An anthology of sixteen brand-new sci-fi and fantasy stories that speak to the darkness and despair that life brings while reminding us that good deedAn anthology of sixteen brand-new sci-fi and fantasy stories that speak to the darkness and despair that life brings while reminding us that good deeds, humor, love, sacrifice, dedication, and following our joy can ignite a light that burns so bright the darkness cannot last.
The Series "Twilight Falls" (Joe Ledger, 10.1) "Heart of Clay" (Dan Shamble, Zombie PI, 6.5??) "Reprise" (Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter, ??) "Asil and the Not-date" (Alpha & Omega, 5.5 and Mercyverse, 17.5) "Zombie Dearest" (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, 26.5)
The Stories Jonathan Maberry's "Twilight Falls"... ...is fascinating — and a little too close to our reality what with bioterrorists. I did love the hopefulness of this tale with those do-gooders! I have got to start reading his Joe Ledger series.
Colonel Joe Ledger (call sign "Outlaw") had been an Airborne Ranger, Bradley "Top" Sims (call sign "Pappy"), and Harvey "Bunny" Rabbit make up Havoc Team. Mr Church is the adult in any room, and he heads up Rogue Team International, which appears to be based in Phoenix House on Omfori Island in Greece. Doc Joan Holliday is the head of the integrated sciences division; Dr William Hu is the former head. Bug is their IT guy. I thinkJake, Wolf, Anderson, Sean, and Rachel are more team members??
Buzz Clark is a Pulitzer-prize-winning photojournalist who provides hot tips. Junie Flynn is Ledger's lover. Jim Peabody hosts a conspiracy theory radio show. Thabo Mahao and Bongani Jiba are part of a team bent on saving the world. Gunter is their resource guy.
Silentium is a bioterrorist group which wants 90% of the world's population gone.
Sharon Shinn's "Not in this Lifetime"... ...was an intriguing mix of fun and confusion in which she keeps trying to change how she dies. Fortunately, the confusion was short-lived, and I did love that twist of an end. I almost cried.
Lili and the heroine are waitresses at Deli-Lishes. Back in 1969, Lili was living with Adam. Armand, Juwan, Sanjay, and Kenny are more employees. And friends. Bill is a customer and a repeat jerk.
Larry Correia's "Mr. Positive, the Eternal Optimist"... ...was too funny, lol, in a very macabre way. You'll be as frustrated as Stanley in trying to understand that mugger, Chris, who simply will not stop. And who is simply fascinated by what Stanley's time period has and doesn't have. ROFL. On a more serious note, Correia takes advantage of Chris' perspective to note how truly lucky we are. It'll make ya think... And yet another happy, very unexpected, ending.
Kacey Ezell's "No Greater Love"... ...is an historical paranormal tale about love in the dead of winter and the choices people will make to save each other. Sweet with yet another unexpected, happy ending.
Griffin Barber's "Broken Son"... ...revolves around Sol Boy, a career criminal sentenced to a space mining camp who is our unreliable narrator. I'm seeing it as a metaphor for how our soldiers are cared for once they can no longer fight for the government.
Kevin J. Anderson's "Heart of Clay"... ...is both sweet and funny and sad. It's also rather silly with some inconsistencies that didn't make sense.
Private Investigator Dan "Beaux" Shamble is a zombie. Robin Deyer is Dan's human lawyer partner at Chambeau & Deyer Investigations. Sheyenne is Dan's ghost girlfriend and his business manager. Alvina is a ten-year-old vampire girl who is either Dan's or McGoo's daughter...they can't decide which. Officer Toby "McGoo" McGoohan with the Unnatural Quarter PD is Dan's best human friend.
Mortimer Dred is the king of the Real Renaissance Faire, a faire that has it all. Talbot & Knowles run a blood bar at the faire where Jim and Don are golem employees. Alice is a dragon who performs and has a gambling problem. Noxius is a gremlin purveyor of sharp objects. Rettop the Cavewight is a potter who also administers first aid. Joe is a murdered golem. Art is the golem leader.
John G. Hartness's "Reprise"... ...has a very noir feel to this tale of demon summoning in a betrayal of those who want to repair the past.
"Sometimes the best of us die to leave us an example ... to pull it into focus."
