NIGHT TERRORS ANTHOLOGY edited by Karen Henderson

Since the rise and rise of eBooks, short stories and novellas have become increasingly popular.  I think of short stories as a sorbet between longer books; something to refresh your palette before moving on to that six hundred page tome or if you are a Stephen King fan one thousand plus page doorstop.

The “Night Terrors Anthology” edited by Karen Henderson of Kayelle Press is a creepy little anthology of all things nasty with an abundance of demons, vampires, ghosts and the undead.  Inside are seventeen top-notch horror stories from international authors; many of whom are award winners.

The quality of the stories ranges from very good to exceptional.  The first of the anthology, “A World Not Our Own” by J.C. Hemphill proves you can’t trust vampires and is as far from “Twilight” as a good vampire story should be. 

Now the publishing and film and television world have fallen in love with zombies, zombies have become the new black.  Move over Edward. Read “Share the Love” by Chris Donahue to get your quality zombie fix.  

“White Lines, White Crosses” by Andrew J. McKiernan could have been written by Stephen King.  It is a cool little ghost story about a teenager’s desire to fit in and the price he pays when the peer pressure comes from the other side of the grave. It is seriously dark and beautifully paced.

There is also a few classics thrown in for good measure. They are just as fresh today and fit right in with their modern counterparts;  Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Tell-Tale Heart, “The Dead Girl” by Guy de Maupassant and “A Ghost Story” by Mark Twain.

The “Night Terrors Anthology” is a solid collection with some truly enjoyable, clever tales that will stay with you whether you want them to or not.   The “Creepy” Badge of Honor is awarded to Editor Karen Henderson for having a great feel for a good story.

Thank you to Kayelle Press for our e-review copy of Night Terrors Anthology.

 This book is available in paperback and e-book format

Visit http://www.kayellepress.com/shop/night-terrors-anthology/ for more details and to purchase.

ABOUT KAYELLE PRESS

Based in Australia, Kayelle Press is a new independent publisher of speculative fiction, which includes fantasy, science fiction and horror. We will publish books for young readers, young adults and adults that will tempt your imagination and allow you to escape into unknown worlds.

Most of our books will be available in paperback and various digital formats. They can be purchased through this website or from your favourite online book store. Alternatively, you can request an order form through email and send the order through the post with a bank cheque, money order or international draft. Refer to our How to Order page for more information.

Raven Girl by Audrey Niffenegger ★★★★ ½

FLIGHT OF BEAUTIFUL FANCY

           My ten and twelve year old boys are, sadly, at an age where they don’t want me to read to them anymore.  In fact, thanks to iPads, X-boxes and cable TV, they don’t even want to read themselves anymore.

            However, they both expressed interest in me reading them “Raven Girl”.  In the end, my hubby sat in and for several nights our family eagerly anticipated the next reading.  Reading this book with them was a wonderful experience.  First they wanted to read it; then they didn’t want me to stop. They loved the story and wanted it read again.  A miracle.

           “Once there was a Postman who fell in love with a Raven.” 

           The opening line in this modern-day, dark, fairy tale begins a marvelous tale of a postman who “thought he had seen just about everything Her Majesty’s Postal Service could offer in the way of danger and difficulty, hilarity and boredom”.  When he rescues a baby raven, which has fallen from her nest, they fall in love and eventually have a baby raven girl who has human form but speaks in raven.  Like any child, the raven girl is not happy with herself and seeks to be transformed.

            Niffenegger has collaborated with Royal Ballet Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor to produce a ballet based on this book. It premiered at the Royal Opera House in London in May 2013.

                Audrey Niffenegger was on my list of beloved authors before this book.  Her first novel, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” was an international best-seller and her second book, a ghost story entitled “Her Fearful Symmetry”, is in my Top reads.

           Niffenegger puts words together from which spin magic.   She is also a talented artist. In “Raven Girl”, she not only wrote a charming tale, she also illustrated it beautifully using the 17th century technique of aquatint, which uses metal, acid, wax and rosin to achieve delicate tone and detailed images.

          Anyone, any age reading this will fall in love with the tale of the “Raven Girl”.  It is a book of exceptional beauty and one to treasure.

My review copy of RAVEN GIRL thanks to the hardworking people at RANDOM HOUSE Australia.

