Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Hitzer

Title: Hoodoo Sea
Author: Rolf Hitzer
ISBN: 978-1604520262
Publisher: BluewaterPress LLC/2009
Pages: 260

Product Description

The government of the United States of America is on the verge of startling the world. Billions of dollars had been invested in its space program . And now, the moment of truth had arrived… Scott Reed is the man for the historic mission. He is the Wing Commander chosen by the elite brass at NASA. The assignment to test flight the first speed of light craft, held top secret, was about to shock the world. The risk? Utter and complete failure. The reward? Being a part of the greatest human accomplishment ever known to mankind. Major James Harrow, second in command of the four person crew, despised his Wing Commander. Harrow was a proud and patriotic American. What was NASA thinking when they selected a Canadian to pilot the voyage? There was no comparison as to who was the better skilled aviator. This was his time, his moment. Major James Harrow was about to prove to everybody they were wrong to bypass him as Commander. The weather conditions were perfect and lift-off for the test flight was text book. The triumphant cheers from Mission Control in Houston were echoed all the way to Cape Canaveral. The silent fear of the first hurdle of the flight had been succumbed. All systems were go! That is, until the crew and SOLT-X1 entered the Bermuda Triangle…

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The Bermuda Triangle has many names: the Devil's Triangle, the Limbo of the Lost, the Twilight Zone. Or, Hoodoo Sea.

And here is where SOLT-X1 supposedly gets lost. Its crew members, which consist of Commander Scott Reed, Second-in Command James Harrow, Flight Engineer Captain Deedee Poulson and the flight doctor Captain John Heintz, first observe that their craft is surrounded by a dense fog, instruments go wonky, with flashes of bright light. And when they finally land, they find themselves in the midst of somewhat primitive people and giant-sized wolves with shiny eyes. Only then the adventure of their lives begins.

Each one of them has the same dream but they don't discuss it with each other. They know they have to find a wayout o of it but can't fathom how. They depend on NASA to find them but NASA has completely lost them. It is novel about survival, adventure and has flashes of paranormal elements. None of the characters are weak. Infact no one shows their fear although all are afraid to be stuck in nowhere land. The place they land is known as LAND.

Evil lurks and tries to take over each one of them. And who succumbs to it is to be seen. With a strong Canadian character Scott Reed and his rival Harrow, the arguments are interesting but never go out of hand. Deedee is one calming influence on all of them.

Anyone who wants to read something different, it has the right amount of scifi, adventure, paranormal and characterization. I also liked the natives of LAND, who have their own compulsions to save the place they live. Well, the ending felt a bit odd and abrupt but for a first novel, Hitzer did quite well.

Thanks to Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours for my copy.

Teaser Tuesdays: Alvor by Laura Bingham

She felt her blood run cold. Every cell in her body froze as this man looked at her even through the invisibility ward. She couldn't take her eyes off of him.
~Page 213


Title: Alvor
Author: Laura Bingham
ISBN: 9781599552729
Publisher: Sweetwater Books/2009
Pages:274


In their summer holidays, fifteen year old Erin and her twin brother Bain come across a cabin in the woods near their home and discover that the cabin contains magic. There they meet fairies, dragons and other creatures like winged horses. Not to forget Butterflies who can speak to them. Both discover their own magical powers and are also taught more powers. On their path of learning new things, they discover that they are being trained to be elves.

The conflict in their mind is whether to leave the present world and join the new magical one. They do leave home and go to that magical place. They learm magic, mind control, sword fighting, dragon riding and so much more. Then Bain disappears and Erin is the one who can find him.

This is YA fantasy novel which will please that age group. Writing is good and the interesting creatures they meet is very well brought out. Erin and Bain share a deep bonding and also Erin and the dragon Pulsar too share something rare. They can commune through their minds. Both the siblings have what it takes to learn new things. There is evil shown too, without which the novel would have dragged. Initially I too felt there is so much goodness that it starts to wan! And a litle more adventure wouldn't have come amiss. I think girls will like it more than boys. My copy goes to the first kid who speaks out for fantasy fiction.

T'Aragam by Jack W. Regan

Title: T'Aragam
Author: Jack W. Regan
ISBN: 9781442114593
Publisher: Sweatshoppe Publications/2009
Pages: 286

Max Ransome, a 13-year-old, all of a sudden is left alone when his father is killed by the evil Wizard Zadok, who wants to control T'Aragam. Max barely excapes with his own life and is plunged into a series of adventure, which he doesn't really wish for.

