Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

Just like the famous line from Poltergeist II… I’m back!!!!

I want to say thank you for being understanding about my time away.  Sometime life just has a way of getting in the way of the things you really want to do, like read awesome books! But I’m back now and boy do I have the perfect book to get you ready for my favorite time of year, Halloween!

You might have seen previews for a movie about a haunted box, or seen a certain show on a cable network about the same haunted box, but have you read a book about a spirit box?!

The Spirit Box by JH Glaze tells the story of Walt Turner, whose mother has recently passed away.  He has inherited her apartment, his life long home, and the antique shop below.  After losing his job, The Spirit Box calls out to him from the darkness of his mothers shop.

While Walt is trying to decide if the Spirit Box can make all his dreams come true, Detective John Hazard is investigating a series of murders and missing persons in his quiet town. His reality is about to be altered in a life changing way, which will force him to rethink what is real and what isn’t.

The Spirit Box is well written, faced paced book that literally leaves you on the edge of your seat needing to know what happens next! I stayed up way to late several nights in a row because I needed to know how the story was going to end.

JH Glaze does a wonderful job of developing his characters and allowing you to understand their motives, even if you may not agree with them.  I found myself sympathizing with Walt about his situation and really hoping that he’d know the right thing to do. And I might have even found myself not liking Detective John Hazard, for me he came across as a bit of bad cop, with some questionable ethics for sure.

You may not want to look into The Spirit Box because you just might have more than your breath taken away.

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

I’ve arrived at that time of the year where I am crazy busy, and as much as I want to read books for my own personal pleasure, it’s just not possible.  Instead my nose is burried in text books or I’m covered in thread from a project that is due the next day.  Oh the joys of being in college and taking hands on classes!

But don’t fret I do have a recommendation for you!  If you love short story collections, then the Uncanny Valley by Brian R. Dennis is a wonderful and thought provoking read. His short stories give you plenty to think about during your holiday vacations or breaks! And hopefully during my own break I can come back and give this wonderful book a full review. It’s certainly a must read again for me!

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Today all over the United States people have been standing in line for hours in hopes of getting that one great deal on their special someone’s Christmas gift! Unless of course you’re me then you prefer to stay home in your pajamas, eating leftovers and sleeping off the tryptophan hangover you occurred the day before.

And because of that I love Cyber Monday!  And to make it even easier I’ve put together a list of some more of my favorite books I’ve reviewed in the last few months.  Hopefully you’ll be able to find just the right book for that avid reader on your list!

As much as I love to read, sometimes I just don’t have time to read a full-length novel.  That is where a well-written short story comes in handy.  Scott Burgess’ The Plague: Dead Solstice fits the bill very nicely!

The Plague has a good, solid story line and is filled with inspired writing, which made for a fun read. I enjoyed Burgess’ use of dry humor and intriguing character development. It was not as much a predicable read as many zombie books could be and I literally laughed out loud at Burgess’ humor and attention to the characters’ details. He definitely kept my attention throughout the story.

And for those readers who appreciate a good romance I highly recommend the next two books.

Modern Witch is a cute and very entertaining book, easily read in an afternoon. It kept my interest from start to finish with its refreshing concept. It’s an airy contemporary fantasy with plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, a little romance, and characters you won’t want to leave.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the author, but she certainly won me over. I was drawn in by her words and almost put sound to the voices. If you’re looking for something lighthearted that will make you smile, this book is it!

Addison Moore crafts a tale of girly goodness in Ethereal.  If you enjoyed the Twilight series, the Vampire Diaries or just enjoy a good paranormal love story then you will most certainly like Ethereal.

I really enjoyed reading Ethereal.  It was a different take on the angel genre, that also had a strong, non whiney female lead that wasn’t content with just sitting around and waiting for whatever fate has in store for her.

Do you have an evil genius on your Christmas list?  Well How to Succeed in Evil would be the perfect gift for him or her!

Patrick E. McLean’s story, How to Succeed in Evil reads like a how-to guide on achieving evil through any means.  Edwin is frustrated with the lack of good super villains as clients, and has had to settle for D list villains whom he finds incredibly frustrating and haven’t helped with the bottom line of his business.

