A sweeping saga spanning decades. The hunt for a treasure worth millions. Part mystery, part history, The Crimson Heirlooms by Hunter Dennis is a tale worthy of the classics writers, a legacy of Hugo, Dickens, and Tolstoy. Spanning the decades between 1776 and 1832, the majority of the story follows Xavier Traversier and Jacob ‘Jake’ […]
Schwartz’s Haunted Charlottesville and Surrounding Counties explores the many haunted locations in the history rich area of Charlottesville and its surrounding counties. In addition to looking at well-known, ‘popular’ spots, many private residences are discussed. This is a territory steeped in the past. From the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, there are numerous structures […]
Stronger than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan is an Asian inspired tale that follows Liang Anlei on her quest to save her village from the ravages of the demonic Ligui. Anlei is one of the few women serving in the Dailan Guard, protecting the village from the nightly predations of the Ligui. When the […]
Medical Paradoxes by Dr Francisco Kerdel-Vegas was quite the interesting read. While definitely geared towards medical professionals, it is readable and enlightening to the layperson. Dr Kerdel-Vegas is Venezuelan, and these paradoxes are oriented towards Venezuelan medicine, though they are applicable to medical practise anywhere. Rather than being cut and dried, the good doctor throws […]
Lesath by AM Kherbash is an X-Files-esque read tinged with elements of Shutter Island, Inception, and the Agent Pendergast series by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. We mostly follow Greg, an unreliable narrator if ever there was one. A drifter who lives in his truck, and hopes to create a career in free-lance writing, Greg […]
Legend by Nicole Conway concludes the Dragonrider Legacy trilogy. It’s time for the final showdown between Maldobar and the invading Tibrans forces leaps by Argonox. As the dragonriders mass at Halfax to protect the capital and the god treasure contained within its walls, they begin to learn the horrific extent to which Argonox is abusing […]
The Embalmer by Anne-Renée Caillé has been translated from its original French. Given the layout, I’m guessing the little vignettes are poem stories, though in English they are more prose. It is the musings of a daughter regarding her father’s job as an embalmer, how he joined those mysterious ranks, and unusual cases he shared. […]
8 Souls by Rachel Rust follows Francesca ‘Chessie’ Carpenter who suffers from recurrent nightmares of a house, sometimes decrepit, sometimes new, but always the same and always beckoning of death. It’s not just any house either. It’s the Villisca Axe Murder House and her grandparents live right across from it. When she ends up being […]
A Fire Story by Brian Fies recounts the effects of the 2017 California wildfires from the perspective of a family that lived it. The Fies’ lost everything. They fled with the fire knocking at their back door. Brian was among the handful who went back and valiantly tried to make a difference. Unfortunately, not even […]
Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is a very abbreviated version of Anne Frank’s story for young readers. Most of the book is taken up by engaging artwork. Like the ‘girl in red’ in Schindler’s List, only Anne’s diary is in colour. I think this is a great touch! […]