Review of Blood Rites by D.R. Racey - 4+ Stars

Well, it has been too long since a post. I've been super busy with things, that's better than having nothing to do I guess, and my blog has been put off for a little while. In any event, I'M BACK!

Here is my latest review for Blood Rites (Blood Rites Trilogy)




Blood Rites was a great read for me. I knew there were some sex scenes written into the book and quite honestly, I didn't think it would work for me. This is yet another case where I should keep an open mind and see what happens.

The way the author weaved the sex into the story was well done and I found that it blended quite well. I am definitely not one for explicit romance, though it does not bother me in the least, so I wasn't sure I would be able to focus on the reason I picked up the book, vicious werewolves. I was wrong!

Racey provided a fast paced story that held my interest and had me turning the pages quickly. There were some areas of the dialogue that seemed a bit too formal but nothing that had me skipping pages, as I so often do when I come across sketchy dialogue.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it for those who like brutal, well written supernatural books with a spicy twist.

Pick up a copy on Amazon Blood Rites (Blood Rites Trilogy).

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Review of Primal Shift From Author Griffin Hayes

I recently read Primal Shift: Episode 1, from author Griffin Hayes. This is a new take on an old premise, the apocalypse. In an over-saturated zombie market, Griffin Hayes has given us a new scenario for the end of the world as we know it. Griffin is feeding us this story in episodes to be dished out at least monthly, and I like that. I don't like starting a series and sometimes waiting 6 months or more for the next installment. Here is the blurb from the Amazon page:

The apocalypse strikes without warning. A mysterious geomagnetic event that sweeps the globe, leaving a powerful amnesia in its wake.

In the blink of an eye, the human race is robbed of the most basic skills learned in childhood: reading, writing and the ability to speak. Civilization crumbles, plunging the world into an age of unparalleled barbarism.

From the ashes emerge a handful of survivors, largely unaffected by the change. Alone, they must brave a dangerous and chaotic world in order to reach the only known refuge: a camp set in the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah. There lies food, shelter and maybe even answers.

But standing between them and safety is more than bands of armed thugs and bloodthirsty cannibals. A new evil is gathering. One that's eager to destroy the last vestiges of life on earth and finish what it started, once and for all.

The survivors:

A man who awakens in the bowels of a secret laboratory with no memory of how he got there and only an enigmatic tattoo to guide him.
A Coast Guard sailor searching for a killer who may not be what he seems.
A mother of two and recent widow, struggling to protect her family from a world gone mad.
A former CEO and full-time scumbag determined to do whatever it takes to thrive in this new apocalyptic wasteland.

Note from the author: Primal Shift is a serialized novel and as such new episodes will be released at least once a month. An omnibus edition of the first season will follow the release of episode five (Summer 2013).

Warning: This is a story about the desperate measures people sometimes take to stay alive after a cataclysmic event. Includes violence and some foul language.

Hayes has set up the story with a wonderful cast of characters. From the mother of two fighting to protect her children, to a real corporate a-hole, he presents his characters in a way that draws the reader in right from the start. This being the first episode, we are left with no real answers but plenty of questions that I'm sure will be addressed in the future episodes.

Griffin's descriptive style and sharp dialogue make the pages practically turn themselves and I found myself disappointed when the last one was turned, or swiped since I read on my Kindle ;-)

In the end, this is a series that I look forward to reading and I suggest you grab it as well if you're looking for a fresh take from a great author.

Getting Better by Tyr Kieran

I recently read a short story that I found superb. Tyr Kieran put together a great short horror story that I enjoyed. In fact, I searched for more of his work and found some real gems. His blog, tyrkieran.com, has some of his short stories as well as an interactive horror novel that he updates twice a week. Tyr is also a writer at the horror site, Pen of the Damned, where I found more awesome writers and stories to be had for FREE.

Here is my review for Getting Better by Tyr Kieran:

 Being a short story, I will make it a short review. Getting Better by author Tyr Kieran couldn't get much better. Kieran takes the reader on a fast paced ride through the eyes of a madman. The writing from Kieran is spot on, and though some of the clinical aspects of the story may not be completely accurate, I didn't care. It was a great story and the stereotypical characters were amusing and presented in a way that kept my attention. If you're up for a fast paced horror short, this is it.

I know Tyr has more projects in the works and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop - Craig McGray

So, what is a blog hop?

Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors that may be new to them. I hope you'll find the new-to-you authors at the end of this blog enjoyable.

On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information on me and one of my books, The Somnibus Book II – The Six Stones, and links to a few other authors you can explore!
My gratitude to fellow author, Adrienne deWolfe, for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following links to learn more about Adrienne and her books.
Her Next Big Thing: Blog Hop for Authors: Sneak Peek of the Next Big Thing | How to Write a Novel | Writing Tips | Story Critiques | WritingNovelsThatSell.com

Her Website: Kathy Carmichael - Romance, Mystery, and Mayhem

Her books: http://ebookdiscovery.com/AdrienneDeWolfe.html

In this blog hop, I have answered questions about my upcoming release (giving you a sneak peek). I've also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why I wrote the book: the characters, inspirations, and plotting. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing! The Somnibus: Book II – The Six Stones

Q: What is the title of your book? The Somnibus: Book II – The Six Stones. This is the second book of a two-part paranormal thriller, The Somnibus. I plan to release it in February 2013 as well as a complete edition containing both books in The Somnibus story.

Q: Where did the idea come from for the book? Like most ideas, this premise started as something completely different and just kind of morphed into the story that is the completed work. I saw the creature in a nightmare I had and developed it from there. When I started developing the Somnibus characters in Book I, I really wanted to focus on them for the second book.  

Q: What genre does your book come under? It’s a paranormal/horror book. The horror is a bit on the lighter side of what I usually write, but I’ve had responses from readers saying it really creeped them out.

Q: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Hmmm. I’ll have to think about that one. I’ll have an answer when Hollywood calls ;-)

Q: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Michael Black must fight to stay alive when the Somnibus, searching for an object that Michael possesses, lure him into an underground hell filled with death and decay.

Q: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency? It will be self-published.

Q: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? My time is limited to writing at night and on the weekends, but once I got the story arranged in my head and loose outline put together, around six months. I have a habit of editing as a write, and it kills my time management. I’m getting better about it now though.

Q: Who or what inspired you to write this book? I was inspired after a creepy dream I had introduced me to what would later become the Somnibus characters in the book.

Q: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? I’ve had many readers comment on the descriptive passages of the world the Somnibus live in. They could smell the characters and see the hell that I tried to create. Give it a read and see if you can keep your stomach settled.


Below you will find a few author blogs I enjoy reading. Though some are not officially part of the blog hop, I've included them as I enjoy reading their work and blogs, as I'm sure you will. Please be sure to bookmark their sites, and add them to your calendars for updates on their upcoming books!

Happy Writing and Reading!



1. Joe Hart Independent Horror Writing

2. Griffin Hayes Publishing After The Apocalypse

3. Dylan J. Morgan http://www.dylanjmorgan.com/

4. Michael K. Rose MYRIAD SPHERES

Guest Post by the Always Thought Provoking, Michael K. Rose

I am super excited to present a guest post from author, Michael K. Rose. His latest release Chrysopteron, is now available. I must say, I am a couple of chapters in and I find it hard to put down. Admittedly, I have not  been the biggest sci-fi enthusiast in the past, but Michael's past books have turned me into a fan and this book is no different. Michael has put together this post on mythology and its influence on his latest novel, so enjoy and don't forget to pick up your copy of Chrysopteron.

Book Description for Chrysopteron:

Captain John Hayden, haunted by memories of war and still grieving the death of his wife, is about to embark on the most important mission of his career: to discover the fate of the Chrysopteron, one of five generation ships which left the Earth centuries earlier. The descendants of the Chrysopteron’s original crew had successfully colonized their planet, but less than a hundred years later, all contact was lost. Hayden knows that a mysterious new religion which was formed aboard the ship may have played a role in determining the fate of the colonists, but there is no way to know what he and his crew will find when they finally arrive.

In a story that touches on issues of faith and self-determination, Chrysopteron explores the fundamental elements that define our species. Even though we may leave the Earth, we cannot leave behind that which makes us human.

The Role of Mythology in CHRYSOPTERON 

My new novel is the story of a generation ship, the Chrysopteron, which, after colonizing a planet in another star system, loses—or breaks off—contact with Earth. Readers will find out early on that aboard this ship a new religion has arisen, a religion based very loosely on Ancient Greek mythology. The reason the religion develops along these lines has to do with the name of this ship, Chrysopteron, as well as the woman around which this religion develops. Her name is Iris.