McLean’s story is full of bigger then life characters, both literally and figuratively.  Wait until you meet Topper!  They just jump off the page at you while you read about their inner most desires, needs for revenge and plans for ruling all of mankind.

I absolutely loved Torment: A Novel of Dark Terror by Jeremy Bishop! Torment was a fast read, a little heavy, but still very enjoyable!  I found myself wrapped up in the story from the very first chapter.   I was convinced that this was going to be a story about an alien invasion, but was pleasantly surprised to watch as it turned into a tale of human survival in a post apocalyptic world.

Torment is a social science fiction novel; meaning it is concerned less with technology and space opera type themes and deals more with sociological speculation about human society and beliefs.  The religious undercurrent helps flesh out the characters and allows you to see their differing opinions of god, and what life really means.

Hopefully this list will keep you in bed at 4 am instead of out in the cold with the rest of the crazies and make you the best Santa in the whole universe!

Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

Blue Earth would not be a typical pick for me when deciding on a new book to review, that being said I really enjoyed reading it!

Jeff Stover paints a detailed and wonderful story in this page-turner of a book. The book takes place in a futuristic setting the story and the characters within making it seem not necessarily plausible, but definitely possible.

I found myself totally swept away by this book starting with the intro. There is an intriguing mystery that runs through the whole story, as well as some interesting and unique characters. I enjoyed Stover’s diversity of personality among the main characters. Blue Earth is fast paced, with tons of action, cool sci-fi ideas and genuine heart.

Embattled doctoral candidate Ruth Long struggles between playing it safe in the conservative world of academia and reaching out to truly discover humanity within a 12-member brotherhood of mutants, called Thrones. Jamal Battle, a former soldier turned bounty hunter, must determine whether he will continue to destroy for the rest of his life, or finally protect creatures with primitive values which are now so foreign.

Stover set a lofty goal for himself when writing Blue Earth – blending science fiction with religion. Not only does he meet this goal, but also he does so with a mix of tact and tenacity that few sci-fi authors are able to reach. The world that Stover creates around the reader is as compelling as it is mysterious, and the juxtaposition between Jamal and Ruth highlights his ability to create a dynamic spectrum of personalities that will keep you hooked from page one.

Blue Earth is science fiction in a philosophical sense – no techno-geek vocabulary. It has good story telling, a provocative story line that will keep you turning pages and asking the question “what is “normal?””

If you’re into science fiction and are a deep thinker, this is definitely a book you want check out – and Jeff Stover is an author you’ll want to keep your eye on.

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

The gift giving season is upon us and I thought I’d give you my top five favorite books I’ve read so far for Weird Things in case you’re in need of a great book for someone on your shopping list.

Honestly it’s hard for me to pick just a few, but I’ve narrowed it down to my top five books and short stories that I’ve read.  Hopefully you will agree!

My first suggestion would be The Old Man and the Wasteland. This stands as far and away my favorite story that I have read since starting doing these reviews.

It’s not often that a book brings me to tears, but The Old Man and the Waste Land by Nick Cole did just that.  Cole’s writing is so incredibly beautiful you cannot help but cry over the awe inducing descriptions of a sunset… only to realize that it’s a sunset in post apocalyptica.

Dead Dwarves Don’t Dance is an awesome read! It is a fantastic mash up of the pulp fiction and sci-fi genres.   Action abounds as you join Noose on his mission to hunt down neo human terrorists who attacked a dwarven dance club and in the process killed someone close to him.

After enjoying Dead Dwarves Don’t Dance so much, it should come as no surprise that I love to read detective stories.

That’s why I enjoyed Hard Day’s Knight by John Hartness so much! Plus it’s about vampires!!! Hartness writes a story that feels like a cross between Moonlight and Cara Lockwood’s Every Demon Has His Day.  His writing is witty, culturally relevant and has a good dose of pop culture references to keep you turning the pages to see just how bad it can get for these two self-professed nerdy, permanently college-aged vampires.

