Echoes of Empire Series (Mark T. Barnes)

* * * * * * *     7/10   10

Volume 1 Book Echoes of Empire (Mark T. Barnes): The Garden of Stones (2013)
An uneasy peace has existed since the fall of the Awakened Empire centuries ago. Now the hybrid Avān share the land with the people they once conquered: the star born humans; the spectral, undead Nomads; and what remains of the Elemental Masters. With the Empress in shadows an estranged ghost, it is the ancient dynasties of the Great Houses and the Hundred Families that rule. But now civil war threatens to draw all of Shrīan into a vicious struggle sparked by one man’s lust for power, and his drive to cheat death. Visions have foretold that Corajidin, dying ruler of House Erebus, will not only survive, but rise to rule his people. The wily nobleman seeks to make his destiny certain by plundering the ruins of his civilization’s past for the arcane science needed to ensure his survival, and by mercilessly eliminating his rivals. But mercenary warrior mage Indris, scion of the rival House Näsarat, stands most powerfully in the usurper’s bloody path. For it is Indris who reluctantly accepts the task of finding a missing man, the only one able to steer the teetering nation towards peace.

Reviews of The Garden of Stones:
"From the very first page of this epic, Mr. Barnes immerses his first time reader in a world filled with vivid cultures, unusual species, ancient mysteries, an.."
https://bookwraiths.com/2014/01/27/the-garden-of-stones-by-mark-t-barnes/

"The Garden of Stones is a grab-bag of what’s cool – airships, large swords, brightly-hued armor, lost cities, ancient civilizations, epic artifacts, Machiavel.."
http://www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com/2013/11/book-review-the-garden-of-stones-by-mark-t-barnes/

"In the competition between paper and audio, I really do think The Garden of Stones would probably work better in paper, though it’s definitely enjoyable in au.."
http://www.sffaudio.com/review-of-the-garden-of-stones-by-mark-t-barnes/

"The beginning is where my first critique comes in. It’s very confusing. From what I’ve gathered, people are comparing it to the jarring start of Erikson’s Mal.."
https://acerbicwriting.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-garden-of-stones-by-mark-t-barnes/

Volume 2 Book Echoes of Empire (Mark T. Barnes): The Obsidian Heart (2013)
A plot to overthrow the Shrīanese Federation has been quashed, but the bloody rebellion is far from over...and the struggle to survive is just beginning. Warrior mage Indris grows weary in his failed attempts to thwart the political machinations of Corajidin, and faces the possibility of imprisonment upon his return to his homeland. Moreover, Indris’s desire for Corajidin’s daughter, Mari, is strong. Can he choose between his duty and his desire…and at what cost? Left alienated from her House, Mari is torn between the opposing forces of her family and her country especially now that she’s been offered the position of Knight Colonel of the Feyassin, the elite royal guards whose legacy reaches back to the days of the Awakened Empire. As the tensions rise, she must decide if her future is with Indris, with her family, or in a direction not yet foreseen.
As he awaits trial for his crimes, Corajidin confronts the good and evil within himself. Does he seek redemption for his cruel deeds, or does he indebt himself further to the enigmatic forces that have promised him success, and granted him a reprieve from death? What is more important: his ambition, regaining the love stolen from him, or his soul?

Reviews of The Obsidian Heart
"Even though The Obsidian Heart begins with a recap of previous events from the first book, the story as a whole owes some of its intense immersiveness to the .."
https://www.readingreality.net/2014/02/review-the-obsidian-heart-by-mark-t-barnes/

"And it is. Where The Garden of Stones created a world and set the table for an epic adventure The Obsidian Heart delivers on that promise in spectacular style.."
https://bookwraiths.com/2014/05/12/the-obsidian-heart-by-mark-t-barnes/

Volume 3 Book Echoes of Empire (Mark T. Barnes): The Pillars of Sand (2014)
Prophecy declared that corrupt politician Corajidin would rule the Shrīanese Federation, even become its new Emperor and sinister magic has helped him defy death in order to do it. But his victory is not assured, thanks to clashing rival factions that hinder any attempts to unify the nation. Though he has taken increasingly brutal measures to eliminate all obstacles in his path, the dark forces supporting him grow dangerously impatient. And the harder they press, the more drastic Corajidin’s actions become. Soon, only his most powerful adversaries will stand in his way: Indris, the peerless swordsman and sorcerer who has long fought to end the Federation’s bloody turmoil; and the warrior poet Mari, Corajidin’s own daughter and the woman Indris loves. Fate has torn them apart, forcing them into terrifying personal trials. But if Indris can bring to bear the devastating knowledge of the Pillars of Sand, and Mari can rise up as a rebel leader, Corajidin’s enemies will rally and the decisive battle for the soul and future of the Shrīanese will begin.