I first came across the term Chrysopteron while researching rainbows, of all things, for a story I was thinking about writing for a themed anthology. I never did anything with that story, but I learned that Chrysopteron means “golden-winged” and refers to the goddess Iris. In Greek mythology, Iris was a messenger deity, like Hermes, and the rainbow was the trail she left behind her as she traveled from Mount Olympus to Earth.

I really don’t know how I decided to use this information when I began writing Chrysopteron, but the title and the use of Iris as a central figure in the story was there from the very beginning.

I think that the names we give to places and objects have a profound impact on how we interact with those places and things.In Chrysopteron, the name of the shipcolored the perception of those who lived aboard her. When an apparent miracle occurs to a baby names Iris, who had been named after the ship, the crew of theChrysopteron see a deeper meaning in the name. As Iris was a messenger deity who traveled back and forth between Earth and Olympus, so this ship is now ferrying the people from Earth to another planet. And it is no accident that they give the nameElysium to the planet they’re hoping to colonize. Earth, in this story, is over-populated, over-heated and dying. A virgin planet would be an Elysium, a paradise, in comparison.

As the generations pass, the myth surrounding Iris only strengthens. As anyone who has lived long enough knows, our memories of past events become tainted by what we wish had happened. A past event become either better or worse than it originally was, depending on our perspective.

I don’t think it’s far-fetched to imagine a religious belief system arising within the span of a few generations. Within a few generations of the deaths of Jesus or Mohammad, for example, Christianity and Islam had spread remarkably far and to people who, until shortly before their conversion, had never heard of Jesus or Mohammad. But they accepted the truth about the stories of those men because they trusted the people who were telling those stories.

So it was on the Chrysopteron. Because of the remarkable incident—the miracle—that occurred to Iris, she grew up surrounded by people who considered her remarkable. The mythology of Ancient Greece, as opposed to the stories in the Bible or the Koran, served as the basis for their belief system. But the ancient stories of the Greeks were not dead to them; they had living proof that miracles do indeed occur.

Readers of Chrysopteron will find many more references to Greek mythology throughout the book. I don’t spend a lot of time explaining them as many of them are general knowledge, but I would like to touch on more obscure Greek figure who makes an appearance at the end of the novel: Ephialtes. Ephialtes was a giant who, along with his brother Otus, had plans to storm Mt. Olympus and take Artemis and Hera as their wives. But they were also considered bringers of civilization, figures who taught culture to humanity.

When the name Ephialtes makes its appearance at the end of Chrysopteron, I hope readers will think about these two very different aspects. How one chooses to interpret the name will decide what the fate of the people living on the planet Elysium will be. In that sense, the novel does end with a question, but I hope it’s one that readers will be able to answer for themselves. 

Biography:

Michael K. Rose is primarily an author of science fiction who also dabbles in horror, fantasy and paranormal fiction.

His novel Sullivan’s War has been called "...a sci-fi thriller that definitely delivers!" and his collection Short Stories has been praised as "...the purest form of literature, as rich as a bottle of Montrachet 1978 and as tasty as a generous cut of Wagyu beef."

His newest novel, Chrysopteron, is already being hailed as a "...gem of a novel..." and "a masterpiece."

Sullivan’s Wrath, the sequel to Sullivan’s War, will be released in early 2013.

For more information, please visit http://www.michaelkrose.com

Pick up Your Copy Now!

Amazon US: Chrysopteron

Amazon UK: Chrysopteron

Barnes & Noble: Chrysopteron

Other Places to Find Michael on the Web

Michael's Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-K.-Rose/e/B0062EIPN2/

Find Michael on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-K-Rose-Author/291149020948554

Follow Michael on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MichaelKRose

Michael's Blog: http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/

Guest Post by the Super Talented Rayne Hall

The latest book I've finished is Storm Dancer by Rayne Hall. This was a very well done, dark epic fantasy. I left an Amazon review and hope to put it up here shortly. Read the blurb, and if it sounds like your type of story, buy it! I loved this book.

I enjoyed her style so much that I also purchased her writing skills book, Writing Scary Scenes. I utilized some of the techniques described for my latest project and thought it would be great to have Rayne on my blog. She seemed more than willing to help out and sent this over for me to share with everyone. Enjoy!




The Ticking Clock Technique

by Rayne Hall

To add excitement and suspense to your novel, consider using a Ticking Clock.

