Book Review: The Iron Children by Rebecca Fraimow

Title: The Iron Children

Author: Rebecca Fraimow
Genre: Science Fiction - Fantasy 
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781786189882
Read: January 28-29, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: Asher has been training her entire life to become a Sor-Commander. One day, she'll give her soul to the gilded, mechanical body of the Sor and become a commander to a battalion of Dedicates. These soldiers, encased in exoskeletons, with extra arms, and telepathic subordination to the Sor-Commanders, are the only thing that's kept the much larger Levastani army of conquest at bay for decades. 

But while on a training journey, Asher and her party are attacked, and her commander is incapacitated, leaving her alone to lead the unit across a bitterly cold, unstable mountain. Worse, one of the Dedicates is not what they seem: a spy for the enemy, with their own reasons to hate their mechanical body and the people who put them in it. 

To get off the mountain alive, Asher and her unit will need to decide how much they're willing to sacrifice -- and what for.

Review: The Iron Children is hard to categorize as a story. It's definitely a novella in length--less that 200 pages--and outstanding in the world building. It's part fantasy, part science fiction, part religious commentary, and all fascinating. 

I was blown away by Rebecca Fraimow's mastery of story craft. In the space of roughly half the length of most novels, Rebecca creates relatable characters, a complex world, high-stakes conflict, an established military hierarchy, and a complicated belief system. I've read (and enjoyed) novels with more pages and less substance that The Iron Children. Seriously, my hat's off to Fraimow.

Told in alternative points of view, the reader is given insight into the world via Asher, a Sor-Commander novice; Barghest, a Dedicate sergeant; and the unnamed spy among the troops. Asher and Barghest's points of view are written third person while the spy's is written as first person. This is a clever writing choice because it keeps the reader questioning the spy's identity and building suspense until the pivotal "big reveal." 

Overall, The Iron Children is an outstanding addition to both the science fiction and fantasy genres and is worth a read by anyone who enjoys blurring the lines between these genres.

Book Review: Taming Flame by Therisa Peimer

Title: Taming Flame

Author: Therisa Peimer
Genre: Science Fiction - Romance
Publisher: FriesenPress - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: July 15, 2022
ISBN: 9781039125629
Read: January 25-27, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher:  Flaminius's days of bouncing between beds are snatched away the instant he sets eyes on his perfect genetic match, Aurelia. Suddenly, the tedious task of claiming his rightful place on the Arkhnuetian throne doesn't seem as daunting with his whip-smart wife by his side. But it's not like Aurelia had a choice; Flaminius is the only soul she can reproduce with, and she's not about to play a role in her people's extinction. 

After a swift wedding and passionate honeymoon, an assassination attempt plummets the lovers back into the reality of ruling. Fueled by their indomitable matched hormones and fierce loyalty to each other, together they must evade his mother's Machiavellian schemes, hunt down the mysterious cause of death plaguing the match making Keys, and protect their people from a violent supremacist cult, the Oradagra. But it turns out the greatest threat to their existence is something neither of them could have seen coming, and it's a race against time to save the entire Arkhnuetian planet.

Review: I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. Science fiction is a genre I've loved since childhood, and while romance can often overpower a lot of scifi, Taming Flame had a decent balance between the two. However, the book is split into two parts with the first part of the book being the more intriguing portion. The second half just fell short, and I can't even really explain why except to say it felt as though one book should've been two. Perhaps if the author had divide the story into more than a single book, I would've like it more. 

The relationship between Flame and Aurelia is interesting. On the planet Arkhnuet, people are genetically matched with their perfect mate. When Flame and Aurelia are matched, a whole lot of political ramifications come into play. Flame is the heir to the throne, even though he's not keen on the idea of taking over as ruler, and Aurelia is "low born," meaning she's not from any of the aristocratic families Flame's mother had hoped (planned) for her future successor's origins. Even though the chemistry between Flame and Aurelia is undeniable, they have issues. Oh, man, do they have Issues. But, that's par for the course with any romance: the push and pull of attraction versus forces that seek to tear them apart. 