I get confused over this Renfield-Dracula thing, especially when Hartness talks about uncles and going to see his uncle, Count Dracula, and then he goes to meet Luke. It's a sad tale and yet with a good point about what life is supposed to be.
Quincy Harker is a literal son of the Jonathan Harker in Stoker's 1897 Dracula. So how he's intended to be only 50 years old is beyond me. Count Dracula is Quincy's uncle. Uncle Lucas "Luke" Card is the current holder of the Renfield title and is based in Jersey City, these days. Luke also created the Shadow Council and Quincy is part of it.
Anna Treves had been the first true love of Quincy's life, and she was murdered in France in 1943 by a Nazi colonel. Rosalyn Reismann is Jewish and had had family who died in World War II. Edgar had been a cousin who died in one of the camps. Gerald.
Zippo Guy, Jacob, and Jerry are part of the dark coven attempting to summon Lord Raguel. Hiram and Rosalyn are also part of the coven. Abbadon, formerly known as Muriel who had guarded Eden, and Belial are demons.
Patricia Briggs' "Asil and the Not-date"... ...finds Asil the Moore dealing with a band of pranksters — some Concerned Friends — who have set him up on a not-dating site as a Christmas gift. There are all sorts of rules, and I can see why no one is betting on Asil to fulfill the goal, lol. On this date, there's a rescue with a surprise twist at the end...and you'll end up laughing.
Asil "the Moore" Moreno is a very, very old wolf who specializes in roses. Asil's son rules his old pack in Europe. Mariposa (Cry Wolf, 2) had been Asil's foster daughter who became a black witch. The Marrok is the Alpha wolf for all werewolves in North America.
Tami Reed is a social worker in Spokane and loves her plants. Chris, a cop, is Tami's ex-boyfriend. Joshua is fifteen and lives in his own apartment; his two much younger sisters still live with their mom, Helen.
Aaron Marks was part of that second date, but not damaged by Asil. Carter lives in Billings. Phoebe is in Spokane, loves lilacs, and has a business downtown. Plantophiles is a not-dating site.
Robert E. Hampson's "In the Dust"... ...covers quite a bit of time, introducing us to the two protagonists and whizzing us through their lives in a mass of tell. There sure isn't much in the way of love although there is support.
Winnie "Winn" is a young boy fascinated by history who grows up to become a supervising master machinist at Armstrong Tool and Die...and then much more. Jenny Harriman is the young girl who likes Winnie who grows up to establish an experimental plot, the Garden of Eatin'. Grace and Mary are their children. Her father is an ambitious lawyer. Chris is a contemporary of theirs. Kubric is mayor until Harriman succeeds him. Dr Edwin Aldrin Wright (with three degrees) builds up Wright Fabrication, which becomes the single biggest driver of Armstrong's economy. Melliere Corp does agricultural genetics.
L.E. Modesitt, Jr's "Fallen"... ...is a series of tests: faith versus knowledge, as Estafen drops into different scenarios in which he must argue for knowledge. The arguments for faith are interesting, and thank goodness that Estafen's counterarguments always sound better! It read like a metaphor for our own world, although that second to the last paragraph was kind of spooky.
It's kind of weird with its Go-Captain and Stop-Captain.
Patrick M. Tracy's "Working Conditions"... ...is a weird paranormal and leaves me with questions at the end. It's also a metaphor for our own racist world, as Sam becomes different, which translates into bigotry against him. Delia Castleman owns a convenience store.
M.C. Sumner's "Last Contact"... ...is a science fiction tale that totally bypasses a "first contact". I gotta say this sounds a lot more realistic than most of those first contact stories, especially the way we're destroying our own planet.
What I found most interesting was George's agreeing with Dr Fetherstonhaugh that the aliens showing up at all will cause disruption to earth.
William McCaskey's "Ronin"... ...is a title for Bear, given him by the Sandman. He's meant to champion the child to whom he's given, Emily, and ride her dreams while battling her nightmares. Bear originally belonged to Jason, Emily's father, and without knowing it, Emily helps her father battle his own nightmares. This is so sad and makes me weep, and yet there's that hope again at the end.
Michael Z. Williamson and Jessica Schlenker's "Skjoldmodir"... ...plays off the legend of Grendel and Beowulf, as we follow the female protagonist through her life and her trials as she attempts to raise her disabled son, Grendel.
