Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
The Emblem Throne: The Runes of Issalia, Book II by Jeffrey L Kohanek (Book Review #101)
This review was kindly requested by the author, Jeffrey Kohanek
This is the second book of the series. If you wish to read the review of the first book, then you can find it here.
We journey back with Brock and his friends to the Academy. He is in training and discovers some unwelcoming truth about the whole organization including conspiracies and lies within the ministry itself.
Previously we learned that Brock was stuck in a world where an individual’s self-worth was categorized and classed based on runes. His dying aunt informed him about a guy named Alonza. He marked Brock as a member of the empires ruling class and created a fake tattoo for him.
Brock and his friends now have to go on a quest in finding a throne that has been lost for many years. This time round, they have to save humanity and all they have is words from an ancient prophecy and a kind of magic that they can barely wield.
Every scene is written with precision, and you can easily vision the imagery of this book. From The Chaos, The Unchosen and The Banished Horde to the romance, adventures, action and magic, this book does not disappoint.
If I had not read the first book, I still would have been able to pick up from book two. The Runes of Issalia, allows you to read more into Brock’s friends, Cameron, Benny, Ashland and their families. There is sufficient additional backstory for the next book, and that was justifiably executed in a well-plotted script. Although the whole notion of the battles, drama, love and loss they encountered was all for the right reasons, I found the ending to be even better than the first book.
As a reader, I would say just to buy all three books at one time because once you read the first; you really want to know the rest. I also appreciate the penmanship of this author and do find his work interesting. I recommend this book to everyone that likes a bit of magic and in their life.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The Banned Book by Scott Hughes
[The Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of The Banned Book by Scott Hughes]
This is by far, the most misunderstood book and subsequently misjudged author, I have ever come a crossed with.
It begins with giving details on a man named Brock Turner. He is a famous fast swimmer that has been convicted of three sexual related felonies. Brock also only received a few months of jail time for his convicted crime. Continue Reading…
The Day My Fart Followed Me to The Zoo by Ben Jackson and Sam Lawrence (Book Review #344)
I enjoyed how every animal they saw had an explanation and a fun fact about it. This made the experience educational, and since children love animals, it made the book to be a much favorable read.
If I was a Caterpillar by Ben Jackson & Sam Lawrence (Book Review #120)
Once Timmy gives Fart a thorough tour, then they head home. The illustrations were beautiful and colorful. I believe this particular story would be more suitable for an older audience as it had longer written content on each page.
The day My Fart Followed me to Soccer by Sam Lawrence & Ben Jackson (Book Review #159)
Since the authors have written several books about Timmy and Fart, I believe it would be really nice to have it all sold as a collection in order for parents to order and read it out loud.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Strange Medicine by Mike Russell (Book Review #106)
This review was kindly requested by Mike Russell.
While the word “strange” can mostly be perceived differently through a person’s perspective, this book appears to cover most basics of what constitutes a collection of very bizarre and strange stories.
Strange medicine is a 146-page story consisting of eight stories. That does not leave much room for growth; attachment, backstory, layout, flow or any other standard format of things you look for in reviewing a particular work, however, Mike Russell manages to accomplish what appears to be eight individually intriguing stories.
Some of the stories are funny, and some are deliciously weird. Either way, there is no doubt that the author had an agenda when he was writing them. Due to the nature of the book, conclusively, I believe that he intended to create something different.
Topics range from a series of phone conversations between a man and women or a professor that is enduring an unfulfilled life and feels that something is missing. I felt that every story had a message even though it was to be displayed as comedic or strange.
I recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a light read and does not take things too seriously.
Written by Jeyran Main
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What’s Ailing Selena Gomez? “bite of the wolf”- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Written by Dr. James Okun
It is time for James Okun to pick our brain and inform us on some important medical matters. You can show your support by buying his books or leaving a comment here if you like- Jeyran Main
James D. Okun, MD is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the co-author of The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine: New Thought and the Threat to Traditional Medicine
The word lupus is derived from the Latin for “wolf.” (www.Medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com).
Apparently, in the thirteenth century, physicians thought that the skin lesions of patients with this condition resembled the reddened bite of a wolf and so named it “lupus.” The complete name for this condition is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with “erythema” equaling “redness.”