Somehow he knows, he has to save T'Aragam from Zadoc and his evil workers, the phantors taking over. And he also knows he can't do it alone. He finds friends in the form of weird characters who are only too eager to help him. A Medgekin named Gramkin, two monsters Gloom and Doom and also an equuraptor who is named Dresden. These are all there when he needs them. They save his life at many points. Then there is Lord Stench, who too is evil, Captain Baggywrinkle, a mercernary...they are make the novel interesting.

With wit and humour, it really moves forward rather well. Max shows character and grow up fast too, taking the leadership of T'Aragam in his hands in no time. This book is targeted for 9-13 year olds. So it does work for that age group. However, I thought it needed more adventure and Max needed some magical powers.

Thanks to the Author, for the copy!

The Wolves' Keeper Legend by Sylvia Weber

Title: The Wolves' Keeper Legend
Author: Sylvia Weber
ISBN: 8781843864998
Publisher: Vanguard Press/2009
Pages: 238

Book Blurb:

From the beginning of time, it seemed that rivalry between man and wolf was at the root of man’s dislike for the animal, discovered only too well by Sealgair. Was his fate forever to be condemned to isolation, to see terror and hate in the eyes of the ones he once loved? All he could see in his mind was the last picture of Awena’s beloved face, which he carried in his heart for all his life.

Was the only way out to discover the special secret held by the papyrus-pearl in the stone pot - what secrets could this hold? And which stone pot could keep that precious secret when there were so many of them?

Seanns’ quest to find the pearls and uncover the secret ended with tragic consequences, resulting in him not only discovering the truth of his birth and who his real mother and father were, but the realisation that his father lived among the wolves.

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It took me a while to get into the book. It began in a narrative style, which was hard to fathom at times. However after 50 pages, the book bgan to grow into me. It is about a boy Seann's who does not understand what makes him love those wolves or why does he like Awena, a woman, who is lost in her own world and cannot recognise anyone. He feels love for her as much as he does for his own mother. He knows she is in some kind of a inner prison and he longs to release her. He along with his friend and an old shephard undergoes that journey, which is dangerous but has to be undertaken.

His affinity for wolves is revealed to him but it shocks him so. For all his 13 years, he comes to possess a wisdom, which isn't understood by most. This novel is written with fantasy elements. And is very atmoshpheric too at times. It does drag at times but the magic of the book manages to hold it to a certain extent. I expected a better ending but under the circumstances, it does make sense. One can't help love Seann's, Maise, and Awena.

The evil magician keeps Awena and Sealgair separate but he too can't get Awena's love. Love can't be forced. It has to be given out of own's free will. And it can't be killed either no matter what. The wolves might be the enemies of men but they too know which human is to be trusted.

Received this book via Pump Up Your Book Promotion’s July Authors on Virtual Book Tour. Thanks Tracee!

Death's Daugther by Amber Benson

Title: Death's Daughter
Author: Amber Benson
ISBN: 9780441016945
Publisher: Ace Books/2009
Pages: 359

Book Blurb:

Calliope Reaper-Jones so just wanted a normal life: buying designer shoes on sale, dating guys from Craig’s List, web-surfing for organic dim-sum for her boss...

But when her father—who happens to be Death himself—is kidnapped, and the Devil’s Protege embarks on a hostile takeover of the family business, Death, Inc., Callie returns home to assume the CEO mantle— only to discover she must complete three nearly impossible tasks in the realm of the afterlife first.

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Taking that book blurb, it ought have made a good read. but somehow the heroine did nothing to help the reader. Calliope is an empty headed female, who is more into goofing than anything else. She is given responsibility but she thinks everything is funny. Under no circumstances she gets serious. Then we see her being attracted to any male. One moment she starves for them, next moment hating them.

At evey page I wished for the heroine to get serious but she doesn't. Runt, the pup is the only redeeming feature of this book. The concept is good, fantasy, religion, mythology all have been taken into the story line. It starts well but goes kaput because of the airhead heroine. She is an immortal yet she doesn't know how to take care of herself or does nothing to save her skin. The devil's son and Indra along with Kali protect her at every step. I wish they hadn't. She deserved to do it under her own steam and maybe it would taught her to be serious.

And I had predicted the evil persona right in the middle. Not much of a novel, this! At least not for me! I took a while to finish this.

TSS: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Digging graves is a hell on a manicure, but I was taught good vampires clean up after every meal.