Monalisa Foster's "Bonds of Love and Duty"... ...is yet another sad tale...with hope at the end. It's a typical government program. Kill off the beings they've used to win their war.
Laurell K. Hamilton's "Zombie Dearest"... ...has a sting in the tail for Anita! Although, I'm not sure what the cannibalism has to do with the ardeur Jean-Claude is speculating about. It's cute that Anita discovers Jean-Claude's need to fuss to deal with stress.
Anita Blake is a US Marshal with the Preternatural Division. She's engaged to Jean-Claude, the vampire Master of the City of St Louis. Belle Morte, the vampire with lust as one of her powers and who created Jean-Claude, is based in Europe. Mary is the daytime receptionist at Animators, Inc where Bert Vaughn is their greedy business manager. Sergeant Zerbrowski is the messy cop who is usually Anita's unofficial partner with the Regional Preternatural Investigation Taskforce. He was there that night at Thomas' gravesite. Katie is Zerbrowski's neat wife. Nicky Murdock, a lionshifter, is one of Anita's bodyguards as well as her Bride.
Herman and Julie Henderson are the parents of Justine who fell in love with Thomas Warrington, a zombie in Dead Ice, 24, two years ago and got pregnant. Harold Ramon works at the crematorium. Robbie Curtis is the creepy buyer.
The Cover and Title The cover is a deep twilight and a lonely road curving into the distance. The sky is filled with stars including a shooting star. The text begins with an info blurb in lime green about the first editor. Below that the two editors (who are also authors) are listed at the top in white. Immediately below it on the left, in a centered stack, is an info blurb promoting two of the short stories within in a combination of royal blue and black. The title is below center in white with an info blurb below that in a lime green that continues into a white font of the more prominent authors with an "and more" following in the lime green.
The title is what every story offers, a Fantastic Hope....more
First in the Dave's Timely Adventures time-traveling science fiction series for middle-grade readers and revolving around a boy who was in an accidentFirst in the Dave's Timely Adventures time-traveling science fiction series for middle-grade readers and revolving around a boy who was in an accident two years ago.
My Take I liked the concept of Kuttner's story, but there were a number of issues I had with it. For one, Kuttner makes the Rounds sound very poor, and yet Mr Round never seems to go to work and Mrs Round is off to get haircuts and manicures on a regular basis. And if the mortgage is so high on this "new" house, why is it in such lousy shape?
Then Kuttner claims that the Rounds moved to a new neighborhood, but it sounds like his school is still the same. When the junkyard lady gives Dave that box, she doesn't give him time to figure out how to open it. Rats? In an oven? What's with the argument between Dave's parents? Kuttner doesn't go anywhere with this. What's with the permission thing for Carl? Dave's mom is supposed to write a letter to the orphanage giving Carl permission to come to dinner?? I'm confused...wouldn't it be more realistic if Dave's mom "invited" Carl to dinner? If Dave was seven when he was recovering from his accident, and he's ten now, how can it only be two years since the accident? There's a day when Jim is not there to teach in the classroom...and their normal teacher shows up to teach?? How is it that Cheeseworth is able to come back to work for one day? I would like to know why it was necessary for the Watch and Illusograph to be delivered in such a roundabout way.
So on a more positive note, Kuttner's approach is perfectly aimed at the younger end of his middle-grade readers, using a lot of tell and not much show with the story told through third person protagonist point-of-view from Dave's perspective, including his crazy encounters with the spoiled young Isaac and the absorbed Franklin.
I'm thinking the action is character-driven — between the good guys trying to save the day and the bad guys trying to change it.
Mr Goldstein uses a lot of Hebrew words, making The Time Portal even more educational for the kids when you add in the school "lectures" about Isaac Newton's, Benjamin Franklin's, and Archimedes' discoveries that changed the future.
I loved Kuttner's description of what Dave had to do to transform himself into the different animals. Very well done. And another great teaching moment.
Those cyborgs are some crazy characters with their hippie perspectives. As for their "contract" disputes with Goldstein, lol, oy vey.
Oooh, ouch. Dave makes use of the Whisperers to eavesdrop on Nikki's conversation with her friends. Good thing his parents are compassionate.
I do like the idea that creativity is power. And remember, it's never too late to change the past.