Lupus affects approximately 1.5 million Americans with 16,000 new cases each year and 5 million cases worldwide. Most cases of lupus involve women aged 15-44 and women of color have a two to three times greater risk of developing the disease (www.lupus.org). Teenagers and males can also develop lupus.
One of those affected by lupus is Selena Gomez the teen idol and famous singer who is now 24 years old. She announced in August of 2016 that she was diagnosed with Lupus back in 2013 when she was forced to take time off.
According to an interview on CNN Selena had to undergo chemotherapy to treat her symptoms and was afraid of having a stroke (patients with lupus, especially younger patients, have an increased risk of strokes probably due to inflammation of blood vessels in the brain; i.e. vasculitis and increased risk of blood clots).
Lupus is an autoimmune disease whose cause is unknown in which the body’s own immune system attacks the body’s normal cells. Some organs which can be affected include the skin, the kidneys, the lungs, the central nervous system, the heart, the blood and the blood vessels and the joints (www.lupusresearch.org).
Normally, elements of the body’s immune system (antibodies) recognize foreign cells and infectious entities which are different from “self” and destroy them in combination with the other cells of the immune system. Foreign invaders normally include disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
In an autoimmune disorder, the body “turns on itself,” confusing “self” and “non-self,” with cells of the immune system attacking the nucleus of normal cells in many different organs causing the destruction of the cells.
Symptoms of lupus can include, a “butterfly skin rash” over the nose and cheeks, sun intolerance, blood in the urine, muscle pain, joint pain and stiffness, fatigue, unexplained fever, hair loss, respiratory symptoms, and anemia.
Episodes of lupus can include flair and remit and can lead to kidney failure if untreated. A “lupus crisis” can also ensue in which the patient decompensates causing multiple organ failures (often with sepsis) with the patient becoming severely ill and ending up in an intensive care unit and possibly dying.
Tests to screen for lupus include the ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibody) blood test to detect autoantibodies, checking for blood in the urine to detect kidney damage, conducting blood tests to test for kidney and blood clotting function and kidney and skin biopsies.
Treatments for lupus are aimed at decreasing inflammation and suppressing the immune system.
Systemic steroids are used to decrease inflammation. Anti-malarial drugs help decrease production of autoantibodies.
As seen in Selena Gomez’s case, drugs such as methotrexate and cyclophosphamide (which are typically used as chemotherapy in cancer) are used to treat lupus because of their immunosuppressive effects.
These drugs along with the immunosuppressive drug Imuran are all part of the treatment regimen for lupus.
Newer treatments include monoclonal (cloned) antibodies which disrupt the activation of B lymphocytes which normally secrete antibodies thus decreasing destruction of normal cells.
James D. Okun, MD is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the co-author of The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine: New Thought and the Threat to Traditional Medicine
The Day My Fart Followed Me to The Dentist by Ben Jackson and Sam Lawrence (Book Review #343)
The day My Fart Followed me to Soccer by Sam Lawrence & Ben Jackson (Book Review #159)
I have read and reviewed a few books from Timmy’s adventure, and each one has so far been delightful to read. The concept of fart following him around everywhere is very funny. In this story, he didn’t do anything funny or help Timmy out but normally, that has been the case before.
If I was a Caterpillar by Ben Jackson & Sam Lawrence (Book Review #120)
I believe many children would enjoy books such as this one because the illustrations are fun, the color combinations used to grab the attention of the child, and there is always a learning aspect to the book at hand.
I recommend this book to families and children that wish to enjoy a wonderful read and laugh at the same time.
Written by Jeyran Main
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A Change of Heart by Mark Benjamin (Book Review #100)
This review was kindly requested by the Author, Mark Benjamin
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A Change of heart is a fantastic tale of an orphaned boy named Gabriel who happens to be bullied all the time and lives with his abusive Uncle. Aside from having to deal with this emotional turmoil, he remains to have a pure heart. I exceedingly appreciated this as in the story he attempts to save a man’s life only to realize afterward that he is not human. The man transfers Gabriel into a half human, half Vampire state. There aren’t many of this kind, and so this makes Gabriel very unique. His life is now forever changed.
