4, 2020 at 7:54 am

    Diana, I am so delighted to see both Kamal and Steve’s poetry books featured here. I am reading Mae’s new book as a buddy read this weekend.

    Liked by 4 people

  33. short-prose-fiction says:
    February 4, 2020 at 7:38 am

    Thank you so much for sharing. You are such a wonderful soul.

    Liked by 2 people

  34. Teagan R. Geneviene says:
    February 4, 2020 at 7:30 am

    Applesauce, Diana. All those books, and each one mindfully reviewed. Everyone else reads at warp speed compared to me. Truly impressive. Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Ha. Warp speed? I have my phone read to me, Teagan, while exercising, driving, making dinner. I’ve tripled the number of books I enjoy. And I still cozy up with my kindle at night. Thanks for the visit, my friend. Happy Reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  35. Tessa Pulyer says:
    February 4, 2020 at 7:30 am

    What a great list of reads! Kevin Cooper’s book had me at the unicorn on the cover. My favorite expression is “In my world of unicorns and rainbows,” so any book or movie with the mythical creature has my attention! And all 3 of Mae’s books in this series sound so intriguing. I’ve never read paranormal suspense but I’m ready to give it a try ❤️. Great reviews, Diana!

    Liked by 4 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 3:41 pm

      Kevin’s book is very cute and suited to young readers, Tessa, though not too young! And Mae’s books are great. I really like speculative fiction and I’ve read her whole series and loved it. Have fun browsing and Happy Reading. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Jacqui Murray says:
    February 4, 2020 at 7:18 am

    Great list–and I like the 1x/mo approach. Thanks, Denise and Diana!

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 4, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Jacqui. It makes for a long post, but I figure folks will scan and stop on those that pique their interest. And this should keep me current! Happy Reading!

      Like

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