The Story It's two years since Dave's accident, and his parents are concerned about his getting out and back into society. So when they receive that offer from Uncle Benyamin offering Dave a part-time job at his bookstore, they leap on it.
If only Mr and Mrs Round knew what Dave would be getting into, for, with Benyamin's help, Dave learns that the Ayin Horeh is trying to change the past, and the task of the Guardians of Time is to make sure the past doesn't change.
I don't think this is what the Rounds had in mind...
The Characters Ten-year-old Dave Round lives with his parents (his dad, John, is a salesman) in their new, very shabby house on Dickens Street. Honey is Dave's dog.
Benyamin Goldstein is a distant uncle of Mrs Round's, and he owns Goldstein Books. Romus transforms himself into a huge golden bullmastiff. Haze and Fuse are cyborgs, the keepers of the Time Portal. Jim Lightening Eyes is called this because he was struck by lightning at a young age...so why he's calledLightening is very confusing. Jim becomes a substitute teacher at Dave's school. Leon is an odd creature who tends the wardrobe for time travelers under Goldstein Books. He's quite the colorful character.Rhoda transforms herself into a cat. Condor is a member of Goldstein's cell.
Dave's school Mr Skyland is the headmaster. Mr Liteye will be the substitute teacher for Dave's class; Mr Cheeseworth is their regular teacher. Students in the class include Nikki, on whom Dave has a secret crush; Jason, who is a jerk; and, Sally Turner, who is one of Nikki's friends.
Angela will be Dave's babysitter; she's a new neighbor whose brother plays his car radio way too loud. Anne is the Rounds' next-door neighbor.
Darkmores Orphanage is... ...just up the street from Dave's house. A creepy groundskeeper. The orphans include Zane, who is a bully. Carl Sandberg is the miserable boy Dave meets. Carl's Auntie Carra is his wicked legal guardian. There are mean prefects at the orphanage who keep order and hand out fatigues (punishment jobs); Steinglower is the meanest of them. Miss Pitt is the mean, hunchbacked matron.
Ayin Horeh is a demon, an evil eye that hops from body to body. There are three types who work for it: the Vory act as its servants; the Fixers clean up mistakes; and, the Dark Children, who are a cell of former time-travelers.
The Borstal Brothers have a hauling business. As Fixers for Ayin Horeh, they have unusual skills with bending time. The Dark Children are Heron, Arax, and Bleach.
Raven is the weird lady in the basement.
Isaac Newton discovered gravity. Benjamin Franklin proved electricity; his wife is Deborah. The Wentworth General Store carries spools of silk string. Archimedes discovered how to measure volume.
The Illusograph attaches to your head and allows you to shapeshift. The Whisperers are blue ladybugs that fit into your ears and translate the speech of others as well as act like an encyclopedia. There's an artificial frog, I think Goldstein called it Ahem, that, when swallowed, allows you to speak in different languages. The Createograph measures one's creativity. Branding is an imprint burned onto a person's mind to control them. Ripples are changes in time that could wipe out the human race. Only young people, thirteen and younger, can be Guardians of Time and go through the Time Portal. After their coming of age, they are ex-time-travelers who still work for the Time Protection Agency founded by Ernest Albert.
The Cover and Title The cover is split between the dark blue background of space with its stars and pitted planet on the right and the black of Dave's house, his bedroom window faintly lit, on the left. A cartoon image shows Dave staring in astonishment at his special Comlink and Internet Watch on his wrist, that arm extended in front of him and crossing his chest. At the top is the series information in a wriggly font in white. Below that in a much smaller size is the title in a light royal blue, resting above Dave's brown hair. The author and illustrator information is in white at the bottom, below Dave's arm.
The title introduces the reader and Dave to The Time Portal in this battle to keep the future intact....more
First in the Stealing Time Trilogy science fiction time travel series.
My Take The basic premise of the story was good, but Waters really needs to learnFirst in the Stealing Time Trilogy science fiction time travel series.
My Take The basic premise of the story was good, but Waters really needs to learn about the time period, track continuity, hire a proofreader who understands about words that Waters has confused as well as the poor punctuation, smooth out her sentences, and create some depth to the main story as well as to Steph and Nick's story.