Reviews of The Pillars of Sand :
"I spent my time savoring each word, each drop of philosophy soon rolling into a river of eurekas. Blinding flashes of vivid storytelling I cannot fully compre.."
https://acerbicwriting.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/the-pillars-of-sand-by-mark-t-barnes/

"I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank both of them for allowing me to receive this.."
https://bookwraiths.com/2014/05/19/the-pillars-of-sand-by-mark-t-barnes/
First pages / excerpts and first chapters of The Garden of Stones / Echoes of Empire Series  1 (Mark T. Barnes):  

Sentinels of New Orleans Series (Suzanne Johnson)

* * * * *     5/10   10

Volume 1 Book Sentinels of New Orleans (Suzanne Johnson): Royal Street (2012)
As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion mixing and pixie retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal werecreatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond. Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters. While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover. To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.

Review of Royal Street:
"So if you enough UF books featuring a heroine that can weld magic while throwing smart one liners at people then you should try Suzanne Johnson’s Royal Street."
http://thebooknympho.com/2012/12/review-royal-street-by-suzanne-johnson/

"I highly recommend Royal Street to fans of urban fantasy. Fans of New Orleans and its history will also find this tale delightful. Royal Street will be publis.."
https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2012/03/royal-street-sentinels-of-new-orleans-1-by-suzanne-johnson.html

"What is going to be very interesting will be to see whether any of the possible romantic entanglements develop. There are potentially three men in her life; A.."
https://www.readingreality.net/2013/04/review-royal-street-by-suzanne-johnson/

"Royal Street is a novel that sticks with you even after you put it down. I struggled to stop reading last night and woke up early to finish it this morning. I.."
http://katlatham.com/2012/05/review-royal-street-by-suzanne-johnson/

"Certain scenes within the book showed great promise in bringing humor, depth, and a greater understanding of the plot and Dj herself, yet they fall flat as Ms.."
http://smexybooks.com/2012/04/review-royal-street-by-suzanne-johnson.html

"Therein lies my problem with this book. There really is a lot going on. There are so many different types of supernatural creatures: werewolves, shifters, vam.."
http://badassbookreviews.com/arc-review-royal-street-by-suzanne-johnson/

Volume 2 Book Sentinels of New Orleans (Suzanne Johnson): River Road (2012)
Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a weregator. Wizards are dying, and something or someone from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who or what is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two. It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.


Review of River Road:
"The world building is one of the things I love most about this series. Johnson has chosen the perfect backdrop to this series with New Orleans. Mix in superna.."
https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2012/11/river-road-by-suzanne-johnson-release-day-review.html

"If you haven’t read this series yet, I would recommend picking it up. I will be keeping this author on my buy list. I loved it, and if you pick this series up.."
https://littlereadridinghood.com/review-river-road-by-suzanne-johnson/

"The main plot is a delicious mixture of mystery, suspense, intrigue, and humor. Strong and well written, I laughed throughout this book. Ms. Johnson writes so.."
http://smexybooks.com/2012/11/review-river-road-by-suzanne-johnson.html

"The series reminds me of great UF series like the Rachel Morgan series and Kate Daniels. More Rachel though, DJ is not as tough as some other crazy UF charact.."
http://www.parajunkee.com/blog/2012/12/03/review-river-road-by-suzanne-johnson/

"I really enjoyed the developments throughout, it had the same action, humour, romance etc as the first, even the pacing was great and I like it a lot. As I sa.."
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-review-for-river-road-sentinels-of.html

Volume 3 Book Sentinels of New Orleans (Suzanne Johnson): Elysian Fields (2013)
The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi.  New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans. Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren’t random an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard. Namely, DJ. Combatting an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn’t easy. Jake Warin’s loupgarou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world’s most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ’s to do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power. Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte’s pirate wench could be DJ’s best option.