Another book I really enjoyed was Deadly Intent by Laura Eno.  In fact I’ve continued to read her work for my own personal enjoyment.

Deadly Intent is a story with emotionally driven characters that are very easy to relate too.  You can’t help but feel for Jonathon and sympathize with his granddaughter Abbie as they both fight for what they hold dear.

And if I am being totally honest with you I love a good story with a strong female lead, hence my love for the short story Freak Show by Richard Jones.

Jones creates a world of horrible wonder with Frankenstein heads in boxes, mysterious eggs, and an otherworldly beautiful man that is hell bent on tempting Natalie to join him and his nefarious ends.

If you have a book lover on your Christmas shopping list who is into science fiction or fantasy, then these books would make a great choice for a gift!

Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

As much as I love to read, sometimes I just don’t have time to read a full-length novel.  That is where a well-written short story comes in handy.  Scott Burgess’ The Plague: Dead Solstice fits the bill very nicely!

Burgess’ Dead Solstice is the first chapter of a 14 part series. It follows the story of Dean Gothurd as he wakes up in a now zombie-infested Southern California and must work with his friends, and others he meets along the way, to find safety from the brain-hungry hordes of the undead in what is Burgess’ interpretation of the culturally popular idea of the Zombie Apocalypse.

The Plague has a good, solid story line and is filled with inspired writing, which made for a fun read. I enjoyed Burgess’ use of dry humor and intriguing character development. It was not as much a predicable read as many zombie books could be and I literally laughed out loud at Burgess’ humor and attention to the characters’ details. He definitely kept my attention throughout the story.

I thought it was also a funny read; funny but with the whispers of a clever plot just ahead. I like the pay as you go route that Burgess has chosen, because there is nothing worse than putting out hard earned money for a dead fish book… unless of course your down with necrophilia, which might be possible because you are considering buying a zombie story! Let’s just hope there are no overbearing romantic tropes to trudge through in the rest of the series.

I was wrapped up in the story all the way until the end. It had a great balance of suspense, true to life dialogue, and humorous color. Zombies aren’t a genre that I am normally interested in; they really genuinely creep me out… but I can’t wait until the next episode. This is a winner, in the right place and just in time for a quick read before Halloween!

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be a witch living today?  How do you pay your bills?  Where do you go to find others like you?  Well Modern Witch by Debora Geary answers all those questions.

Modern Witch is a cute and very entertaining book, easily read in an afternoon. It kept my interest from start to finish with its refreshing concept. It’s an airy contemporary fantasy with plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, a little romance, and characters you won’t want to leave.

After reading several heavy horror stories I was in the mood for something lighter and maybe just a little more girlie. This led me to Modern Witch and I am so glad it did!  I love fantasy, sci- fi, urban fantasy, horror, any way I can get it. I read it voraciously. I don’t have impossibly high standards, but to name a few; interesting characters, dialogue, and a compelling plot is a requirement.  The characters and storylines made for a quick and enchanting read. Which allowed me to fall in love with Debora’s characters.  When I closed the book it was with the heavy heart of leaving the characters behind.

This novel does not start with the typical intro you’d expect from books that involved witches, but it is supposed to be a “modern” witch story. I even got teary eyed in a few parts of the book.  It is quite an enjoyable novel and not dark at all. If you are looking for a more “witchy” or dark tale this book is not for you.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the author, but she certainly won me over. I was drawn in by her words and almost put sound to the voices. If you’re looking for something lighthearted that will make you smile, this book is it!

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

1066 Oleander Place seems a typical tract house in Southern California. It looks just like all the other houses in its subdivision, but what no one understands is that this house is deadly, very deadly. It consumes all who enter it, spiritually, psychologically, and physically. Even a short visit to the place challenges fate. Can you imagine Thanksgiving in that house!?

The Slab is a haunted house story, which takes place in a tract home in modern-day California. It was filled with the deep dark foreboding that makes horror novels so captivating. The atmosphere was spooky and frequently scary. The thought of your home not being a safe place to be just adds to the creep factor of this book.