So much of the writing was juvenile. Lord, I wanted to throw the damn thing when Steph and Nick keep seeking "refuge" one to two houses away from this roaring fire. I mean, when a fire is bearing down on you, why would you leave moving out of the threatened house until the last minute? Why would Steph be concentrating on packing her birthday dress, makeup, and jewelry and then claim she's so concerned about her cat, that she doesn't start looking for until the last moment? Stupid people.
And learn the difference between possessive and plural!!
On the plus side, Waters does toss out those cliffhangers: the changing men who don't quite appear to be of this time, the alternative history of the time Ronnie goes back to, and the prediction that Mathias and Ronnie would be together in another time. And those bits of suspense are not enough to encourage me to suffer through book 2....more
A, so far, standalone novel following a group of college professors as they tour the art history of Italy.
I received this story from the publisher, FiA, so far, standalone novel following a group of college professors as they tour the art history of Italy.
I received this story from the publisher, Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC, via Instafreebie.
My Take Dacus uses single third person point-of-view using May’s perspective and focusing primarily on her passion, her fear. About those influences that attack your own sense of rightness, terrifying you into following someone else’s vision of your life.
It will be a fascinating journey, one that I wish Dacus had spent more time on in providing greater depth, showing us what causes this group of tourists to change as they do. We only see May’s and Eva’s interactions, and even those aren’t all that convincing. It’s more tell than anything.
Still, I did fall in love with The Renaissance Club, for Dacus’ turn of phrase, for her poetry (and I hate poetry!??!!), for her insights on art, for the evolutions in art, for those great quotes:
”This was beauty in service of a cruel faith that turned terrible persecution into its symbol of love.”
Dacus’ passion for the Renaissance came through quite clearly and definitely made me want to book my ticket for Italy right now! What Dacus says about Cosimo de Medici’s Library and what Michelangelo introduced in creating it. Wow. And yet more tidbits on the various artists who helped art to evolve, expand. And I had to laugh about “the constant need for entertainments”. Our time doesn’t need all the physical events Bernini speaks of…’cause we got TV and the Internet. Hmmm…
Yep, there’s plenty of bickering amongst the professors, each trying to one-up the other, but a few were much worse. Eva was just plain nasty. She was so angry at everything and so negative about everyone. She simply couldn’t resist tearing at everyone. Darren is another jerk, always aiming for the “correct” political move to make and such a child in his reactions. Wait’ll you read what Darren thinks of the Apollo and Daphne sculpture…oy…
Of course, May turned out to not be a whole lot better. What a weaseling, judgmental woman! She wants to, she’s afraid, she thinks she should stick to the humdrum, she…whine, whine, whine. She makes promises she doesn’t keep. She tries to railroad Darren. Again. As an historian, I can’t believe how quick May was to want to change Bernini’s future. I mean…what the heck?
I gotta say I didn’t buy Eva’s time reactions; I would have expected more skepticism from her. Especially the way she jumped on George for using the present tense in discussing the past. Although, lol, George did have some excellent responses to her snark.
There’s plenty of conflict in this: the years of negativity from May’s parents (and everyone else — she is wimpy); Sandra’s anger at her parents; Darren’s childishness; Eva’s bitching; Norman’s worries about his daughter (and his own wimpiness and planning obsessions); and, Bernini’s own conflicts.
”[Rome] is pure melodrama, meant to intimidate the sinner and bind the believer.”
I did love how supportive Bernini was of May. If only there were more people who could be so upbeat and positive.
”Her head emptied its thoughts into the pillow.”
There’s an interesting conflict in those of the group who see beauty as a lie, mostly due to their own issues, and others who appreciate beauty as truth. There was a fascinating bit from Bernini about “truth resid[ing] in the ideal, not the actual” with May realizing that [Bernini’s] kind of beauty didn’t cheat truth or realism. It heightened it.” How can you not love that?
I absolute DO agree with Eva about how non-painters overcomplicate the art. Sure there are some painters who want to make a statement, but most artists simply need to create whatever image is in their heads.
Then there’s May’s realization about what Bernini uses to “speak of the human condition”. Just beautiful.
Just a couple more niggles... There were a number of sentences that made no sense. I don't know if author/publisher was in a rush or was overtired, but hoo-boy.
I just KNOW Dacus has set this up for a series. And I do hope she writes the next one quickly! ...in spite of all my whining.