Reviews of Elysian:
"But the plot of Elysian Fields has to do with magical power and the control of political power, as well as how closely intertwined those two are. Also a huge,.."
https://www.readingreality.net/2013/09/review-elysian-fields-by-suzanne-johnson/

"New Orleans is such a great setting for Elysian Fields and Johnson brings it life from the streets to the Beyond. This could be read as a standalone as each b.."
https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2013/08/elysian-fields-by-suzanne-johnson.html

"My one minor quibble was the indecision that she struggles through the majority of the book as to who she truly cares for, and part of this I can get. We all .."
http://darkfaerietales.com/review-elysian-fields-suzanne-johnson.html

"The Axeman serial killer was a very creepy and effective villain.  His scenes were tense and gory and definitely increased the creepiness factor of this serie.."
http://badassbookreviews.com/new-release-review-elysian-fields-by-suzanne-johnson/

"Overall I thought Elysian Fields was an enjoyable read, although I must admit that I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first. Drusilla Jaco still pr.."
http://www.addicted2heroines.com/2013/08/review-elysian-fields-sentinels-of-new.html

Volume 4 Book Sentinels of New Orleans (Suzanne Johnson): Pirate's Alley (2015)
Wizard sentinel DJ Jaco thought she had gotten used to the chaos of her life in postKatrina New Orleans, but a new threat is looming, one that will test every relationship she holds dear. Caught in the middle of a rising struggle between the major powers in the supernatural world the Wizards, Elves, Vampires and the Fae DJ finds her loyalties torn and her mettle tested in matters both professional and personal. Her relationship with enforcer Alex Warin is shaky, her non husband, Quince Randolph, is growing more powerful, and her best friend, Eugenie, has a bombshell that could blow everything to Elfheim and back. And that's before the French pirate, Jean Lafitte, newly revived from his latest "death," returns to New Orleans with vengeance on his mind. DJ's assignment? Keep the sexy leader of the historical undead out of trouble. Good luck with that. Duty clashes with love, loyalty with deception, and friendship with responsibility as DJ navigates passion and politics in the murky waters of a New Orleans caught in the grips of a brutal winter that might have nothing to do with Mother Nature. War could be brewing, and DJ will be forced to take a stand. But choosing sides won't be that easy.

Reviews of Pirate's Alley:
"This novel is a page-turner. It’s chock-full of political intrigue, as you can expect from the formation of an inter-species council made up of delegates who .."
http://www.willreadforfeels.com/reviews/pirates-alley-suzanne-johnson-review/

"Political backstabbing and alliances take center stage in Pirate’s Alley the fourth book in Suzanne Johnson’s  Sentinel of New Orleans series. Bizarre weather.."
https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2015/04/pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson.html

"As much as I loved this one, I will say that the politics are starting to get extremely convoluted. I hope that book 5 comes with a guide or cheat sheet or dr.."
https://www.readingreality.net/2015/05/review-pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson/

"This book needs a stronger narrative drive to keep readers engaged. Still, the world and characters are appealing, and fans of the series will find enough of .."
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/suzanne-johnson/pirates-alley/

"I have so much damn fun with this series. I feel like I have been waiting forever for book 4! And Pirate’s Alley really did deliver. So much crap is changing..."
https://badbirdreads.com/review-pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson-blog-tour-giveaway/

Volume 5 Book Sentinels of New Orleans (Suzanne Johnson): Belle Chasse (2016)
With the wizard elven treaty on the verge of collapse, the preternatural world stands on the brink of war. Unless former wizard sentinel DJ Jaco manages to keep the elven leader, Quince Randolph, focused on peace and not personal matters. With no one on the throne, Faerie is in chaos, with rival princes battling for power. The still undead pirate, Jean Lafitte, is building his own army of misfits, and DJ stripped of her job and hiding in the Beyond to avoid the death sentence handed down by the wizard Council of Elders can’t get anywhere near her beloved New Orleans or her significant something or other, Alex. It's time to choose sides. Friends will become enemies, enemies will become allies, and not everyone will survive. DJ and her friends will learn a hard lesson: sometimes, even the ultimate sacrifice isn’t enough.


Reviews of Belle Chasse:
"My really big problem with Belle Chasse is that nothing really happens. It feels like a fill-in. Oh, DJ and Jake are still on the run from that idiot, Zrakovi.."
https://www.booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com/book-review-belle-chasse-by-suzanne-johnson/

"Of course, we face loss and setbacks that upset me, but Johnson still managed to weave in humor. I freaking loved the bit with Rene and the shopping he did. N.."
https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2016/11/belle-chasse-by-suzanne-johnson.html

"The action in this series has always been good, and while this one was not quite as fast-paced as earlier installments, it still moved along at a steady clip .."
http://bambi-unbridled.blogspot.com/2016/11/arc-review-belle-chasse-by-suzanne.html