Title: Red-Headed Stepchild
Author: Jaye Wells
ISBN: 9780316037761
Publisher: Orbit/2009
Pages: 328

Usually I don't go in for vampire stories. However, the title and cover had attracted me, I asked for the book from Jaye Wells, and she was kind enough to send it to me.

Sabina Kane is a half-vampire, half-mage, who has been brought up by the vampire side of her family. Her grandmother has made sure that nothing of a Mage is remembered and left in her. She has been trained as an assassin and is forced to kill one of her best friends David, to show her loyalty.

When she is given a very complex mission, threatening for both the Vampire and the Mage races, she is made to face some hard facts about herself. She finds herself in the midst of shocking revelations, which destroys everything she had believed in. She does not know whom to trust and whom to turn to. The fine line between right and wrong is suddenly blurred for her. Had she always been deceived about her legacy? Why is she an outcast in the eyes of her grandmother?

Red-Headed Stepchild has a few interesting characters. I especially liked Gighul, the demon, who turns up at Sabina's doorstep and is unable to go back. In a freak act of magic, Sabina turns him into a hairless cat. He is sarcastic, witty and churlish. But he is very lovable too. Imagine a cat, who is hairless and is forced to wear sweaters and four booties knitted by Vinca, the faery. She is bubbly, too bubbly for Sabina's taste and Sabina is forced to share accommodation with her.

Clovis, half-Demon, half Vampire wants to rule the world and Sabina feels strong sttraction for him. Then there is Adam, a Mage who tells about her Mage half of her family. How can one forget Sabina's grandmother, who is totally unlovable.

Red-Headed Stepchild is a breezy book which I read at one go. Vampire lovers will adore this book. Wells has left a lot of scope for sequels. I liked the bantering, the dark humour and all that blood drinking. Go figure!

And can anyone recommend a few Vampire Novels? Sans porn...

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Inspired by the book, I wrote and posted the the following poem on my other blog, rooted:

there was a piercing pain
everything went blank
when I came around
I found myself sprawled
on that cold earth,
in a bloody mess
my dignity in shreds
(arrow still stuck in my chest)

was I seeing things?
cat wearing a sweater
with four booties?
unblinking yellow eyes
staring at me
purring sensually
it darted towards me
and pulled out the arrow

(I cried out with pain)
in no time it licked it clean
that forked tongue
was a dead giveaway
when it talked back
I was doubly sure
my long lost demon
had come back to me

he shed his sweater
showed me his hairless form
a magic gone wrong
he gotta live with it
a faery gave him a sweater
and knitted him booties
first I laughed
then I hugged him

as a vampire myself
I had no complaints
I felt a happy tingle
went into a trance
when my cat bit hard
blood dried itself out,
both our powers had returned
healing my wounds

Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers

"Molly? Where is my Molly?"

Title: Angel of Wrath
Author: Bill Myers
ISBN: 9780446698009
Publisher: Faith Words/2009
pages: 316

Charlie Madison, an ex-special Ops agent, Lisa, a ex FBI agent and Jazmin, Chalie's 13 year old deaf niece get somehow embroiled in finding out a serial killer, who is killing all those who he thinks are unforgiving 'Sinners'.

A few teens are indulging in Satanic practices in the deeep mountains. They want Jesus and Satan to come together. And uknowing release a terrifyingly unknown entity in to the world. That creature known as Mothman, attacks its victim via memories. When the serial killer and the creature come together, all hell is broken lose.

It becomes imperative for Charlie, Lisa and Jaz to get into the bottom of all this. Lisa's father too is one of the marked victim, as is Lisa herself. Her brother Thomas, is taken as one of the suspects.

It is the the eternal tale of Goodness versus Evil. And sometimes the line between the two gets smudged. It might have been pegged as Christian fiction but I think it works well as a fantasy novel. YA readers will like it, if they don't think much of the Christian elements. Being a good human being is more important than following any religion, and its dictates religiously. Thats what I infer from what I read.

It was released on 8th April, the day I started reading the ARC, which I won in a giveaway!

A Walk to the Hills of the Dreamtime by James Vance Marshall

Title: A Walk to the Hills of the Dreamtime
Author: James Vance Marshall
ISBN: 0688010091
Publisher: William Morrow/1970
Pages: 160

Two children, Sarah, 14, and her brother Joey, 11 are lost in the deserts of outback Australia. They are looking out at ways of survival. A tribe of Aborigines arrive out of nowhere and just take those children into their protection. The children have been brought up in a missinary and have been taught to be good Christians. And the Aborigines follow the faith they have been following from time immemorial.