The Story May Gold, college adjunct, often dreams about the subject of her master’s thesis — Gianlorenzo Bernini. In her fantasies she’s in his arms, the wildly adored partner of the man who invented the Baroque.
But in reality, May has just landed in Rome with her teaching colleagues and older boyfriend who is paying her way. She yearns to unleash her passion and creative spirit, and when the floor under the gilded dome of St Peter’s basilica rocks under her feet, she gets her chance. Walking through the veil that appears, she finds herself in the year 1624, staring straight into Bernini’s eyes. Their immediate and powerful attraction grows throughout May’s tour of Italy. And as she continues to meet her ethereal partner, even for brief snatches of time, her creativity and confidence blossom. All the doorways to happiness seem blocked for May — all except the shimmering doorway to Bernini’s world.
May has to choose: stay in her safe but stagnant existence, or take a risk. Will May’s adventure in time ruin her life or lead to a magical new one?
The Characters May Gold is the Baroque-loving daughter of documentary makers, parents who are firm believers in fact, not fancy, “crushing [their] daughter’s joy in creating”. She is currently a part-time teacher at the college under threat of a layoff. Dr Darren Perl is a self-obsessed senior professor of history and May’s boyfriend.
Dr George “Giorgio” St. James has always been different, traveling back in time even as a child. These days he is a history scholar who teaches at various universities, leads tour groups, and helps people who have an affinity for the past. Timmy was his best friend in fourth grade. Mrs. Smith had been an angry grade school teacher. Dr Maria Donato is George’s high-speed substitute in Florence. Signora Sciutto is the curator of Palazzo Fondazione in Rome.
The Renaissance Club is… …a group of college professors, their spouses, and friends who take a tour of art and art history in the Italian Renaissance. Norman Wesley is the dean of Mount Antioch College and the club organizer. His wife, Kathleen, organized the trip. Sandra is their angry daughter. Dr Iris is a friend of Kathleen’s and more interested in Italian clothes. Eva Manookian, May’s boss, is the head of the Art and Art History Department, who paints when she’s not teaching. Arthur is her very one-dimensional husband who teaches English literature, heads up the English department, and plays guitar. Rebecca was their daughter who died of cancer three years ago. Rick is head of the Information Technology department and married to the gorgeous Marianna. Becca is the drama instructor; Daphne is her sister. Jake Ismail is a friend and colleague of George’s and currently working at the college.
Vico is the Italian shoe salesman who sweeps Sandra off her feet. Pépé is a fabulous chef. Dr Frank is a therapist Eva has seen before. Brother Leo is with the San Francesco del Deserto in Venice.
Italy, 1624 A sculptor, architect, and playwright, Cavaliere Gianlorenzo Bernini is a Renaissance artist whose ideas ushered in the Baroque era of art. Matteo Bonarelli is Bernini’s newest assistant; Costanza is his wife. Finelli was an amazingly delicate carver and another assistant. Luigi is Bernini’s traitorous brother.
Donna Olimpia Maidalchini was the mistress of Pope Innocent X. Prince Niccolo connives with Bernini. Cardinal Scipione Borghese had been Bernini’s best patron and a friend; his home is now a museum. Giotto was a shepherd who discovered perspective.
Some of George’s historic acquaintances include Solon, Thomas Jefferson, and Zheng who invented pasta.
The Cover and Title The cover is glowing around May’s body, partially submerged in a Venetian canal, her long dark, curly hair descending midway down her back, as she faces away from us, staring into the pink and gold city of Venice, a cloud of butterflies flitting overhead in the dawning sky of pinks, purples, oranges, and yellows. The title is centered just below May’s hair with a text separator beneath with the author’s name beneath that in a distressed olde worlde parchment-textured serif font.
The title is the ongoing conflict, The Renaissance Club tour group of professors and art lovers....more
Second in the MacLeod Family historical paranormal romance science fiction genre series and revolving around members of Jamie MacLeod’s family. (It's Second in the MacLeod Family historical paranormal romance science fiction genre series and revolving around members of Jamie MacLeod’s family. (It's sixth in the combined DePiaget/MacLeod series.) The couple focus is on Alexander Smith and Margaret of Falconberg.
My Take Time travel. I've always thought it would be cool to go far back in the past and then fast forward and see how the earth changes — like a flipbook . . . Alexander certainly thinks time travel would be fun, as he heads for a faery circle for his own adventure.