"Like the book before it, Belle Chasse is more about the overall and continuing story arc surrounding the rising tensions between the different preternatural s.."
http://twimom227.com/2016/11/review-giveaway-belle-chasse-by-suzanne-johnson.html




 
First pages / excerpts and first chapters of Belle Chasse / New Orleans Series  5 (Suzanne Johnson):  

Wolf Pack Series (Toby Neighbors)

* * * * * * *     7/10   10 for Wolf Pack Series Books (Toby Neigbors)

Volume 1 Book Wolf Pack (Toby Neighbors): We Are The Wolf (2017)
Off World Force Recon, the first in the fight, the tip of the spear. With human colonies on 45 worlds and space stations in over a hundred different systems, serving with the elite Force Recon branch of the Extra Solar Defense Force is the most prestigious career anyone could hope for. Warfare is almost exclusively the domain of remotely operated drones, but when things go wrong, in space or on a colony world, the Off World Recon gets the call and they always come prepared.  Dean is a young man with plenty of prospects ahead of him, but when he gets selected for the most coveted job in the world, he jumps at the chance. Little does he know the rigors of training to become an elite Force Recon specialist or the dangers waiting for him in off world tours of duty that sometimes last for years on end, but it’s always been his dream to charge into the unknown with a band of brothers, facing any threat to humanity’s expansion across the galaxy and etching his name into the annals of history. The only question is does he have what it takes to stand between the threats of the galaxy and the rest of the human race?

Volume 2 Book Wolf Pack (Toby Neighbors): Welcome To The Wolfpack (2017)
Everything has changed…  A new threat has emerged…  The fate of mankind hangs in the balance…  Dean Blaze is now a Captain in the infamous Off World Force Recon division of EsDef. His heroics on the Valkyrie have made him a celebrity, but all he wants is another platoon and a fresh assignment doing what he does best. The publicity tour is over, and it’s up to Dean to build another platoon of hungry Specialists ready to charge into the most dangerous conflicts across the galaxy. Welcome to the Wolfpack, first in the fight, the tip of the spear!

Volume 3 Book Wolf Pack (Toby Neighbors): Embracing Oblivion (2017)
Humanity has a new enemy. The threat is no longer in doubt Three questions remain: When will they come? How will they attack us? Can we survive? The Kroll are real, but very little is known about humanity’s strange new enemy. Dean and his platoon of Off World Force Recon Specialists have seen these creatures and lived the tell the tale, but how long can their luck hold out? There are enemies in the dark, distant reaches of outer space, and enemies standing just behind him. If Dean has any hope of surviving, he’ll have to face his own fears, trust the right people, and stand strong in the face of constant threats to his career. No one said commanding a Recon Platoon in the Extra Solar Defense Force would be easy, or safe. They’re the Wolfpack, first in the fight, the tip of the spear.


 
First pages / excerpts and first chapters of Embracing Oblivion / Wolf Pack Series  3 (Toby Neighbors):  

Lark Nation Series (Clara Coulson)

* * * * * *     6/10   10

Volume 1 Book Lark Nation (Clara Coulson): Speaker of the Lost (2017)
In a sleepy town in coastal Maine, a dangerous storm is brewing…  Stella Newport is the new kid on the block in the FBI’s Paranormal Squad. With three training missions left to ace and enough drive to nail them blindfolded, she’s well on her way to securing her place among the ranks of the elite agents known as “Larks.”  And then…Aurora, Michigan.  After magic practitioners brazenly destroy a massive convention center, supernatural crime rates surge across the United States. With the regional paranormal crime fighting group DSI overtaxed, and the Paranormal Squad woefully short on manpower, Stella is pulled out of training early and shoved on a plane to a small New England town.  Her mission? To assist the infamously moody Oswald Bolton, known as the “Great and Terrible Oz,” with a complex murder investigation. In the town of Bismuth, Maine, an ancient creature has come calling, and it’s up to Stella and Oz to unravel the myriad secrets of a tight knit (and tight lipped) community…before another head goes rolling and another body falls.