What happens on Oleander should stay on Oleander! Domestic violence, sexual and animal abuse is shown to you in a way that will have you wanting to put this book down because it’s just too disturbing to keep reading. Despite this, I found myself wanting to finish reading to see the final outcome. One thing is for sure, you will be thankful when you are done reading. Thankful that you never lived at 1066 Oleander!

There have been lots of books written about haunted houses, and I have read quite a few myself, but Michael Collings doesn’t give into clichés. You’ll find no cold spots or levitating objects here. Rather, each horror becomes personal to the individual experiencing it.

It did start out a little slow and I wondered where it was going in the beginning, but I kept reading. Like I mentioned earlier, I found it hard to put down. The horrors in this book will keep you reading and the ending left me shocked and sad. It had a creepy vibe and a sense of history. The characters were also well fleshed out in my opinion.

The Slab is a great read and I highly recommended for people who don’t mind graphic horror novels.

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

“Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just eat people, like a normal vampire, but no, not only do I have a conscience, I have a roommate with a Kal-el complex and a priest for a best friend. “

I love vampires and I love detective stories, so imagine my excitement when I came across Hard Days Knight by John Hartness!  He’s taken two of my favorite genres and combined them into one heck of a story!

It’s the week before Halloween and all Hell is about to break loose, quite literally.

Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired by a young boy to keep him from being cursed for all eternity, but end up with a bigger problem than they could have ever imagined; a problem roughly the size of the 7^th circle of Hell.

Hartness writes a story that feels like a cross between Moonlight and Cara Lockwood’s Every Demon Has His Day.  His writing is witty, culturally relevant and has a good dose of pop culture references to keep you turning the pages to see just how bad it can get for these two self-professed nerdy, permanently college-aged vampires.

Our protagonists find themselves trapped in the middle of a multiple kidnapping case, during which Jimmy and Greg uncover a plan to bring forth an archduke of Hell.  In their attempt to thwart a literal Hell on earth situation they enlist the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, and a fallen angel (who also happens to own strip club) to save the world. This unusual group of human and non-human band together to stop zombies, witches, neuroses and potentially the worst sunburn of their lives while cracking jokes and searching for the perfect midnight snack.

Hard Day’s Knight is a perfect fall read, just in time for Halloween!

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail 

“Falling in love is a lot like death.  It chooses you. It decides the moment and the chain of events that will preclude the precise intersection of life in which it occurs.”

Addison Moore crafts a tale of girly goodness in Ethereal.  If you enjoyed the Twilight series, the Vampire Diaries or just enjoy a good paranormal love story then you will most certainly like Ethereal.

Ethereal tells the story of young girl named Skyla who moves from sunny Los Angeles to foggy Paragon Island off the coast of Washington with her mother, sister and new step father and siblings.

Once on Paragon Island Skyla discovers that she is special in many ways and that she is not alone, especially on the island.   There she meets two handsome cousins, who both vie for her attention while trying to keep her safe from some of heavens darker elements.

I really enjoyed reading Ethereal.  It was a different take on the angel genre, that also had a strong, non whiney female lead that wasn’t content with just sitting around and waiting for whatever fate has in store for her.

Plus lets be honest what girl doesn’t like to read a good love story?  We can all relate to that feeling of being swept up in the good looks and charming personality of a new boy.

And then you throw in the supernatural/ sci-fi element and that love story becomes an intriguing tale of mystery and suspense.  Follow Skyla on her journey to discover who or what she is and what that will mean for her future and the future of her relationships.

If you are looking for a good romance with strong sci-fi elements then you should definitely pick up Ethereal.  You will not be disappointed!

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

Imagine a world a millennia from our current time line. Humanity is still engaged in warfare, but now has it down almost to an exact science. Government-funded armies still exist, however there are also independent mercenary groups for hire ready to engage in campaigns. In this enjoyable sci-fi action and adventure, author Jed Fisher has conjured up an entire universe in such detail that the reader can easily become engrossed in it.

