CSFF Blog Tour: Curse of the Spider King

Curse of the Spider King

by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Important Links:

* Amazon
* Wayne Thomas Batson's Site
* Christopher Hopper's Site
* The Berinfell Prophecies Forum

Curse of the Spider King (Book 1 of The Berinfell Prophecies) weaves together a tale of seven Elven Lords, who, as infants, narrowly escaped their doom and are now residing on Earth, completely unaware of whom they are, or any idea of their true heritage.

Seven thirteen-ish “human” children begin to notice dark strangers lurking about, and friendly sources give them each a very special book, The History of Berinfell, a book that comes to life with only a touch. Their first tastes of a history they didn’t even know was their own come rushing out of the ancient handwritten text, seemingly releasing giant Warspiders or setting fire to their classroom.

Each child is an Elven Lord, and thus, is endowed with a mysterious and previously unknown ability that manifests near their thirteenth birthday. As children of Earth, the possibility of such gifts or other existing realms is unheard of. However, The Seven have been sought out and protected by Sentinals from the children’s homeland of Allyra, and are hiding in the shadows. Unfortunately, the Elven Lords are also being hunted by dark forces bent on their destruction.

Curse of the Spider King is what YA Fantasy Fiction is all about. It’s well-paced, richly developed, and irresistibly enthralling. The language is beautiful without getting too caught up in itself. And while we discover more about The Seven, Allyra itself remains mostly a mystery. The scene is set for book two in The Berinfell Prophecies, Venom and Song.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part One of my interview with co-author Wayne Thomas Batson.  And please check out a few of our other CSFF Blog Tour Participants:

Brandon Barr  Justin Boyer  Amy Browning Valerie Comer  Amy Cruson  CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale  D. G. D. Davidson  Shane Deal Jeff Draper  Emmalyn Edwards  April Erwin Karina Fabian  Todd Michael Greene  Ryan Heart Timothy Hicks  Becky Jesse  Cris Jesse Jason Joyner  Julie  Carol Keen Krystine Kercher  Tina Kulesa  Melissa Lockcuff Rebecca LuElla Miller  Mirtika  Nissa John W. Otte  Cara Powers  Chawna Schroeder James Somers  Speculative Faith  Robert Treskillard Fred Warren  Jason Waguespac  Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson  KM Wilsher

Review: The Blue Umbrella

The Blue Umbrella

by Mike Mason

Important Links:

Amazon Page

Mike Mason's Site

David C. Cook (Publisher)

B&B Media Group (The lovely people who made this review possible.)

Recommended Age:  10+


Not all magic has to be kept from the rest of the world. Sometimes it can be simple and wonderful, just like this book, The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason. Filled with themes of loss, trust, love, patience, endurance, and possibility, The Blue Umbrella whisks readers away into the world of ten-year-old Zac Sparks. He has lost his mother to a lightning strike, never knew his father, and is taken to a small town to live with his “Aunties,” as nothing more than a servant. But there is something strange going on in the town of Five Corners. Everyone in the town fearfully respects the “Aunties” and worse, they give in to their every whim.


Then there’s Porter’s Store, and the strange events that haunt its rooftop at night. Zac sees the owner, Sky Porter, every morning in front of the store as though he’s greeting each new day. Known to the household and neighbors as “Boy,” Zac becomes ever more frustrated as the grip the Aunties have on him tightens. He realizes he’s a prisoner and that there are more secrets around Five Corners than he could have ever imagined.


One of my favorite aspects of this book is its demonstration of the real-life principle that shows how our mistakes, no matter how horrible, can sometimes harbor extraordinary results. Zac’s journey touches the lives of so many in Five Corners that we get to see several relationships begin and flourish, but a betrayal could ruin them all.


My only complaint: It has a bit of a slow progression at first, but like most firsts in a series, it needed to establish the basics. The last third of it was pure joy. The Blue Umbrella will speak to all ages and carry themes that will enrapture its readers and fill them with hope. And with at least two more books in the series to come, we’ll all be enjoying the adventures of Zac Sparks and his family and friends for quite a while.

Day 3 - CSFF Blog Tour: Eric Wilson

Eric Wilson

"From an early age, I wanted to be a writer. Although I was born in California and raised in Oregon, my more enduring memories start in Europe where my parents took Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. Life was an adventure, full of exotic cultures and peoples.

Back in the States, I went through junior high and high school. I loved soccer, basketball, chess...oh, yes, and girls. It took a few years to learn how to talk to them, but they interested me from a distance. After high school, I traveled in eastern Europe and China. I returned to my parents’ crumbling marriage. I moved to LA and began college.

During my junior year, a childhood friend showed up as a freshman. Within months she and I were married, and we’re now in our eighteenth year, with two daughters to keep us on our toes. We’re not perfect (our kids could give you details), but we refuse to stop fighting for our family...and for our faith in Jesus, who is bigger than our self-centeredness." 

(Taken from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website:  HERE.)

Day 2 - CSFF Blog Tour: Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

by Eric Wilson

Book One:  Field of Blood

                                    "1989: Scores of Romanian children contract a life-threatening virus. In Jerusalem, the same year, an ancient tomb is broken into.

Gina Lazarescu is a girl caugtht between an unknown past and a dark future. Will she stand in the gap against the rising evil? Or become victim to it?

Death is not a question. It is the answer. Welcome to a world that hides before your eyes."  (Summary from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website:  HERE.)


Book Two:  Haunt of the Jackals

"1211: Crusaders ship tons of soil from Jerusalem back to Italy, convinced of its holy properties. But something unholy has joined them.

1944: Allied bombs destroy a cemetery only yards from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A fire rages. A tomb is opened.