What's the main character's goal in the novel? What is it she must achieve? If she must attain this goal in a certain time, and if missing the deadline will bring dire consequences, then the reader will watch the clock. The more time passes, the higher the tension.

Examples:

* Inspector Ingle needs to find the serial killer who slaughters young women on full moon nights. Will he find him before the moon is full again and another victim dies?

* Daring Doug searches the treasure buried by Pirate Pugglewick, but Evil Eric also has a map. Will Daring Doug get there before Evil Eric does?

* Miss Hester will lose her inheritance unless she marries before Christmas. How will she find a suitable husband in just two months?

You can also use this technique to make specific scenes more exciting. What is the main character's goal in the scene? Arrange it so she has limited time to achieve this.

Examples:

* Cunning Connie secretly searches Nasty Nate's apartment. Nate will be back in half an hour. Will she find the incriminating document and get out of the place before he arrives?

* Victor Villain has set the bomb to destroy Earth in thirty minutes. Can Henry Hero stop it on time?

* At 3pm today, Innocent Iris will be executed for a murder she did not commit. Can Larry Lawyer persuade the false witness to tell the truth before then?

TYPES OF CLOCK

Sometimes, the ticking clock is real: a grandfather clock which goes tock-tock-tock, a clock on the steeple of a German village church, an expensive Rolex watch with silver hands, a children's alarm-clock with a Winnie-the-Pooh face, or an egg-timer with purple sand.

The passing time can also be measured in other ways:

* The weather (she needs to finish a task before the rain starts)

* Rhythms of nature (she needs to get to the shore before the incoming tide reaches her, or she needs to get out of the castle before night falls and the vampires waken)

* The actions of other people (she needs to reach the place before her rival does)

* Progressing disaster (he needs to get across the bridge before it collapses completely)

HOW TO USE THE TICKING CLOCK

At the beginning of the scene, establish how much time the protagonist has to achieve his goal, or to accomplish something else. Emphasise the dire consequences should he fail to do it by that time (the vampires will get him, the bomb will explode, the hostages will be executed). Alternatively, mention that a certain terrible thing will happen at a certain time.

Then, throughout the scene, show several times how time is passing: the hands of the clock shifting, the sand running through the spout, the sun sinking towards the horizon.

Example of a “ticking clock”

Dan checked his watch: 2.50. He had fifteen minutes to save his daughter.

Fifteen minutes to find the right house in this blasted street in blasted semi-suburbia, to break down the door, to fight her abductors, to free her from captivity, to get her to safety.

Each house in this street was the same: red brick, sash windows, white doors. No movement, nothing out of place. Not a single net curtain twitched.

Two dozen terraced homes, created by an unimaginative architect and a cost-saving builder, lived-in by labourers who craved middle-class respectability. Behind one of these pristine doors, Sharleen awaited execution.

They would kill her at 3.05.

The blue hand of Dan's watch said 2.54.

Which door? Holy Hades, which?

The one with the cute-puppy doormat? Or the flowered enamel number plate? The twinkling fairy lights, or the fat plastic Santa?

Why, oh why, hadn't he pressed his daughter for details before she left the house? 2.57. Eight minutes left.

Even the front gardens were the same, square patches of lawn, each with a winter-bare rose bush in the centre.

He would smash his way into those fake respectable doors, splinter the wood, rip the hangings. But while he barged through one home, Sharleen would die in another. He had to get it right.

From number fourteen, a man emerged. Dark jacket, dog on a leash.

“Excuse me, Sir.” Dan fought to keep his voice calm, even as his heart was thumping. “I wonder if you can help me. I'm looking for a girl. Fourteen, blonde. Wearing a school uniform -”

“Can't help you,” the man said coldly, giving Dan a look which said 'Paedophile!' and tugged at the leash. “Come, Buster.”

“Sir, it's not what you think...”

The man didn't turn.

The church clock chimed. High, sharp rings: one, two, three.

In five minutes, Sharleen would be dead.

CLIMAX IN THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT

To make the most of the 'ticking clock', let your protagonist achieve his goal in the final minute - or even the final second. This creates a tense, suspenseful scene climax which has the readers biting their nails.

* If the bomb is rigged to explode at 12 o'clock, the hero disables it at 11.59.

* If Miss Hester needs to get married before Christmas Day, then the wedding is by special license just before midnight on Christmas Eva.