Nature shows its perils yet the children nor the Aborigines give up hope, following, invoking God in their own ways. The cultures might be divided but hope remains same.

Sarah discovers that cultural differences are not what they seem. Both have the same ends. Both teach love, hope, belief. How can a different faith be wrong? That gives her power to save the people. She also teaches love to everyone who has been in touch with her.

If only we understood this, our world would be better place to live. That no religion is above the others. And all religion teach love. This fable may seem simple but gives us a profound message.

The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel

Zeke's tree would not speak to him.

"Are you sure you've got the right tree?" Ariel asked when he told her. "Maybe you've been hearing another one nearby that got tired of the confusion and gave up."

Title: The Farwalker's Quest
Author: Joni Sensel
ISBN: 9781599902722
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's books/2009
Pages: 387

Zeke and Ariel, twelve years old are out chasing polliwogs in the creek in their lunchtime. That's when Zeke discovers that his tree won't talk to him. Ariel, who was never one cowed down by anything goes back to the tree to force it to speak to Zeke. Thats when they discover a dart with 13 weird symbols. They recognise a few of the symbols for each of the trades it represents but the last one is unfathomable.

Namingfest is three days away, on Apirl first where one can know what trade one wants to apprentice for. Ariel is the daughter of a Healtouch, and wishes to be one as she recognises medicinal plants and has a healiing touch. Zeke is the son of a tree-singer and wishes to be one himself.

That particular dart is given to the Storian of the village for safe-keeping but two finders turn up to claim it. They also want to take away Ariel along with them, recognising her for what she is, but they are not keen to reveal it to her as yet. Ariel fails her namingfest and wishes to be away too. Luna, Ariel's mother is not keen to send her daughter with two strangers to a far away place.

Scarl and Elbert steal Ariel away and kill her mother. They keep her tied and trussed up, taking her to some unknown place. Soon after Zeke follows and rescues her. Both bolt from the captives, finding new adventures on their way. Somehow Ariel knows exactly where to go and Zeke finds that rocks speak to him. It turns out that Ariel is a Farwalker.

Scarl and Elbert catch up with them and Scarl turns out to a protector of the children. They undergo the path of the dart, wanting to find out the Vault that is somehow mentioned in it. When they do, it is a revelation for the children and Scarl too. The treasure is not of Gold but wisdom, the art of living, which was lost in the disease which swept the Earth blinding everyone. People found their eyes-sight but lost everything else.

Despite the violence, I liked the book. The fantasy element is more like in the dreams or as an ESP. This makes it more realistic. Some questions are left unanswered. Maybe, Sensel wants to write sequels. It sure makes a good read for 11-13 years olds. My ARC goes to my 12 year old nephew.

Also reviewed by

CB James

Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

The Day I laid Robert Morgan to rest was remarkable for two reasons. First, even though it was August, the sky overhead was as rough and cold as January lake; and second, it was the day I started to shrink.

Title: Little Giant of Aberdeen County
Author: Tiffany Baker
ISBN: 9780446194204
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/2009
Pages: 341

It is a novel about Truly Plaice who is of enormous proportions. It is assumed that her mother died giving birth to this giant of a child. Her elder sister Serena Jane is petite and beautiful. Their father does not know how to care for his daughters. Truly outgrows all her clothes and hence is made to wear men's clothing.

When their father dies, both the sisters get separated. Serena Jane is taken by a well known family and Truly paced in the care of a family who is looked down upon by the villagers.

When Serena marries Bob Bob Morgan, Truly is left behind and forgotten. But fate has something else in store for her. Bob Morgan turns to Truly when Serena disappears from his life. There she finds something which changes her life to a great extent. She gets hold of the Shadow book of All cures written by Tabitha, the witch-wife of the very first doctor of Aberdeen. How that knowledge changes her destiny and all those who are close to her?

Truly finds her place in the village, her size does not bother her anymore and she finds love despite her size. Truly lives her life with dignity, is very lovable and has that wit about her which is very sweet. This book has a happy ending, almost magical..

The Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard

The path home was overrun with weeds and hanging vines. Norman hiked through the mess as best as he could, slapping the mosquito against his neck as he tried to keep his fishing pole from tangling in the park's tall grass.

Title: The Suicide Collectors
Author: David Oppegaard
ISBN: 9780312381103
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/2008
Pages: 294
Rating: 5/5

The Suicide Collectors is another of my best reads of 2009. It is a book which is difficult to review. Or to put a genre to it. After a while, I simply gave in and went with the flow.