In our modern world, Gina Lazarescu is a young woman caught trying to forgive her mother and track down her father. If she fails at either task, she will die."  (Summary from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website:  HERE.)


Book Three:  Valley of Bones

"1911: Rasputin, advisor to the Russian tsars, travels to Jerusalem to unlock hidden relics, both sacred and profane.


2004: With yet another tragedy in her wake, Gina Lazarescu makes a discovery that renews her hope for the future.

Even as Akeldama Collectors amass forces, Gina and Cal search Jerusalem for a secret that will raise up their own holy army--a valley of bones prepared to fight for the souls of mankind."  (Summary from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website:  HERE.)

Join me back tomorrow for some more about Eric Wilson.

CSFF Blog Tour: Haunt of the Jackals

Haunt of the Jackals: 

Book Two of Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

by Eric Wilson

Important Links:

*Amazon:  Haunt of the Jackals 
*Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy website
*Author Eric Wilson's website

Admittedly, I came back to the CSFF Blog Tour a little late and didn't get a chance to read this one.  I did, however, do a little research and came up with a fantastic review from TitleTrakk.com for today.  Check it out HERE.

More to come tomorrow on day two of the CSFF Blog Tour for Haunt of the Jackals.  Please be sure to check out the other tour participants by clicking the links below:

Brandon Barr
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

Book Review: Marked

*Note:  This review may not be appropriate for all readers.

Marked:  A House of Night Novel

by P.C. & Kristen Cast

Important Links:  Amazon, House of Night Series

Recommended Age: WARNING 18+ (due to language, sex, and drug/alcohol content)

After one hundred nine pages, I almost stopped reading. I literally debated for an entire 24 hours whether or not to send the book back…

I didn’t. I decided that not all reviews can glow.  So I read the entire book, and I’ll be honest and let you make a decision for yourselves.

This story portrays a world in which “vampyres” have always existed. Zoey Montgomery is being forced to live with a religious fanatic step-father whose aim is to control her mother so completely that Zoey isn’t allowed to exist in her Marked form, when she comes home with a blue crescent moon “tattoo” on her forehead, the sure mark of a fledgling “vampyre.” He’s an Elder for the People of Faith and would rather see her die slowly than to take her to the school that will save her life and prepare her for the Change into an adult “vampyre.”

Zoey flees to her grandmother’s house, has a religious experience with the Goddess of Night, Nyx, then wakes up at the House of Night where her teen adventures begin as Zoey Redbird, adopting her grandmother’s surname. Zoey faces a buxom blonde bully, shakes an obsessed old flame, starts anew with Erik (the hottest guy at school – which is mentioned several times), and becomes the leader she was meant to be in the group called the Dark Daughters and Sons.

With its spiritual roots right out of a handbook for new Wiccans, this book expresses contempt for “religion,” which seems to encompass any faith that includes the idea of God as a singular. Elements and cardinal directions are encouraged to join in their ritual circle, after each person has had a pentagram drawn on their forehead with oil, and exchanged the proclamation, “Blessed be.” Rituals are a regular part of their schedules. Freedom to choose your faith and beliefs seems to be lost to all who carry the genetic marker for “vampyrism.” They must all worship Nyx, without question. And nobody does question, which totally takes me out of the book’s reality. In the real world people get to choose.  It’s like they’ve all been fitted with mind control chips: I. Will. Worship. Nyx.

My biggest problem with the religious aspect is that it’s so exclusive. As soon as you exclude part of your audience, you risk losing an entire sector of potential readers. If it wasn’t so blatantly hateful toward what they call the “People of Faith,” then I might be able to scrounge an ounce of quality from the writing, which is not entirely ridiculous. If this book didn’t include the dialogue, the overdone teen themes, and could make me care an iota for any of the characters, then maybe I’d consider letting a friend read this. But unfortunately, I can’t.

The teen-speak is insulting to the intelligence of today’s teenagers and tedious to the adult audience it had potential to harvest some readers from, given the success of another famous vampire franchise with a wide range of age-appropriateness. Marked: A House of Night Novel just doesn’t have the sophistication or depth to share air with the big boys.

The swearing was gratuitous: f*** was used quite a few times, as well as sh**, dam*, b*tch, sl*t,and God’s name was taken in vain several times within the first page as well as being littered throughout, h*ll is Zoey’s “favorite word.” There’s more, but I’ll leave it at that for now.

Drugs and Alcohol. There’s talk of kids smoking p*t. The first conversation Zoey has with her first best friend of the book is about Zoey’s “almost ex-boyfriend” getting “drunk” the night before. (In the end, Zoey’s best friend was secretly seeing the drunk-guy and had been with him on the night in question.) Zoey gets rid of her entire life, family and friends with the exception of her too-understanding grandmother, and gets new friends and feels they’re her real family.

Sex. On Zoey’s first night of school, she witnesses a sex act in a hallway. Sex is referred to casually on several occasions. This book also contains scenes of “making out,” but not in the tender way Edward brushed his lips along Bella’s cheek, but in an animalistic bloodlust-induced frenzy.

The specific overall worldview of the author is clear, which doesn’t always bring an audience in, but that is merely the beginning of this book’s many unresolved issues. I guess the most disappointing part for me was the anticipation of receiving this book (which, btw, came highly recommended from a few Shelfari readers whom I must now hunt down), and the subsequent let-down after realizing I had not discovered some great new vampire series, just recycled bits of Harry Potter, Twilight, and Mean Girls all rolled into one

An Update From Deep Within the Pages

After months of inactivity or sparse posting, I'm happy to announce that I'm now in the perfect position to return to my regular blogging. The following is just an update on what's been happening in my life since I last posted, followed by what I plan to do virtually as well as actually.

Reading