* If Daring Doug races against Evil Eric to reach the treasure, then he wins so narrowly that his rival arrives in time to see him open the treasure chest.

* If Innocent Iris is to be hanged at 3pm, then the stay of execution arrives at 2.59. 

Once the goal is achieved, the exhausted hero may hear or see the clock reaching the fatal mark, emphasising how narrowly he has won.

DRAWBACKS

This technique doesn't work for every scene. Sometimes, the ticking clock can be applied only to part of the scene, or not at all.

If several scenes have ticking clocks, they need to be different types of clock, or it becomes boring.

If the overall plot of the novel has a ticking clock (for example, the hero in the thriller has two weeks to save the world), then additional ticking clocks for individual scenes (he has one hour to raise the cash, and thirty minutes to decipher the code) can be distracting.

ANY QUESTIONS

If you want to ask something about this technique, or discuss your ideas how to apply it to your story, leave a comment. I'll be around for a week and will reply.

   About Rayne Hall

Rayne Hall has published more than thirty books under different pen names with different publishers in different genres, mostly fantasy, horror and non-fiction. Recent books include Storm Dancer (dark epic fantasy novel), Six Historical Tales Vol 1, Six Scary Tales Vol 1, 2 and 3 (mild horror stories), Six Historical Tales (short stories), Six Quirky Tales (humorous fantasy stories), Writing Fight Scenes and Writing Scary Scenes (instructions for authors).

She holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Currently, she edits the Ten Tales series of multi-author short story anthologies: Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Scared: Ten Tales of Horror, Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates, Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft and more.  http://www.amazon.com/Rayne-Hall/e/B006BSJ5BK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Her short online classes for writers intense with plenty of personal feedback. Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, Writing about Magic and Magicians, The Word Loss Diet and more. https://sites.google.com/site/writingworkshopswithraynehall/

For more information about Rayne Hall go to her website https://sites.google.com/site/raynehallsdarkfantasyfiction/

Author Interview With Horror Author Joe Hart

I recently had the opportunity to interview horror author, Joe Hart. I have read and enjoyed his work, and he was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to field a few questions via e-mail. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I did putting it together. Let's get to it.

How about giving us a little background on Joe Hart. Don't be shy.

Well, I'm almost 30 years old. I've lived in Minnesota all my life. I'm happily married to the love of my life and we have two beautiful kids. I've been a personal trainer and manager of a gym for the last 6 years. I've been writing for almost 20 years. I started punching out little stories on my mom's electronic typewriter when I was 9. I got really serious about writing a little over 4 years ago and wrote a screenplay that's currently out in New York being looked at. My first major effort at publishing came last fall when I released Midnight Paths, a collection of short horror stories. Since then I haven't looked back and I'm loving it!

I used to do some personal training, I really enjoyed helping people to reach goals. The transformation process is an awesome thing to be part of. I know how hard it is to find time to write when you have a day job, especially when you have children at home. Can you tell us a little about your writing process?

My writing process basically consists of two hours at night when I get home from work. My wife is amazing as far as giving me time to write and keeping the kids occupied (although I normally have to take a break to watch a scene in one of their movies or play a quick game of tag in the living room.) I try to hit a thousand words each day. Sometimes I'm done in an hour and others it's a grind for the full two hours but I make sure I write everyday. I think it's important to have a schedule for your writing. I hear about some writers who write when they "have the feeling". I always want to write so I don't have an urge that comes and goes. I even find myself wanting to continue after I've hit my quota some days, which is a great feeling to have.

I'm sure that sounds familiar to many writers out there, me included. If you could live the life of any character from any book for a month, who would it be? I'm a family man too, so let's assume our kids and wife were in a bubble and wouldn't know we were gone.

Great question! It's hard because no character that anyone would want to read about has it easy. My choice would have to be the main character from J.L. Bourne's Day by Day Armageddon. Not that I really want to live in a post-apocalyptic zombie infested world, but if I did I would want to be someone capable as his character seems to be.

I hadn't read that book before. I downloaded it over the weekend, great read so far(and great choice on your part). How did you come up with the premise behind Lineage?

The idea for Lineage came to me just after I'd published Midnight Paths. I wanted to finally write a novel and the thought of my first one being a really creepy ghost story just grabbed me. I love novels with interrelated events echoing against one another throughout the plot and that's what I tried to do with Lineage. The story unwound in my head over the period of a few days and morphed several times as I wrote, but the meat of the idea stayed the same.