Then there is the political and religious matters. Arkhnuetians use Keys, women with the power to ascertain who is genetically compatible through the use of psychic abilities, and when they start mysteriously dying, all of Arkhnuetian society is in jeopardy. Throw in a zealous supremacist cult and Flame's mother's scheming then you get a broadly arcing narrative that at times detracts from the central point: The deaths of the Keys. Or is it Flame and Aurelia's relationship? Or is it really the cult's resurgence? Maybe the mother's desire to remain in power? Honestly, I'm no longer certain what the central plot was anymore. 

The book is well-written and the world building is great. If only the author hadn't tried to pack quite so much into a single book, then, as I said, I might have liked this a lot more.

Book Review: The Boy Who Fell From The Past by Truant D. Memphis

Title: The Boy Who Fell From The Past

Author: Truant D. Memphis
Genre: Young Adult - Science Fiction - Time Travel
Publisher:  TDM, Ink - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
ISBN: 9798986893907
Read: January 19-22, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: A passage. This story is a passage. A chapter from my earliest adventures. A moment in time recounting the first time I traveled through time...or something like that. I may have been dimension hopping. We're still not certain. Anyway, I share this with you because it was also the first time (time, time, time...) I met Ezekiel and Jacob Trate, or any other member of the Trate family. I share this with you because it was the first time I met Frank. I share this with you because the whole deal was a portal full of fun (you'll get this joke once you start reading). 

Anyway, open up and come on in. Let me introduce you to these folks. Believe it or not, they've likely saved your life at some point. They definitely saved mine. 

I hope you enjoy our story.

Review: Truant Memphis is both the author and the protagonist of The Boy Who Fell From The Past, in much the same way as Pittacus Lore is the author of the Lorien book series. Yeah, it's all very meta. 

The book is part diary, part science fiction time travel adventure, part metaphysical mind trip. Starting with a literal splash as Truant the Protagonist finds himself in an unnamed body of water, the story goes from strange to weird to psychedelic mind tripping philosophic discussions in the span of 116 pages. 

I don't mind weird stories. In fact, I love them, and this is a decent speculative fiction offering. However, the Author (and I mean the physical person who wrote the book and not their fictional alter-ego) makes liberal use of parenthetical asides that become repetitive to the point of annoyance. Despite this not so charming quirk, the premise of the world in which the story is set in intriguing.

It's the year 3023. The United States is no longer a country, the landscape has changed drastically, and there's a child prophet somewhere out there. Truant finds himself in the company of a father and son duo, the Trates, as they make their way to the last truly free place on Earth. Let the adventures begin!

Overall, The Boy Who Fell From The Past is a quick read, if you can get past some of the more annoying author side comments, and when viewed as speculative fiction, it's a decent futuristic romp. 

Book Review: Into the Well by Bobbie R. Byrd

 

Title: Into the Well (Warlock Chronicles, Book 2)

Author: Bobbie R. Byrd
Genre: Science Fiction with Fantasy Elements
Publisher: Dragoncrest Publishing, LLC - Copyright 2021
Publication Date: September 8, 2021
Read: October 23-29, 2022
Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. All opinions are my own.

Trigger Warning: This book contains references to sexual assault, violence, and slavery.

Synopsis from Publisher: The Well is forbidden space. Dangerous, deadly, unpredictable, unforgiving. 

A forgotten planet. Dark secrets buried for millennia in dark magic. 

Not for much longer... 

INTO the WELL continues the treacherous journey of Bryanna D'Isaac, the warlock known as Lady Silver, and Admiral Devon Bastion deep into the Well in search of the lost homeworld of their ancestors. Convoluted space-time, dimensional rifts, and festering conflict brought the Cataclysm that took humans and warlocks to the brink of extinction millennia ago. 

History is about to repeat itself.