Reviews of Speaker of the Lost:
"I was close enough to the end that I finished the book, but neither Oz nor the story were redeemable for me. There was so much potential in the first chapters.."
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/speaker-lost-clara-coulson/

First pages / excerpts and first chapters of Speaker of the Lost / Lark Nation Series  2 (Clara Coulson):  

Anomaly Series Books (Sandy Williams)

* * * * * *     6/10   10

Volume 1 Book Anomaly (Sandy Williams): Shades of Treason (2015)
Ash would have given her life to save her teammates. Instead, they gave their lives to save hers. Lieutenant Ramie Ashdyn is an anomaly, a person whose genetic makeup makes her stronger and smarter than the average human. She’s pledged her life to protect the Coalition, an alliance of thirteen planetary systems, but when a top secret operation turns bloody, she’s charged with treason and the brutal executions of her teammates. The Coalition needs the information Ash’s team stole on their last mission, so they send in Commander Rhys “Rest in Peace” Rykus to get it. He’s the man who’s responsible for turning Ash into an elite soldier… and he’s a man who isn’t, never was, and never will be in love with the woman he trained. Or so he tells himself. Ash wants nothing more than to clear her name and be the woman her former instructor wants her to be, but the enemy who killed her teammates did more than frame her for treason and murder: they telepathically silenced her mind, preventing her from saying anything that might point to the truth about what happened. Now Ash is trapped and set to be executed, the truth dying with her. Unless she can prove her innocence. But taking that path could destroy the Coalition she’s sworn to preserve and protect…

Reviews of Shades of Treason:
"I highly recommend this start to the new Anomaly series! I was totally absorbed in Shades of Treason the entire time I was reading it. I look forward to what .."
http://goldiloxandthethreeweres.blogspot.com/2015/07/review-and-giveaway-shades-of-treason.html

"Shades of Treason pulls the reader straight into the action without preamble, and I loved that! My first meeting with Ash was realizing she was imprisoned for.."
https://unconventionalbookviews.com/blogtour-review-shades-of-treason-sandy-williams/

"Shades of Treason is a very good start to the Anomaly series. Sandy Williams has given us another wonderful heroine in Ash, and a romance that we hope will co.."
http://www.thereadingcafe.com/tag/shades-of-treason/

"This novel by Sandy Williams gets good to great reviews on Goodreads. Quite honestly, it took me a while to get through it, but I finally finished. The plot b.."
https://pilarsavage.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/shades-of-treason/

"The world Sandy Williams built is fascinating in its futuristic setting. Space ships, foreign planets, new levels of brain washing. The plot is fast paced and.."
https://www.lynforester.com/single-post/2016/09/03/Shades-of-Treason

Volume 2 Book Anomaly (Sandy Williams): Shades of Honor (2016)
She won her freedom. Can she win a war? Commander Rhys Rykus is facing court martial. With his career on the line, he’s ordered to keep his distance from the brainwashed Ash and protect her from afar, but sinister elements threaten her safety. He accepts a new mission that puts them on the same warship, knowing it will take all his self control to fight his feelings for her. Lieutenant Ramie Ashdyn is no stranger to fighting for her life. Still under the influence of the Coalition’s brainwashing, she cares little for her own safety. She merely wants to protect the Coalition… and reconnect with Rykus. Rykus knows how important Ash is to keeping all of them alive, but the target on her back is enormous. Will the growing threat to the Coalition take down Ash and Rip’s only shot at love?

Review of Shades of Honor:
"Sandy Williams does a fantastic job in continuing the flow of this complex world , and she has created some great characters.  Most of all, I love Ash, and he.."
http://www.thereadingcafe.com/shades-of-honor-by-sandy-williams-a-review/

"There's a good underlying mystery, a lot of action, and metric ton of sexual tension. Shades of Honor is a compelling read with a solid sci-fi base and an add.."
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=61612

First pages / excerpts and first chapters of Shades of Honor / Anomaly Series  2 (Sandy Williams):  

Wind and Shadow Series(Casey Matthews)

* * * * *     5/10   10

Volume 1 Wind and Shadow (Casey Matthews): The One Who Eats Monsters (2017)
Long ago, before history broke in half, elder gods exiled the vengeful deity Erynis to a far corner of Earth. When Ryn is found weakened after saving the life of an innocent villager, the U.S. military mistakes the battered immortal for a feral teenager and places her in New Petersburg, a decaying city full of monsters. In her clash with the city’s demons, Ryn is confused by her intense emotional connection with Naomi Bradford, a senator’s daughter she has sworn to protect. But while her claws can kill anything that dies (and a few things that cannot), she must also contend with the human race. They lie, they speak in riddles, and to protect her friend, the immortal must navigate the senseless rules of their flawed civilization. Worse, they are fragile and giving her heart to one makes Ryn afraid for the first time in her eternal life.

Review of The One Who Eats Monsters

First pages / excerpts and first chapters of The One Who Eats Monsters / Wind and Shadow  1 (Casey Matthews):