I read Edge of the World by Zeece Lugo and enjoyed the story and the characters. I decided to check out more of the story by reading Daniel’s Fork: A Mystery Set in the Daniel’s Fork Universe. Good choice on my part! Please note the disclaimer about the strong sexual content.
Synopsis (from the author): A vicious killer lurks in the dark woods of Daniel’s Fork. Cunning, daring, unrelenting, driven by a powerful obsession, he has killed with impunity for years, evading capture and justice. But now, a new adversary has come to town, and the hunt is on!
In a world without forensics, technology, science, with only the help of the village “witch” and his trusted companions, can William Evers, the new lord of Daniel’s Fork, catch the serial killer that has plagued the village for seven years and save the lovely Susanna from a fate worse than death?
Begin a journey to the future past, to a place 200 years in the future where humanity thrives as it starts over again. Meet Will Evers, the daring, arrogant, handsome new lord of Daniel’s Fork as he endeavors to catch an elusive killer and prove himself a worthy leader. Join his loyal companions and lovers whose only religion is their love for each another. Watch Setiyah, the wise healer, as she endeavors to resist and at the same time, accept, the roguish new lord.
At Daniel’s Fork, you’ll find no zombies, no post-apocalyptic terror, no technology, no religion, no monsters other than the human kind. Earth the way it show more should be. Mankind still driven by passion!
THIS NOVEL CONTAINS SOME STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS AND OTHERS WHO OBJECT TO SUCH CONTENT. THERE ARE TWO CHAPTERS THAT CONTAIN EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME READERS.
What I liked: Zeece Lugo has created a great post-apocalyptic world where technology doesn’t exist. The characters are certainly memorable, and the passion of the characters - and the author are evident throughout the book. The story itself has plenty of twists and turns, intrigue abounds, and the ending very nicely ties up any loose ends. Daniel’s Fork was a very enjoyable read!
What I didn’t like: I don’t have any objections to strong content, and the scenes that contain it in this book are well done, but, at least for me, they didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the book. The graphic description seemed over the top and didn’t add to the story overall.
Overall impression: Daniel’s Fork was an excellent read. Despite my comments above about the sexual content, the book was well-paced, well-written, and filled with the action, intrigue, and romance that keep me interested. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys steamy post-apocalyptic books! Well done Zeece Lugo!
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars) show less
Synopsis (from the author): A vicious killer lurks in the dark woods of Daniel’s Fork. Cunning, daring, unrelenting, driven by a powerful obsession, he has killed with impunity for years, evading capture and justice. But now, a new adversary has come to town, and the hunt is on!
In a world without forensics, technology, science, with only the help of the village “witch” and his trusted companions, can William Evers, the new lord of Daniel’s Fork, catch the serial killer that has plagued the village for seven years and save the lovely Susanna from a fate worse than death?
Begin a journey to the future past, to a place 200 years in the future where humanity thrives as it starts over again. Meet Will Evers, the daring, arrogant, handsome new lord of Daniel’s Fork as he endeavors to catch an elusive killer and prove himself a worthy leader. Join his loyal companions and lovers whose only religion is their love for each another. Watch Setiyah, the wise healer, as she endeavors to resist and at the same time, accept, the roguish new lord.
At Daniel’s Fork, you’ll find no zombies, no post-apocalyptic terror, no technology, no religion, no monsters other than the human kind. Earth the way it show more should be. Mankind still driven by passion!
THIS NOVEL CONTAINS SOME STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS AND OTHERS WHO OBJECT TO SUCH CONTENT. THERE ARE TWO CHAPTERS THAT CONTAIN EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME READERS.
What I liked: Zeece Lugo has created a great post-apocalyptic world where technology doesn’t exist. The characters are certainly memorable, and the passion of the characters - and the author are evident throughout the book. The story itself has plenty of twists and turns, intrigue abounds, and the ending very nicely ties up any loose ends. Daniel’s Fork was a very enjoyable read!
What I didn’t like: I don’t have any objections to strong content, and the scenes that contain it in this book are well done, but, at least for me, they didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the book. The graphic description seemed over the top and didn’t add to the story overall.
Overall impression: Daniel’s Fork was an excellent read. Despite my comments above about the sexual content, the book was well-paced, well-written, and filled with the action, intrigue, and romance that keep me interested. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys steamy post-apocalyptic books! Well done Zeece Lugo!
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars) show less
As with most of my recent reads, I found some buzz about this on social media. I did a little research on Brisingamen (and found it was part of Norse mythology), and I had to read it!
Synopsis (from the author): There is a World not too Far Away ...
Beneath the north sea a land of magic lies undetected. The lives of many are drawn inexorably closer together in a race against time, as both energy companies and evil beings attempt to destroy the magic which is protecting not just this land but all worlds. The unwitting protagonists have no idea of how suddenly and irrevocably their lives are about to change.
It is a race against time to try and recover the lost necklace, Brisingamen, which holds the ancient power of the Goddess Freya, and to prevent the undersea drilling from taking place. Are Aart, Matthias, Gemma and Dirck up to the challenges they now must face?
Here there be Dragons, and all manner of Creatures ...