Review: Into the Well by Bobbie R. Byrd has been sitting on my To-Be-Read shelf for over a year. Not because I had no interest in continuing the story of Bryanna and Devon from the first Warlock Chronicles installment, Lady Silver, but because as often happens with readers/reviewers, I was distracted by other books. Some good. Some not so good. Some that made me question my life choices. And some that were life changing. Into the Well falls solidly in the "Very good" category.

As with the first book, there are some issues with minor typos, formatting (at least in the paperback copy I read--some of the pages had faded print that made reading a little challenging), and truly hardcore science fiction fans will find some of the science/engineering parlance a bit jarring. (Sticklers for science fiction grounded in science realism, even if theoretical, may want to skip certain bits or read them with a grain of salt.) The fantasy element dealing with the Warlocks and their magic is solid, however. The budding romance between Bryanna and Devon is in full swing, and the android T'Laan steals the scene more than once throughout the book. Overall, Into the Well is a nearly perfect compliment to Lady Silver.

While the ending of the book suggests there will be at least one more installment in the series, I've found no mention of the title or an estimated date of publication. I hope Byrd continues The Warlock Chronicles and continues expanding the unique worlds she has created.

Book Review: Isolated Futures (Omnibus) by Koen Martens

 

Title: Isolated Futures (Omnibus)

Author: Koen Martens
Genre: Science Fiction - Dystopian Futures
Publisher: Self-published - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: March 18, 2022
Read: September 20-26, 2022
Disclaimer: Author requested a review and sent a free paperback copy. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: If you’re a fan of thought-provoking sci-fi cyberpunk technothrillers like The Passengers and Black Mirror, then Koen Martens’ sci-fi anthology is your perfect next read! 

Story 1 - Forced to be Free: Sam, a young hacker with anger management issues, has joined

a defense initiative against the advancing Russian army set to occupy Europe. When he discovers his boss is working undercover for the enemy, he must thwart his boss and prevent the destruction of the EU’s drone defense network before it’s too late. 

Story 2 - Murder, Plain and Simple: Dr. Jennifer Mendoza is a ship physician on the interstellar luxury cruiser Christopher. When a prominent and wealthy passenger is murdered, she is called to investigate the crime. Can she identify the killer before more people lose their lives? 

Story 3 - Cima Peak: Juan, a naive adolescent growing up in a post-apocalyptic world, embarks on a dangerous excursion that strands him and his friend far from his home. Can they make it back to their base before it’s too late to save the city from incoming slavers? 

Story 4 - Negative Reinforcement: Limei is an independent app developer on an isolated space station. She is utterly dependent on and enamored with her personal AI assistant. When she learns The Algorithm is planning to destroy human life on her ship, she must find a way to take it down before her crew perishes. 

Story 5 - Eddy: Digital forensics expert Lagan has been wrongly convicted of murder, but no one is willing to believe that he witnessed his own doppelgänger commit the crime. When he learns that the doppelgänger was one of many beings created to replace humans with AI-run clones, he must prove his innocence and take down the scheme before more people’s lives are ruined. 

Story 6 - DingDong by Zhumee: When Martin’s new Zhumee smart doorbell accidentally causes his neighbor’s wrongful arrest, he must set out on a quest to prove her innocence. Little does he know, Zhumee has far more control over the justice system than anyone imagined. Can he race against the clock to take down this corrupt system?

Review: Six novellas. A total of 476 pages. Six days to read. Challenge accepted. 

Wow. Where do I start? Koen Martens' omnibus of science fiction dystopian futures offers six different and yet relatable and oddly relevant stories, each one more terrifyingly plausible than the last. I've spent the last three days since finishing Isolated Futures trying to figure out how I would describe the utter fascination, chills, and love I felt reading these novellas and the best I can do is simply.... Wow.

Each story deals with its own future--everything from the near future of Forced to Be Free to the distant future where Earth is merely an afterthought for most humans in Negative Reinforcement--and each delivers a gut punch when the reader realizes just how plausible each future is. 