Release Dates: Australia and New Zealand: May 2013

Useful Links

For purchasing details and more information:   click here

Visit the official website for Audrey Niffenegger

Read a free chapter of RAVEN GIRL

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Audrey Niffenegger is an exceptionally creative writer and visual artist who has achieved enormous success in both worlds. Her debut novel, The Time Traveler's Wife, has sold more than seven million copies worldwide and has been translated into forty languages. A Richard & Judy book club choice in the UK, it has been a huge bestseller all round the world. In the Daily Telegraph's readers' poll of the 'Top 50 Books of All Time' it appeared at no. 11. Niffenegger is also the author of two 'novels-in-pictures', The Three Incestuous Sisters(2005) and The Adventuress (2006), both published by Cape. Her graphic novel The Night Bookmobile was serialized in the Guardian and published on the Cape Graphic list.
A Chicago native, Niffenegger received her MFA in Printmaking and Drawing from Northwestern University. Her art has been widely exhibited in the United States and is in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress and Harvard University's Houghton Library.

The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

Its not easy being different

 

Harry Potter was very concerned about joining Hogwart’s faction Slytherin as it seemed a breeding ground for bullies, where as Hufflepuff was mostly filled with jolly wizards.  But in Veronica Roth’s dystopian novels, Divergent and Insurgent, factions are a life commitment and there isn’t a chatty sorting hat in sight.

Roth by the age of 23 had best sellers on her hands with Divergent and its follow up Insurgent.  In 2012 she added a movie deal for her trilogy and is one of the new breed of authors, like the Hunger Games' Suzanne Collins, capturing the imagination of young readers by supplying a bleak future for humanity. 

In a dystopian Chicago, the population has divided themselves into five very different groups abiding by a strict code of conduct; their behaviour almost genetically implanted in them.  These factions, the citizens decide, allow them to live harmoniously.

Beatrice is born into Abnegation (the Selfless), and we meet her on her sixteenth birthday when she must choose to stay in her faction or transfer, and live the rest of her life in one of the other factions—Erudite (the Intelligent), Candor (the Honest), Amity (the Peaceful), Dauntless (the Brave).  Before deciding their future alliance all candidates must undertake an aptitude test to assist their decision.  Beatrice results are not so clear cut; unbeknown to her she is divergent with an aptitude to fit into more than one faction, a seemingly dangerous trait. 

At the ‘Choosing Ceremony’ she transfers to Dauntless, forsaking her family.  In her first hours at Dauntless she discovers they demand new initiates survive a ruthless initiation program for a limited ten spots.  The unsuccessful will become ‘Factionless’, a terrible fate of bleak homelessness.  During the program Beatrice, now renamed ‘Tris’, befriends fellow initiates and discovers that her talent for the tests creates dangerous enemies.  Despite her best efforts she also finds herself attracted to their seemingly heartless trainer, Tobias "Four" Eaton.

Insurgent follows on directly from Divergent, taking Tris and her collaborators on a journey into the true origin of the Factions. They will fight for the future of all divergents against faction leaders whose goal is anything but harmony between factions. 

The final in the trilogy is due for release in 2013.

My review copies of DIVERGENT and INSURGENT thanks to the fantastic people at Harper Collins Australia
 

To buy or learn more visit Divergent and Insurgent 
eBook is also available here eBook

Release Dates: 2011 and 2012
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Veronica Roth graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in creative writing. While she was a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become ‘Divergent’ instead of doing her homework. It was indeed a transforming choice. Now a full-time writer, Ms Roth lives near Chicago.
DIVERGENT is her first novel.
Visit Veronica Roth's Official Blog: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com.au/ 

The Trouble with Fate by Leigh Evans ★ ★ ★★

 Reviewed by Guest Reviewer TRACY HARRIS

DESTINED FOR A GOOD READ

Hedi Peacock is a half breed with a twist. Half Fae and half Werewolf, she has struggled to fit in  since she saw her Were father and Fae mother brutally murdered and her twin brother stolen and returned to the Fae Realm. Armed only with her wits and her awakened Asrai amulet, Merry, she works as a barista whilst caring for her Fae Aunt, Lou, who has been slowly dying since the Portals to the Fae Realm, Merenwyn, were closed.

Life runs smoothly, or as smoothly as it can for a woman touched with magic in a world full of iron, an unfortunate ability to mind walk at inopportune moments and an “inner were” that longs to be released, until her long lost Were crush, Robson Trowbridge, walk into her Starbucks and her world spins on its axis.

Hedi discovers that her aunt has been kidnapped and her life is being bartered for the return of an amulet, an amulet that Hedi doesn’t possess and last saw on Trowbridge’s neck the night of her parent’s murders. Tracking Trowbridge down, Hedi discovers that not only her life was ruined that fateful night. Trowbridge lost his Alpha, his wife and his family and now spends his days as a Rogue, running from his past and the new Alpha of his pack, his power crazed uncle, Mannus. The only problem with returning the amulet, is that it will mean the portals to Merenwyn will reopen, a treaty will be broken and war between the two species will ensue.