This was a fun story with some drama and some tension. For the most part, I suspect it would be a good beach read.
The characters are, okay, mellow isn’t the right word. Ralf and a few others are the only bad guys; most of the others are quite honorable.
Margaret is something else. She would fit right in with today’s women. She’s strong. She’s determined. And Alex’s courtship is a treat. He makes some missteps — he is a man and one from the future.
”’Tis my experience that a body cannot come home until his task in the past is finished.”
I do feel for Margaret, as she does not fit in with her time period. Her tenants and vassals are so very uncooperative. As for “Lady” Lydia and her women, jesus, what a bunch of vicious cats.
It helps that Kurland uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Alex’s and Margaret’s perspectives, so we experience everything they think, feel, and experience with a wee touch of global subjective when Lord Odo and a few others react to the moans and groans from Alex and Margaret’s marriage bed — and wait’ll you discover what really causes them *more laughter*.
Alex has a better chance than most at surviving medieval England, as Jamie is his brother-in-law. No one can escape swordplay at the MacLeods. Alex also has a better sensibility about marriage and partnership than any other in medieval England. It’s a shocker for Margaret.
Kurland has Jamie making an interesting point about Jamie’s tie to the gates. It’ll be interesting to see how this theory works out in future stories.
There are a few customs that Kurland has fun with. Medieval bathing was one!? Poor Margaret has to cope with windows, cars, books, TV, stairs, and a modern kitchen — all of which leads to great guilt.
The action keeps moving along and Alex will have some great memories as he witnesses history in the making.
The Story An enemy, Ralf de Brackwald talks Prince John into giving him Margaret of Falconberg as wife. A deal that Margaret will resist with everything in her.
Alex is considering a family, starting one. He was rich, owned half of Jamie’s Lear, and could cook. Still he does hanker after an adventure, in Barbados, where the sun is warm and the women are almost naked . . .
The Characters 1998 Alexander Smith is a lawyer who intended to save the world but became a pirate doing corporate raiding. Beast is his horse. Zachary is Alex’s slob of a brother. Robert Smith, their father, is a pediatrician, and he has three other brothers besides his sister.
Elizabeth, Alex’s sister, is married to Jamie MacLeod (A Dance Through Time, 1), and they have a son, Ian. Patrick MacLeod is Jamie’s younger brother. Jessie had been Jamie’s son in his distant past. Megan had been Jesse’s wife. Joshua MacLeod is Jamie’s minstrel. And good at desserts.
Antony “Tony” DiSalvo is a corporate raider who employed a fresh-faced Alexander Smith. Roddy MacLeod keeps an inn.
1194, medieval England The tall Margaret of Falconberg rules, keeping William of Falconberg’s, her father’s, death secret for ten years. She had three brothers who all died. Because she’s a woman, her peers won’t help her, although she can defeat any in Odo’s tournaments. Which is part of her problem.Sir George, formerly of York, is her captain; Sir Henry of Blythe is his second-in-command. Timothy is her page. The daft Baldric is her bard. Alice and Frances are maids (whom Kurland confuses when we first meet Alice). Master Jacob is a healer. Joel, an orphaned kitchen lad, becomes Alex’s squire. Amery is a toddler who belongs to Brackwald.
The bold Edward of Brackwald encounters Alex out of the time gate. A raider, he helps himself to Margaret’s sheep. The vicious, brutal Ralf de Brackwald, his brother, prefers to attack Margaret with insults and petty thievery. Haslett is a scribe. Sir Walter of Brackwald is a comrade-in-arms of Edward’s.
Lord Odo of Tickhill will hold a tourney. Lydia is his yippy wife. Prince John rules England while King Richard is held for ransom by Leopold. Queen Eleanor is Richard and John’s mother.
The Cover and Title The cover has a pale pink background with a tapestry border at top and bottom, taken from the leafy tapestry with a lion rampant in the center that hangs to the right below the author’s name and to the right of the title, which are both in a script font. The author’s name is at the top in a purplish blue with an info blurb in black to the right. Below her name is a testimonial in black. Below this is the title in the same purplish blue.
The title is what’s in Alex’s and Margaret’s minds, for The Very Thought of You is what drives them....more
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