What are you working on next?

I'm a little over halfway through my next novel at the moment. It's a creepy murder mystery set in a prison with some really freaky circumstances surrounding the death of an inmate. Hopefully it should come out shortly after the new year.

That sounds like an interesting premise. Thanks so much for your time. Is there anything else you would like to add? Any deep dark secrets you need to unload from your conscience.

 

I'd just like to say thank you for having me and I wish you the best of luck with your own writing career. As far as deep dark secrets, I usually keep those in the pages of my stories ;-)

Thanks for the encouragement, and thank you so much for your time, Joe. Please keep me up to date on your projects and I look forwrd to your next release.

Stop by Joe's blog Independent Horror Writing, follow him on twitter @authorjoehart, and like him on Facebook. Stop by his Amazon page and pick up any one of his offerings for a great read. Thanks again to Joe for a great interview!

Book Review: Joe Hart's Latest Release 'Lineage'

I will be posting an interview soon with author Joe Hart. I wanted to read his latest novel before the interview, and here is my review of 'Lineage' by Joe Hart.

Joe Hart's latest release, 'Lineage', is one of those stories that keeps you guessing. When I first started the book, I honestly thought it may turn out to be a well written book, but a story I had seen many times. I was WRONG.

While there are elements of the premise that are familiar, Hart makes them his own with a very distinct style. His descriptions were right on, allowing me to feel the physical aspects of the characters along with the emotional parts of the story. I felt like my body temperature actually dropped when I read one scene. I know it sounds a little cheesy, but I honestly felt colder while I read it.

Hart has put together a well planned out storyline using vivid descriptions to help the reader paint a clear picture of what is happening. Though the story slowed at times, Hart timed it well so the action picked up before slowing the pace too much. I was surprised at how quickly I read through the book. I am a notoriously slow reader, as I often have 2 or 3 books going at once, but I didn't put this one down very often and that's saying something for me.

Overall, do yourself a favor and read Joe Hart's 'Lineage'. You will enjoy his style and he will no doubt make you cringe at least a few times. I know I did.

My Short Review for the New Release 'Crown of Ash' by Steven Montano

**My Short Review**

The world created by Montano is felt in every scene. I was anxious to see where the new book took me, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm not one for long winded reviews, so the short version of my review follows.

The landscapes painted by Montano are once again superb. I found myself in the scenes, feeling the darkness of it all, and that's a good thing. Vivid description is the key to me enjoying fantasy worlds. If I can't find myself walking next to the characters, I lose interest. With that being said, I finished this book quickly, for me, and that means I was walking next to the characters.I love Danica. She is one tough lady. The monsters that the characters face are unique and again, I love the descriptive style of the writer.

Without going through the entire plot, I recommend you purchase this book and find out for yourself. I don't like to do reviews like book reports. I tell you about the things I like, and sometimes the things I don't, and then let you know if it's worth hitting the buy button in my opinion.Buy this book if you have enjoyed the others in the series, and buy the series if you haven't had the opportunity to meet the characters in the Blood Skies.

*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Though after the release, I did purchase a copy in order to support a great author.

********************************

Eric Cross and his team have been to hell and back, but their journey isn’t over yet.

Marooned in the remote criminal city of Blacksand, the only way for the mercenaries to get home is to help a local crime boss protect his territories from the Ebon Cities.

To complicate matters, Danica Black is also being hunted by The Revengers, a powerful band of corrupt prison wardens, while Cross himself is trapped in the Whisperlands, a realm of darkness controlled by a cadre of evil mages known as the Shadow Lords.

The team will battle their way through corroding wastelands and deadly vampire outposts, but even their considerable skills might not be enough to save them from the cruel machinations of the Shadow Lord’s mysterious master, a malevolent creature who has manipulated their destinies right from the beginning…

Return to the world of The Black in Book 4 of the BLOOD SKIES saga!

Crown of Ash is available on Amazon.com and Smashwords!

Catch up with the rest of the series on Amazon.com!

About the Author





Steven Montano is a full-time accountant and the author of the Blood Skies series. He enjoys dark music, depressing cinema, cooking, hiking, and spending time with his crazy family. He lives in Washington, where he desperately prepares for the vampire apocalypse.

Visit Steven’s official website, bloodskies.com