Leigh Evans has not written your typical Faery tale. Hedi is not your average faery princess waiting to be rescued from her golden tower. She isn’t your normal, beautiful heroine. In actuality, she is a defiant young woman who has discovered there is no place in either the Fae or Were worlds for her, due to her mixed blood. She desperately mourns the loss her family, especially that of her twin brother, Lexi. Understandably, she has a very large chip on her shoulder which can lead to an antagonistic character which, occasionally is very difficult to sympathise with.

Evan’s writing style is direct and intense. Her characters are well crafted with intricate back-stories. She gives us a tale that moves quickly, pacing it well and allowing the characters and their relationships to grow naturally.

A born and bred Canadian, Evans lives in Southern Ontario with her husband. She has raised two children, three dogs and a few cats. About four years ago Evans came to the conclusion that she shouldn’t let her dreams die and thus The Trouble with Fate was born. This is Evans’ first published book, and she has been contracted for another three books (total of four).  The next in this series, The Thing About Were’s, is scheduled for publication in July 2013.

RELEASE DATE:  January 2013
For more information and to purchase please visit TheTrouble With Fate
Leigh Evans Website: http://leighevans.com/blog/  (As a side-note if you have ever dreamed of writing a book do check out Leigh's blog.  It will certainly inspire you. She writes of her journey to publication.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 

I was born in Montreal, Quebec but now live in Southern Ontario with my husband. I’ve raised two kids, mothered three dogs, and herded a few cats. Other than that, my life was fairly routine until I hit the age of 50. Some women get tattoos. I decided to write a book. A little tardy, but then again, Mum always said I was a late bloomer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom ★ ★ ★★

TIME WELL SPENT

 

Years ago I wept as I read Mitch Abom’s ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’.  So when I saw he had a new book on the horizon I thought now was a good time to reacquaint myself with his unusual style and take on the world.

In ‘The Time-Keeper’, he writes an engrossing parable on the meaning and value of time. Imagine if you didn’t have a word for time?  There wouldn’t be a tomorrow. There would be no plans for next weekend.  We would live in the moment.  It’s a difficult thing to imagine in this technological world we now inhabit, where every second, thanks to smart phones and iPads is usually filled with some kind of plan. 

Our world before the concept of time is the place into which Abom first introduces us to his lead character. Dor, an early inventor, one day happens upon the measurement of time, building the first sun-dial and devising other concepts for tracking time.  When Dor’s beloved wife Alli falls ill he confronts and challenges God to save her.  In response God banishes him to a mystical cave where he is transformed into Father Time, and then forced to endure the constant pleading from the inhabitants of earth forever. They beg for more time, less time, time to speed up, and time to slow down; the time he invented now rules the world.

As his soul withers from the constant voices and the monotony of isolation, he is granted the chance to escape his prison by saving two seemingly unconnected people using a magical hourglass.  Sarah Lemon is counting down time as she anticipates her first date.  Victor Delamonte, one of the world’s richest men, finds his wealth can’t save him from a terminal disease, until he devises a scheme to cheat death.   How can Dor save these two people when he cannot even save himself?

This very question kept me reading way past my bedtime.  Abom writes in a unique and simplistic style but his lessons are deep and thought provoking.  Whilst reading you will be reminded of at least one truth: time passes quickly when you hold in your hands a fabulous book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MITCH ALBOM is an internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have collectively sold over 33 million copies worldwide; have been published in forty-one territories and in forty-two languages around the world.

All three of Albom’s best sellers have been turned into successful TV movies. Oprah Winfrey produced the film version of Tuesdays With Morrie in December 1999, starring Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria. The film garnered four Emmy awards, including best TV film, director, actor and supporting actor. The critically acclaimed Five People You Meet in Heaven aired on ABC in winter, 2004. Directed by Lloyd Kramer, the film was the most watched TV movie of the year, with 19 million viewers. Oprah Winfrey Presents Mitch Albom’s For One More Day aired on ABC in December 2007 and earned Ellen Burstyn a Screen Actors Guild nomination. Most recently. Hallmark Hall of Fame produced the film adaptation of Have a Little Faith, which aired on ABC in November 2011. It starred Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford, Martin Landau, and Anika Noni Rose.

In 2010, Albom was named the recipient of the Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

He lives with his wife, Janine, in Detroit, MI.

 

To learn more about Mitch Albom visit http://mitchalbom.com/books