First Enlistment: War for Profit Part One follows a group of boys fresh from one of many military academies, as they enlist for their first taste of warfare. First Enlistment, the first book of three currently in the War for Profit series, focuses on the details of soldiering; for example weapons training, and tactics. In particular, the author focuses on a cadet’s mission inside a tank and the technical knowhow that goes along with it.

The book is very action oriented, and draws heavily on the author’s military background. As I continued reading, I found myself thinking of this book as a sci-fi inspired telling of Full Metal Jacket.  The story focuses very heavily on military themes, and very little on the backgrounds of its characters. It does not delve into how or why they ended up on different planets that don’t seem to be located in our galaxy. This however is not necessarily a detriment to the story though, as readers with similar interests will feel right at home, but I would have liked some of those other elements to be more fleshed out.

I liked the author’s story line and the characters were more or less believable. I did feel that the characters were not quite developed enough. It’s hard for me to put my finger on it, but the writing seemed “light,” incomplete, not quite enough depth. This book is also a little fast paced at times, and clear time frames that might have helped with this have been left out. It holds up like any good science fiction and I think you will enjoy this book.

So if you enjoy military and or sci-fi stories I know you will not be disappointed with First Enlistment: War for Profit Part One.

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

If you are looking for intriguing characters, antagonists with a very plausible attack on society, and fast moving plot that will leave you holding on for the next turn, then Thermals by Evan C. Currie is for you!

With a fascinating premise, characters that evolve, and science that has me wishing for tomorrow, Evan’s novel delivered a great read that had me waiting for the next adventure of Anselm.

When Interpol Inspector Anselm Gunnar assigned the job of tracking down one of the world’s most wanted eco terrorists, he is expecting the job to be a straightforward liaison assignment with the local police. However, the inspector is about to learn that the man everyone thinks is hiding from the law is actually planning something much worse then any thing he has in the past.

The story builds logically from the methodical actions of one agent to a frantic skirmish involving a large number of characters both good and evil.  Both the villains and the heroes are well written and intelligent, lending the main characters Amir and Anselm believability.

The science behind the power generation, and detailed descriptions make the Tower an intriguing and edgy backdrop to this story of bio-terrorism.  The science fiction elements are fairly light, very near-future stuff.

Thermals is a fast moving near future thriller about terrorism that will keep you turning the pages as fast as your eReader, and your eyes can. From the start it builds to a rising crescendo that will leave you winded and cheering.

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Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

It’s not often that a book brings me to tears, but The Old Man and the Waste Land by Nick Cole did just that.  Cole’s writing is so incredibly beautiful you cannot help but cry over the awe inducing descriptions of a sunset… only to realize that it’s a sunset in post apocalyptica.

The Old Man and the Waste Land is the story of the destruction of civilization where man is reduced to salvaging the ruins of a post apocalyptic world. A survivor of the Nuclear Holocaust journeys into the unknown, with the words of Hemingway’s The Old Man and Sea echoing in his head, to prove to himself that he is still somehow useful.

Even the way Cole describes the “Horde” that develops out of a now lawless society is full of awe and wonder.  All of it is so exquisitely written that you cannot help but feel that you are there in that very situation experiencing it for yourself.

Cole’s story is also one of survival and endurance. The Old Man must use his wits to survive the desert wilderness and lawless inhabitants of what is left of our world to discover the truth behind Hemingway’s classic tale of man versus nature.

I cannot say enough about how beautiful Cole’s prose is! He tells a story in such a way that you become immediately emotionally connected to the main character.  You find yourself holding your breath when things are not going well for The Old Man.  You root and cheer for him in the hope that even though society as we know it has been destroyed, The Old Man and his village can be rebuilt and start anew.

I urge you, no I demand that you go out and buy The Old Man and the Waste Land! You will not be disappointed!

[Amazon]

Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

Even evil villains need help, and when they do they hire Edwin Windsor, Evil Efficiency Consultant.  Edwin’s job is to help make the villains more villainous or at the very least more profitable.

Patrick E. McLean’s story, How to Succeed in Evil reads like a how-to guide on achieving evil through any means.  Edwin is frustrated with the lack of good super villains as clients, and has had to settle for D list villains whom he finds incredibly frustrating and haven’t helped with the bottom line of his business.