There is something like Despair which has plagued the Earth for some years now. This has resulted in mass suicides. And as soon as there is a suicide, a shadowy group arrives from nowhere to collect the bodies.

There are only a handful of people who wish to remain alive, not to give in no matter what. It is a lone fight for them. They are out numbered by the shadowy group of suicide collectors. Norman is one such person, who stands up against the Suicide Collectors. He does not allow them to take his wife's body. He even ends up marking one of the Collectors. Norman, along with his elderly neighbour Pops, leaves on journey across North America. They get to know that a scientist is trying to find out a cure against the Despair.

On their way, they meet a young girl, Zero, both whose parents committed suicide. As she has no one, they take her along. Norman tries to make the best of the situation. He knows that the girl has to go on living no matter what.

This novel somehow reminded me of The Road by Cormac McCarthy although there is not much common in here. It is terrifying, very stark, bleak and scary at places. In the sense that it can become a reality. Despair can hit us at any time and giving into it is going to be easy. To fight against it, is hard. This novel has surprises, twists, turns and is powerful. I would call it gloriously creepy. The prose is wonderfully flowing and very gripping. A book to read, to think about and revisit, if possible.

Thanks David, for sending me the novel. The title as well as the cover pulled me in. For good.

Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey

For six hundred years Pendragon kings and queens ruled Wilde Islands, though none in England recognised their lineage. King Arthur's younger sister, Evaine, was the first queen of the Isle.


Title: Dragon's Keep
Author: Janet Lee Carey
ISBN: 978-0152064013
Publisher:Magic Carpet Books/2008
Pages: 320 pages

It has been prophesized that the twenty first queen of Wilde Isle would redeem the name Pendragon bringing peace and prosprity.

In Wilde Island, a princess Rosalind is born after many obstacles, to the queen. She is a beautiful princess but with a flaw. She has a dragon's claw as one her fingers. Her mother, the queen keeps it always hidden with a pair of golden gloves. She herself wears another pair to give company to the princess. And anyone who has seen the clawed hand dies mysteriously.

The queen is very protective of her only child. She tries various cure for the girl, always failing in her efforts. Wilde Island is always getting attacked by Dragons. And Rosalind gets kidnaped by a dragon one day. The only thing that saves her from becoming the dragon's meal is her dragon clawed finger. The dragon thinks it is the only beautiful thing about her. However, the dragon makes her toil looking after his children. In their midst, she has nothing to hide. She accepts herself, flaws and all. She also learns what a parents love is towards ones children. Rosalind finds love and she also finds peace for her people. As prophesized. And it is her flaw, that saves pendragon.

In this book, we read another aspect of dragons, that they can be gentle and good too. With a sense of fairness. Human beings are flawed in their thinking but Dragons accept each living being with flaws and all.

Dragon's claw is a simple enough tale with simple words. At places I found the language not really upto the mark. Not that it had to be literary masterpiece. It is book which young readers would enjoy.

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

Death disturbed the night. The Sound of squeaking wheels grew louder, as did the clicking of horse hooves scraping across cobbelstones.

Title: Aurelia
Author: Anne Osterlund
ISBN: 9780142405796
Publisher: Speak/2008
Pages: 246

Aurelia is a princess who is next in line of throne. The King discovers that someone is trying to kill his daughter. He does not tell his daughter about the assassination attempts. Robert, a former classmate of Aurelia is assigned the job of unearthing the plot and people behind it. He has a tough job as he can't talk about it to the princess.

At every step Aurelia tries to escape the palace at one guise or other. She is more a commoner than a princess. She wants to know the problems of her kingdom. The people have been rendered poor because of more and more taxes levied by the King. The King has to do it to please his second wife, Elise's extravagancy. Aurelia is against it but she can't do any thing about it unless she inherits the throne. And she has to find a nobel person to marry too. She is not keen on marrying anyone her father choses for her.

So for so good. The starting is good, the premise is what really made me want to read it. Who really wants her dead? The people of her kingdom love her dearly. Only someone who is closer and gains by her death can wish for her death. Who is it? Robert does unearth it all. However, the king is not ready for any scandal and he wants Aurelia to keep quiet about the whole thing. This is what completely weakened the story. How can someone who wants her dead go scotfree? What compulsion does the king have to save that person? Most important, why does Aurelia simply give in? She is brave, with so much of wit and guts. So why? I found the ending so very wanting. I would have thought Aurelia to rise above it all. Rebel against her father's wishes and reveal the culprit for all. But....