Tag: fantasy

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Review: The Once and Future King

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

I give this book a 4.

 

Everyone knows the story of King Arthur, or at least, some part of it. I thought about trying to read Mallory and decided to pass. Then I thought of the cute Disney film, The Sword in the Stone, and learned that much of it came from the first “book” in this story. Truth be told, I was always curious about this book, but never took the time to read it, so at last I had an opportunity to listen to the audio book and took it.

For the most part, I adore this book. This is everything the story of King Arthur should be, a combination of realism and fantasy, innocence and guilt, and as always an underlined lesson to be learned. I don’t know if this is supposed to be a children’s book, but I guess it could be, as long as an adult is around to do a lot of explaining. If you can get a teen to sit down and read (or listen to) a book of this length, I think they will enjoy it.

I must say there are a few long passages that seem to drag the story along, over describing or explaining things, but I’ve been guilty of that myself. I would have to say that my least favorite part of the book was the whole love triangle. It seemed really silly to me, but most love triangles are, so that wasn’t a big deal and it is actually part of the original mythology. There were also some very drawn out political discussions that I could have done without, but if you’re a fan of politics in general, you’ll be quite pleased. My favorite part was, of course, Arthur’s youth.

It’s a shame that it took me so long to getting around to this story. It’s clear how this story has inspired others of its kind and I’m glad that to have finally experienced it.

This review has been posted to GoodReads. If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Guest Files Guest Posts

Meet Damian Ward (the Blood Angel Series)

Greetings everyone and thanks for stopping by. Today I’ll be adding a special insert into my Character Files with the help of a guest consultant, a.k.a. author Nina Soden. Today we are going to get to know Damian from the Blood Angel Series.

guest

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Before we delve into this character, let’s learn a bit about our guest consultant, Nina Soden. She has bachelor’s degrees in Theatre and Military Science making her great for this profiling position, but she’s not all work and no play. Nina has a love for all things art, including poetry, theatre, and film.

Learn more about Nina Soden here:  BLOG | AMAZON AUTHOR SITE

Without further ado, let’s see what this guy, Damian, is all about.

nomaleBasic Stats

Full Name: Damian Ward

Birth Date: May 24, 1993

Sex: Male

Height: 6’

Weight: 165 lbs. – Slender build with a chiseled face

Eye color: Silver/Grey

Hair color and length: Brown / Short

Language(s): English – Although he suffers from selective mutism due to a trauma he suffered as a young child.

Preferences

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: Steak

Favorite Book or Movie: Lord of the Rings (book and movie)

Favorite Music: Alternative

Favorite Pastime: Reading

Other likes: History

Biography:

As a young child Damian watched as his father’s life was brutally taken from him. Damian only survived because of his burning anger and growing hopes to one day seek revenge against the man—no, monster—that had killed his father. He struggled with selective mutism from that day forward, until he met Alee and learned a new form of communication. Their telepathic connection was only the beginning of Damian’s awakening. Soon he learned that his family’s bloodline held secrets that he never dreamed existed. With his new gift of transformation, Damian was able to see the world through new eyes with a new sense of purpose and strength. What he did with that power was devastating, but everyone makes mistakes—Damian learned from his. In Revenge, the soon to be released final installment of the Blood Angel Series, we learn that Damian, once Alee’s best friend, just might be her worst enemy and only person she can really trust.

Damian’s purpose in the Blood Angel Series

The Blood Angel Series focuses on Alee Moyer, a young girl who discovers there is more to life than anything she could have ever imagined. Having been diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia at a young age she spends most of her childhood in and out of hospitals. However, soon after her father’s death she learns that her real affliction isn’t something that is covered in the medical books. She is the first surviving dhampir in history, part vampire and part witch, and her life is about to change forever. Damian, although he has his own struggles and challenges to overcome throughout his childhood, is thrown into Alee’s life mid high school and although they don’t know it at first they were born to be enemies that won’t be able to survive without each other.

How does Damian feel about his/her book peers?

Damian’s sole focus is revenge, until he meets Alee and starts to experience feelings he has never had before. He learns to open up, develops closer friendships, and even begins his transformation from a mere human to a powerful lycanthrope. Although Damian and Alee share a strong connection, it isn’t until it’s too late before he realizes that what he is feeling is love. His best friend, Kyle, quickly becomes his rival when Kyle and Alee start dating. Victoria, Damian’s twin sister, is the only one he can turn to as their world begins to change around them and the reality of what it means to be a lycanthrope settles in.

About the Blood Angel Series

Awaken (book 1):

Awaken is set in a world very much like our own, yet Atlanta isn’t just an ordinary city and Alee Moyer isn’t just an ordinary girl. Having barely survived her childhood it will take the death of her father for the truth of her true bloodline to come out. Even if it means losing her life, or at least her identity she won’t be able to escape her true destiny as the first surviving Dhampir in history. Surrounded by a new world where the horror films she grew up watching have become reality and the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline, Alee will struggle to find herself and her purpose.

Beginnings (book 2):

Having lost her family Alee has been thrown into a new life and new world. Camouflaged by the mundane happenings of a high school existence she would never have guessed what was happening below the surface in, “The Underground”. She’s a Dhampir, the first in history, but with that power also comes danger. Will Alee be able to survive her destiny or will it prove more powerful than she?

Revenge (book 3):

Having died in her father’s arms only to awaken in a pool of blood surrounded by the corpses of the mutilated, her true love among them, who could blame her for what she did next? Wouldn’t you seek REVENGE?

Part horror thriller – part tender romance and filled with magic and paranormal delights – the Blood Angel Series will leave readers wanting more!

Awaken (book 1): http://amzn.com/0985885300 | http://wp.me/P1Ft9W-4K

Beginnings (book 2): http://amzn.com/B00D3G7RWM | http://wp.me/P1Ft9W-7J

Revenge (book 3): http://wp.me/P1Ft9W-bR

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Well now, that was fascinating. I am very pleased with this special insert to the Character Files from the ToiBox. I think my guest consultant, author Nina Soden, did a wonderful job and I wish her all the best with Damian and all the other characters from the Blood Angel Series. Be sure to pick up your pre-order copy of Revenge today, before its release in late August.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Books EC: Giovanni's Angel

4 Star Eternal Curse Review

Fiona of Fiona’s Book Reviews, March 4, 2014 (visit and or rate this review here)

What a refreshing change to read this book. It was so different to the books I have been reading lately and a joy to read.

This story almost reads like it was written many years ago. The language, the way it is written, and the storyline, could very easily be from times gone by.

I was drawn into the story immediately. We have two people meeting online, deciding to see each other face to face. This is something which happens all the time. But in this case one of those people is a doctor, the other is a man with unusual problems he needs help diagnosing.

The way the story progresses drew me in very quickly. Mira’s struggle to decipher Giovanni’s symptoms and past is an interesting one. And I loved the fact that we didn’t find out more till a lot later in the story. It kept the mystery alive throughout.

The friendship between Giovanni and Abraham is lovely. The way these 2 men have supported each other over the years is so nice. It is what a true friendship should be. Mira fits in well with both men, she doesn’t get in the way of the friendship. Instead it is enhanced by her presence.

I loved getting to the end and getting a little hint as to who the narrator is, plus the fact there is another book planned. If the next book is anything like this one I cannot wait to read it.

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A new edition of this book is now available. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords