Category: Review

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Book Review

Becky Wright

THE SIXTH AMULET by M.A. Maddock

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I listened to the Audible Audiobook edition of The Sixth Amulet by M.A. Maddock, which was narrated by J Dallin Taylor. Firstly, the narration is incredible. It’s full and ambient with a whole cast of accents and voices. It’s so well done.

The book is truly epic in every sense of the word. It has an expansive story and is quite lengthy. Readers will need to pay close attention as the plot jumps across different timelines and locations. However, the payoff is well worth it. I must admit that the fantasy genre, particularly epic fantasy, is not my comfort zone, as I often get confused with the numerous character names. But its merits shine through when a book is skilfully written, planned, and thought out. The Sixth Amulet is an excellent example of such a book.

This is the first book in THE SIXTH AMULET series, and I’m eagerly looking forward to immersing myself in the rest. Fans of grand epic adventures similar to GoT and LotR will fall in love with this book and adore it.

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Book Review

Becky Wright

BLACK BEACON by Steve Griffin

Steve Griffin does it again!

It’s 1976, the Christmas it’s snowed, the Christmas evil returned.

We follow Theo and Nat, a couple constantly battling the grief of losing a child; it bubbles just under the surface. Throwback scenes of WWII interlace the here and now as Theo still battles his demons, the ghosts of his past. Until the ghosts are no longer in his head.

Black Beacon is a dark, chilling tale. Although it is set at Christmas, if you love a really good ghost story, don’t let that deter you. I will happily reread this in the middle of summer. This is a story of human nature and how grief, trauma and war can haunt our very bones.

I remember Christmas of ’76, and although this story is ominous and chilling, there were such wonderful details of nostalgia, along with a cast of characters that are real from the first page.

Every time I read a Steve Griffin ghost story, I am flooded with the sensation that it was written just for me. I know, I know, but honestly, Steve is one of my favourite writers, a go-to when I need a good fright. This is highly recommended, and probably my favourite to date.

Available from Amazon.

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Fantasy Book Review

Becky Wright

Mage Quest by Julia Blake.

Buy now in eBook and Paperback from AMAZON

Mage Quest, volume two in the Erinsmore Chronicles, is the perfect sequel to Erinsmore.

It has been six long years since Ruby left Erinsmore, and now she is finally back in the magical land. But Ruby is not alone; someone followed her through the portal, young Finley Smith, nephew to Ruby’s friend Mick, and the only other person who knows of the magic. Once in Erinsmore, Ruby finds that twenty years have passed for her sister Cassie, and Ruby is aunt to twins who are now coming of age. Her niece is headstrong and wilful and one day be queen. But first, she must find her Mage.

Ruby and young Finley join the ‘mage quest’, but is Finley ready for such an adventure that has only existed in fairy tales? There are heroics, battles with dark magic and an evil foe out to conquer Erinsmore.

With a cast of diverse characters, old and new, and three fabulous dragons, they travel through this story, this epic adventure that, along the way, realise that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

Fantasy is not an auto-read for me, but once again, Julia Blake swept me into the pages of this extraordinary adventure. This series is a must if you love medieval-based fantasy, Arthurian legends, dragons, and of course, we must not forget about the pirates!

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Horror Book Review

Becky Wright

THE SUM OF YOUR FLESH by the epic Beverley Lee.

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Here we follow Haven Ford, a man who arrives in a small insular village on a quest to help his friend’s brother. Rafferty Henderson is a boy persecuted for a fate laid by his ancestor. Meredith Evans is returning to her roots to unearth a childhood terror. Their lives entwine, twist, and drown in a chilling tale of secrets and bloodlines.

As ever, Beverley Lee has done it again. There is no doubt of my fandom, but this one was a surprise, even to me. Perhaps this was because I thought I knew what I would find within its page. But with each page turn, each new chapter grew a tale far darker, deeper, and more glorious than I had hoped. The characters are fleshy, complicated and authentic in a setting that feels its own personality, dark, ominous and full of hidden secrets, fear and persecution. I do not easily squirm, but I have to say there were moments of sheer terror here, so brilliantly done but utterly horrifying, with an ending that was both raw and emotional.

Beverley Lee is a master of quiet horror. It is not gratuitous but subtle and sublime. Her words slither under your skin, settle into your bones and inhabit your mind. She finds your inner nightmares and carves them into the story as if it is created just for you.

This will be a book reread; no doubt there will be those sublime lines of prose I missed the first time, and probably my favourite of the author’s standalone novels.

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Book Review

Becky Wright

A must for all Vampire fans of The Making of Gabriel Davenport series and Beguiled by Night.

CRIMSON IS THE NIGHT by Beverley Lee & Nicole Eigener

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CRIMSON IS THE NIGHT is a companion novelette to the incredible worlds created by Beverley Lee and Nicole Eigener. Here, the characters of each, Clove and the boys and Vauquelin, collide in an almost spoiler-free addition to these brilliant vampire worlds.

It’s a quick read by nature, but don’t underestimate the power of that. It’s cleverly done, allowing the reader to glimpse the vampires’ hearts, minds and desires without the distractions of extra plotlines on this one night. It certainly opens a door into a whole world of possibilities, and I sincerely hope the vampires meet again.

Brilliantly crafted, though I would suggest reading the full novels by each author first; The Making of Gabriel Davenport series by Beverley Lee and Beguiled by Night by Nicole Eigener.