Forced to Be Free has great pacing and a spy-thriller vibe with questionable characters, murky motives, and an all-too-believable invasion scenario that brings the headlines of today into very sharp focus. 

Murder, Plain and Simple is anything but plain and simple. I loved the distant future world building showcased in this story while the mystery reminded me of Agatha Christie. There's a delicate balance between the clues left for the reader and the final reveal that kept me guessing until the end. (And, for the record, I can usually figure out the Who in Whodunnits fairly quickly.)

Cima Peak has a dystopian survivor scenario, and I'll be honest, it wasn't my favorite story. I thought the tension between the two main characters could be a little tighter and more focused, especially given the high stakes set by the author. Also, I thought the "full circle" events wrapped up a bit too neatly given the story's after-the-fall-of-civilization setting, but overall, it was still a fun read.

Negative Reinforcement is a cautionary tale for the over-dependence on technology our world is already facing. Again, this wasn't my favorite story, mainly because it reminded me of The Matrix in many ways. But, I did like the arc for the main character. It was plausible, and I enjoyed the thought-provoking nature of the plot.

Eddy is a fast-paced collision between James Bond and Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, and I liked it! A lot. Science goes awry and the stakes are high for the protagonist...or is he the antagonist....could he be both? The story has a film-like quality I can easily see translating to the big--or small--screen. This is definitely my second favorite novella in the omnibus.

DingDong by Zhumee is, hands-down, my favorite and not just because its the only story in the bunch to feature a cat! (But, the cat is a delightful bonus.) Another cautionary tale that begs the reader to think about society's reliance on technology, and the vast network of devices we willingly tap into on a daily basis in the name of "security." 

Overall, Isolated Futures is an omnibus well worth reading if you're a lover of dystopian fiction, science fiction, techno thrillers, or just reading in general. Koen Martens states in the preface that he reconnected with his love of writing during the pandemic. I certainly hope he continues to love writing for many years to come because I'm a fan now, and I expect to see a lot more from Martens in the, hopefully, not-so-distant future. 

Book Review: Lady Silver by Bobbie R. Byrd

 

Title: Lady Silver: Warlock Chronicles, Book 1

Author: Bobbie R. Byrd
Genre: Science Fiction with Fantasy Elements
Publisher: Dragoncrest Publising, LLC - Copyright July 2021
Publication Date: July 14, 2021
Read: August 27-September 7, 2021
Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: The multiverse is unraveling. 

When religious zealots resurrect the ancient technology that ripped open the dimensional barrier six thousand years ago, the galaxy faces another coming Cataclysm. 

Warlocks and humans, sister races of the same evolutionary tree, are divided by millennia of enmity and ancient animosity. It will take the magic of the warlocks and the humans’ technology to heal the breach between layers of the multiverse. 

Bryanna D’Isaac is an untrained, untried warlock with powerful magic who only wants to be left alone. Admiral Devon Bastion is career military, renowned for executing warlocks, who harbors secrets of his own. 

Deadly events indicate a derelict area of space called the Well is expanding. The threat of apocalyptic events forces the warlock and the soldier together. By joining forces, Bastion and D’Isaac can save the galaxy—if they don’t kill each other first. 

Can they learn to trust each other before the multiverse collapses?

Review: Lady Silver was an entertaining read. I loved the combination of science fiction and fantasy elements with humans using technology and warlocks using magic. The main characters, Bryanna D'Isaac and Devon Bastion, were a good match for one another in strengths and weakness, and even had a little romantic spark that may flame up in the second book. 

There were a few times when I thought the author could've slowed down just a tad and provided more world building elements, such as explaining The Flow--the mystical aetheric realms from which warlocks draw their power--a little more and how warlocks are able to manipulate their bonded realms. The universe of Lady Silver is unique, and I really wanted to feel immersed in it--and I did--but there were a few times when I felt the boundaries could've been pushed a little further with regards to setting the scene or character insight. 

Overall, I greatly enjoyed reading Lady Silver and can't wait to see what happens in the next book.