A change of heart is written with a substantial amount of backstory and is really able to build you up, chapter by chapter throughout the whole experience. Gabriel falls into the mid path of deciding which side is, in fact, good and which is bad. He has love for both humans and vampires, and everything he has been told before is later discovered to be a lie. Therefore, the book is sincerely dramatized in a very well written plot compelling you to read along and not put the book down.
Prophecies say that Gabriel is the one that is supposing to come and remedy the friction between the vampires and the humans. That alone is daunting and creates a heavy burden on this orphaned boy.
The literary standard and how the author decides to keep the chapters short, adding different angles to the story was very well planned out. The setting is well described, and the casting crew has relatable personalities. You find it in your heart to feel for Gabriel and the path that he has to take in discovering the truth, doing the right thing and at the same time, remaining true to who he is.
I believe the author executed the ending very well. I look forward to reading more from this tale and recommend it to people that like to read a story with an edge.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Our Cultural Software and the Valentine’s Day Pragmatism – Written by Boringbug
Boringbug is a blogger, a sketch artist by hobby and a lawyer. He writes to pen his vague ideas and experiences in different forms. His blog Boringbug is a part reflection of his ideas, experiences, dialogues, thoughts and opinions.
Our Cultural Software and the Valentine’s Day Pragmatism
For a country like India that procreates prolifically, its cultural discomfort with mating is unfortunate. Marriage is India’s favorite ritual and is still seen as coming together of families. Even though the rapid urbanization and nuclearisation of the families are changing this paradigm, the idea of parents being the bride givers and the liability to be discarded with’ has deep roots.
An existence outside this framework, where single women exercise their freedom to select and/or date partners of their choice, severely challenges and threatens the patriarchal status quo.
Consensual relationships between adults in India is mostly unacceptable unless it has the stamp of socio-legal approval. Once stamped with social authority, then no matter what, if it is the source of violence, subservience, and misery, the society wouldn’t be less bothered. Our oppressive society fails to provide the generation with a chance to develop a healthy and mutual relationship. The popular culture fails to offer a sane temple of courtship.
A random sampling of our movies will allegedly suggest that stalking and sexual harassment are appropriate courtship rituals.
Love marriages have aspirational values, but in India gender segregation is ubiquitous, and punishment for intersecting castes and religious lines are petrifying. For a large segregated Indians, valentines’ day offers a decent opportunity and a rare vocabulary to express, even awkwardly, the feelings of attraction and affection. We have made valentine’s day the scapegoat for disturbingly regressive attitude towards consensual adult relationships outside the paradigm of social permissibility.
In a cultural software, where attacking an individualistic mutually approaching romance by the self-appointed moral guardians is a status quo, valentine’s day appears as a way through.
Boringbug is a blogger, a sketch artist by hobby and a lawyer. He writes to pen his vague ideas and experiences in different forms. His blog Boringbug is a part reflection of his ideas, experiences, dialogues, thoughts and opinions.
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Billy’s search for the Healing Well by Helen C. Burke (Book Review #108)
This is a beautiful book written about a boy named Billy. He has a sick mother and is living with his grandma. Billy just wishes to go back to his mommy and to do as much as possible to save his mother’s life. His only hope is a Healing Well that is located in Ireland, and even that is a myth. Billy runs away to find this Healing Well, taking Granny’s prized cream pot with him.
Billy befriends a leprechaun named Patsy that grants wishes. The journey he takes is a unique one as he enters the Magical Meadow where there are fairies, leprechauns, gnomes, elves and other mystical creatures. Billy has important choices to make and goodbyes to say.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a perfect young adult tale demonstrating the gift of love, giving and sacrifice. The world setting had enough description to satisfy the imagination. The layout and connectivity between the paragraphs and the story were smooth and easy to understand. Although the story is not as long as I wished it to be, the literary standard and skill in demonstrating emotions and bonding with the characters were sufficient for the reader.
I believe the author has great potential in writing more books in the fantasy genre. There was a witty and comedic side to this story, which made it more fun to read, as the subject matter was sensitive. (Billy trying to save his mother’s life.)
Altogether, I recommend this book to all parents and children that wish to read books in the action and adventure genre. The tale demonstrates all the right things our youth need to learn from.
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This review was kindly requested by the Author, Helen C. Burke.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
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