Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
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
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The Aqueous Transmission by Mike Eye (Book Review #97)
The Aqueous Transmission is about a dying world where Mother Magdalena is anointed and is pregnant. She has been given the responsibility of reviving humanity. The world set is dark and twisted. There is not much hope or living creatures in sight.
There is a wise man named Al Rodman, and he loves humans. He has the greatest of intentions for the earth. He is a Sirian guru, and as he and Magdalena cross paths, they work together in bracing humanity.
They are facing elemental forces that are controlling two demigods. It is a captivating story where high powers are in need of beckoning, and one two many secrets need to be revealed in order for the grand finale to transpire.
I found the story to be written with great detail and care. It is very clear to see that the Author has poured his heart into this story. The plot is well executed, and the literary standard compliments the entire written literature.
The characters and casting crew have all been given compelling roles. Each and every one of the characters is well blended into the scheme of things and partakes serious roles in delivering the final ending to the story.
This is a true science fiction tale with many references to terminology that may not be as fluent for someone that has never read into this genre. It is an intense and epic imaginary story. There is plenty of drama and action mixed with philosophy and scientific language within the tale.
If you are a sci-fi fan and have a vision for speculative fiction, then this is definitely up your alley and rest assured you won’t be putting it down until you have thoroughly read the entire book.
Written by Jeyran Main
This review was kindly requested by the Author, Mike Eye.
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Gatc’hh’en’s Rite – by John Talisker (Book Review #96)
This review was kindly requested by the author, John Talisker
This is a captivating story about a living being that is half machine. Gatc’hh’en isn’t from earth, so he studies the way which humans are like. He uses a template of a human’s DNA and forms into a person.
The setting of the story is in the 15th century located in France where he falls in love with a woman named Catherine. He loses her due to unforeseen circumstances, and this takes a great emotional toll on him. Gatc’hh’en runs away to the outer solar system to retrieve what’s left of him and to heal from this devastating loss.
After Gatc’hh’en regains some strength and mental stability, he returns back determined to reclaim what he lost. He finds a woman named Emily and genetically modifies her looks to what Catherine used to appear as. Emily is on her dying bed and most certainly appreciates the new life she has been given, however, as always, everything comes with a price and Gatc’hh’en has to deal with this problem.
The story is written with a philosophical touch. There are many terminologies and mentions to this topic blended into the story. The tale also references astrology and similar out of space phrasings. I found Gatc’hh’en to be very appealing. His character was well built, and although he is not human, he was relatable. All that Gatc’hh’en wants to do is to go home with the woman he loved which is very touching.
I believe that there was enough backstory for a sequel to this story. Gatc’hh’en’s Rite is in fact, his rite of passage. I really appreciated all insinuations to life and the value of living within the story. By the end of reading the book, you will defiantly be able to sense love, loss and more knowledge toward galaxies, the stars, and planets around.
I highly recommend this book to people that want to read something more in depth in the science fiction genre.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Noah’s Wife by T.K. Thorne (Book Review #115)
This review was written for Online Book Club
“I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.”
This book was an “OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day.”
Noah’s wife is a fictional tale about Na’amah. The story begins twenty-one years before the flood when Na’amah was just a kid. The setting of the tale is around 5521 B.C. and so many historical references match the same biblical stories we know from that time. Of course, this has to be made clear that the story is not true. So any religious scholar looking to pinpoint any facts that do not go with their holy book can just stop there.
There is something very special about Noah’s wife. Not only does the story demonstrate the hardship and the choices that women had to make back in those days but it also displays a not so commonly known illness, Autism. Na’amah suffers from Asperger. Something completely oblivious back in those days and so she is treated like an outsider, someone weird and her prospects of getting married and having children are limited. Due to being autistic she cannot retain thoughts and so Na’amah questions many things.
The religious setting of the story was very interesting to me. The people worshiped Mother Goddess and Father God. However, Na’amah questioned their beliefs, and so she does not believe whatever is told to her. The time frame from Na’amah being a child to becoming a woman was written beautifully.
Noah, the boat maker, meets Na’amah at the market and asks if he could marry her when she comes of age. Her father agrees to this. However, there is a twist of fate in this event, which made it very intriguing. Although mistreated by the River People, Na’amah’s spirit was never touched. Her Autism did not limit her in any way, and she was written to be a very loving and admirable character.
The story remained consistent with enough backstory and references to everything that was relevant to the plot. I have to warn the readers that the book does consist of topics such as rape, incest narratives, and other similar sensitive subjects.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to everyone. I rarely find stories that are this good and believe, that anyone that does not read it will be missing out big time.
Written by Jeyran Main
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A Book for Oreo by Caralee a Jardine (Book Review #116)
This review was written for Online Book Club
“I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.”
This book was an “OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day.”
This book is written in honor of a cat named Oreo. Oreo captures Caralee’s broken heart, the moment he sees her. Caralee takes Oreo home as her son rather than an animal pet. She pours all her emotions, love, and everything into this cat and return receives an overwhelming and rewarding love in return.
Following a very hard breakup and the disappointment of not getting married or having children, Caralee never thought that a cat could make such a difference in her heart, body, and soul. She has a strong belief in God and references him on every page. The relationship between Caralee and Oreo is unyielding, and a few unfortunate events occur causing Oreo to get sick, and things are never the same again.
What I admired and completely found relatable was the unconditional love Caralee had for Oreo and how she literally put everything she had in keeping this companion of hers in as much comfort as possible. I can guarantee that if she could give Oreo a kidney just so keep him alive, then she would and that says a lot in my opinion.
When you lose a pet, you are distraught, but when you lose someone like Oreo, it pretty much shuts you down. The courage it took for Caralee to pour her heart into telling this story is admirable. The passages and the information are all very easy to understand. The literary standard is up to speed, and the tale is told as honest as it can be.
I recommend this book to anyone that’s like to read on animals and has a passion for animal life.
Written By Jeyran Main
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Transference by Kate Jonuska (Book Review #342)
Besides the humor, the story focuses on mental health, social isolation, and politics, which I found to be a clever touch from the author, it’s always hard to include topics such as the ones mentioned humorously.
I found the cover to certainly reflect the content of the material. The literature was witty, and the pace was suitable for the storyline.
One thing to look out for was also the dark nature of the story. The description was just enough to nurture the imagination, and I enjoyed the way the author used her skills in making the reader bond with the characters. I would have appreciated it more if the work was professionally edited. However, what did exist was a very nicely written story. I recommend this story to people that enjoy literary fiction.
Written by Jeyran Main
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