What I liked: The Battle for Brisingamen was a great concept. Blending current archaeology (Doggerland) and mythology made for an interesting read. The different characters from Norse mythology, the mystery surrounding Gemma, and the cool blending of werewolves and vampires, kept my attention throughout the book. And the introduction of Yggdrasil into the mix capped it off for me!
What I didn’t like: Despite the cool characters, it was a little difficult to keep everyone straight - especially during battles. There were a couple of sex scenes that really show more didn’t seem necessary to the plot, especially between Dirck and Gemma, and the way Dirck adapted to his new circumstances was too pat for me.
Overall impression: The Battle for Brisingamen was a very good read! The story was great, the characters memorable, and the interweaving of mythology and current day was well done. I would recommend this one to fantasy readers and Norse mythology buffs!
My rating: 4 Stars show less
Synopsis (from the author): There is a World not too Far Away ...
Beneath the north sea a land of magic lies undetected. The lives of many are drawn inexorably closer together in a race against time, as both energy companies and evil beings attempt to destroy the magic which is protecting not just this land but all worlds. The unwitting protagonists have no idea of how suddenly and irrevocably their lives are about to change.
It is a race against time to try and recover the lost necklace, Brisingamen, which holds the ancient power of the Goddess Freya, and to prevent the undersea drilling from taking place. Are Aart, Matthias, Gemma and Dirck up to the challenges they now must face?
Here there be Dragons, and all manner of Creatures ...
What I liked: The Battle for Brisingamen was a great concept. Blending current archaeology (Doggerland) and mythology made for an interesting read. The different characters from Norse mythology, the mystery surrounding Gemma, and the cool blending of werewolves and vampires, kept my attention throughout the book. And the introduction of Yggdrasil into the mix capped it off for me!
What I didn’t like: Despite the cool characters, it was a little difficult to keep everyone straight - especially during battles. There were a couple of sex scenes that really show more didn’t seem necessary to the plot, especially between Dirck and Gemma, and the way Dirck adapted to his new circumstances was too pat for me.
Overall impression: The Battle for Brisingamen was a very good read! The story was great, the characters memorable, and the interweaving of mythology and current day was well done. I would recommend this one to fantasy readers and Norse mythology buffs!
My rating: 4 Stars show less
I read the first book of the Tales of Nevaeh, Born to Magic and gave it 5 Stars in my review. When David Wind released The Dark Masters, I had to buy it! Like its predecessor, it was a great read!
Synopsis (from the author): Across the sea, the sorcerers known as the Dark Masters, launch a fleet of ships with tens of thousands of warriors. In Nevaeh, charged with an epic journey, Areenna and Mikaal, armed only with their psychic abilities, their swords and Areenna's bow, must travel to the desolate Frozen Mountains. There, in the unchartered dangerous region, they must discover not just the legends, but the millennia old secret awaiting them in their fight to save Nevaeh from extermination.
What I liked: David Wind has created an interesting future world where women have magic, men have battle skills, and the animals are mutated versions of current creatures. I enjoyed the way our heroes bonded with their animal friends and how the animals shared power and abilities with them. The battle scenes are well done, and I think the Sixes are cool! Interspersed in the story is the growing attraction between Areenna and Mikaal and their battle to keep it at bay. I also liked the overall theme of the battle between good and evil, and the surprising twist in the mountains was a nice touch!
What I didn’t like: About the only criticism I have is I thought more could have been done to explore the people Areenna and Mikaal met as they journeyed to the mountains. I’m sure it will be a show more part of the next book, though, so my questions will be answered!
Overall impression: As with the first book, this was an excellent read! Filled with memorable characters, excellent battle scenes, and intrigue and romance, I would recommend The Dark Masters to any fantasy fan! Well done, David Wind!!
My rating: 5 Stars!! show less
Synopsis (from the author): Across the sea, the sorcerers known as the Dark Masters, launch a fleet of ships with tens of thousands of warriors. In Nevaeh, charged with an epic journey, Areenna and Mikaal, armed only with their psychic abilities, their swords and Areenna's bow, must travel to the desolate Frozen Mountains. There, in the unchartered dangerous region, they must discover not just the legends, but the millennia old secret awaiting them in their fight to save Nevaeh from extermination.
What I liked: David Wind has created an interesting future world where women have magic, men have battle skills, and the animals are mutated versions of current creatures. I enjoyed the way our heroes bonded with their animal friends and how the animals shared power and abilities with them. The battle scenes are well done, and I think the Sixes are cool! Interspersed in the story is the growing attraction between Areenna and Mikaal and their battle to keep it at bay. I also liked the overall theme of the battle between good and evil, and the surprising twist in the mountains was a nice touch!
What I didn’t like: About the only criticism I have is I thought more could have been done to explore the people Areenna and Mikaal met as they journeyed to the mountains. I’m sure it will be a show more part of the next book, though, so my questions will be answered!
Overall impression: As with the first book, this was an excellent read! Filled with memorable characters, excellent battle scenes, and intrigue and romance, I would recommend The Dark Masters to any fantasy fan! Well done, David Wind!!
My rating: 5 Stars!! show less