Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Halfway by Lokesh Sharma & Anubhav Sharma (Book Review #105)
Imagine a life after you die where you don’t remember anything from your previous existence. Halfway is a story about after death. Anyone that dies wakes up into this realm called the Enigma. They all have to face any crime they have committed and answer for any wrongdoings.
The setting of this world is fantastic. Although the story is short, it contains enough backstory and plot to make it appealing to read. I found the whole book to be unique. The literary standards were up to speed, and it was easy to feel for the people that were now facing a new and very unfamiliar lifestyle.
The chapters and the layout of this book consist of enough content and backstory to give you an idea of the characters have been through. Everyone in the Enigma is trapped and is enduring a life even worse than death. They are cursed in such a way that they are unable to rise above the leader and the system. There is a war to win and an army to build.
The ending of the story was absorbing and does make you wish to find out what happens next. I generally do not comment on book covers, but I have to say that I found the cover to be very attractive.I recommend this book to any science fiction and fantasy reader.
Written by Jeyran Main
This review was kindly requested by Lokesh Sharma
If you would like a book review click here
If you would like your book edited click here
Need help getting your book published? Contact Me.
If you enjoyed reading this review, please don’t forget to like and share it.
The Mating Game by Dr. Lyndon McGill (Book Review #107)
This review was kindly requested by the author & UnderratedReads.
When it comes to relationships and how to maintain a healthy connection with someone it is very hard to understand and to read the other persons thoughts and feelings. This book, although written by a male perspective, does give you an in-depth insight into human behavior, needs and how to keep a relationship.
The mating game introduces four urges, which are called the 4 “F’s.” These are what “motivate human behavior and ultimately determined the success or failure of a male- female relationship.”
At first, I thought that this book was going to be an all-male dominant “what we need,” “what we want” kind of book. The ones that bash woman and suggest men have no feelings and that it is all physical for them. However, the book surprised me. The mating game is more like a mental and psychosocial take on what is in the mind of the counterpart. The book also discusses underlying conflicts between the man and the women, which is one of the main reasons why we have such a high ratio of divorces in the 21st century. Dr. McGill covers many sensitive topics like loneliness, depression, how to reclaim respect and how to re-light a relationship that has lost its spark.
I found the book to be very easy going and the literary standard was in good standing. The topics were pleasantly connected and the layout was smooth. The sensitive and important issues came with the right flow. I especially enjoyed reading about how and why men are attracted to the certain type of women?
The mating game introduces four urges, which are called the 4 “F’s.” These are what:
“Motivate human behavior and ultimately determined the success or failure of a male- female relationship.”
At first, I thought that this book was going to be an all-male dominant “what we need,” “what we want” kind of book. The ones that bash woman and suggest men have no feelings and that it is all physical for them. However, the book surprised me. The mating game is more like a mental and psychosocial take on what is in the mind of the counterpart. The book also discusses underlying conflicts between the man and the women, which is one of the main reasons why we have such a high ratio of divorces in the 21st century. Dr. McGill covers many sensitive topics like loneliness, depression, how to reclaim respect and how to re-light a relationship that has lost its spark.
I found the book to be very easy going and the literary standard was in good standing. The topics were pleasantly connected, and the layout was smooth. The sensitive and important issues came with the right flow. I especially enjoyed reading about how and why men are attracted to the certain type of women?
I believe many will benefit from reading this book. It has logical and medical reasoning to back its claims, and above all, it is easy to understand, and for that reason, I give this book four stars.
I recommend this book to anyone that appreciates comprehending the knowledge and reasoning behind relationships.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
If you would like your book edited click here
Need help getting your book published? Contact Me.
Interpretation by Dylan Callens (Book Review #345)
The government appears to be the owners, and the people are the creations. In this dystopian world human emotion, hope and dreams are interpreted differently. This twisted and very novel story takes you on a journey where you don’t really wish to go. It constantly makes you think, what if this was true and what if it happened now?
I particularly liked the father-son relationship between Carl and Liam. The added romance was also very pleasing. Eva and Carl’s connection was a nice additional touch in this simulated cold environment of mind control. The storytelling had a very intriguing psychological touch. Being controlled and having your mindset so strongly by others in such a way that you are not able to even distinguish reality from being manipulated, was written in such a professional way.
The story had no flaws, and the literature standard exceeded my expectations. I truly think this is one of the best science fiction novels I have read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Written by Jeyran Main
This review was requested by underrated.com and the author.
If you would like a book review click here
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
If you would like a book review click here
If you would like your book edited click here
Need help getting your book published? Contact Me.
If you enjoyed reading this review then don’t forget to like and share!
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
If you would like a book review click here
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
If you would like a book review click here
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
If you would like a book review click here
Review Tales 