My reason for reading this book was purely self-centered.  Lately I had been feeling my plans for world domination had been lacking that…je ne sais quoi.  I started reading in hopes of finding some pointers as to what I needed to do to bring my game to the next level, along the lines of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy, Carnage from Spiderman, Sinister from The X-Men or HIM from the Power Puff Girls…

… And I was not disappointed.

Edwin Windsor has no qualms telling his clientele what they are doing is wrong.  He beautifully explains why world domination has not been theirs yet with an eloquence all his own.  He gives great advice as to what is the most important part of being an evil villain… money!   Money is what makes the world go ‘round.

Your plan to take over the world involves building a giant laser in space and then aim it at Washington D.C.?  You’re going to need a lot of money to do that.  But when Edwin’s current client refuses to listen to him he decides it’s time to appeal to his deeper needs.

McLean’s story is full of bigger then life characters, both literally and figuratively.  Wait until you meet Topper!  They just jump off the page at you while you read about their inner most desires, needs for revenge and plans for ruling all of mankind.

So if you’re like me, and feeling your plans for world domination are lacking, How to Succeed in Evil is a must read!

[Amazon]

Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

What would you get if you combined Sam Spade of the Maltese Falcon fame with Rick Deckard from Blade Runner?  You would get Noose from Dead Dwarves Don’t Dance by Derek J. Canyon.

Dead Dwarves Don’t Dance is a fantastic mash up of pulp fiction and sci-fi genres.   Action abounds as you join Noose on his mission to hunt down neo human terrorists who attacked a dwarven dance club and in the process killed someone close to him.

Derek J. Canyon’s words create an intriguing picture of world that is post World War III; A world where the news is filled with nothing but sex, violence and gore because it keeps the ratings high. Also, the government that has broken down and what remains is a city-state like situation. People are now genetically engineered to meet specific needs.  These “neo humans” include Dwarves, Goons (imagine The Thing but made of flesh instead of stone) and Pleasers, who are made to “please” people.  But not everyone is happy with neo human’s existence.

If you were a genetically engineered person, grown in a vat for a specific purpose or job, where does the nature versus nurture argument come into play for you?  The nature versus nurture issue has been around for ages, and scholars still haven’t concluded which of the two has a greater effect on a person. Nature, referring to heredity, and the nurture, referring to the environment, are two very compelling explanations as to why we are who we are today.  Canyon tries to answer this question as Noose struggles with what he is versus what he wants to be.  Will he be able to walk away from the only job he’s known, or will he just keep doing what he was grown to do?

I really cannot say enough good things about Dead Dwarves Don’t Dance!  I was captivated from the first paragraph. If you are a fan of pulp fiction and/or science fiction then you will love this book.   If you’re not you should still pick up this book because it’s a great read and a steal at only .99 cents!

[Amazon]

Simone Allyne is the Weird Things eBook reviewer focusing on readily available, affordable Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you have a book you’d like reviewed, please email WeirdThingsMail@Gmail

There is nothing better than the feeling of embarking on a great adventure and the excitement that comes along with that uncertainty.   Trainport by Suzanne Leavitt leaves you feeling just like that.

Trainport is quick easy read.  I found it very refreshing and unique to read a sci-fi novella from a young girl’s point of view.   It took me back to my days as a teenager and the need to break free of what I thought was such a boring life.

Laurens’s adventure begins during a family trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but all hell breaks loose when her dad goes missing. Lauren takes it upon herself to help him clear his name.

You are immediately drawn in by the main character Lauren’s desire to break free of the monotony of her 16 year old life.  She already knows that there is so much more for her out there than her small town life has to offer.

I liked the concept of what a trainport was as well.  A trainport is a mode of transportation utilizing a train and a lightning rod. It uses an atom smasher and electromagnetic cesium-rubidium rocks to power it for inter-dimensional travel.

My only issue with Trainport is that I found the writing style made it a little hard to really get into the story.   I felt like I was constantly being pulled out of the story when dialogue ended and I went back to being told what the characters were doing. The story was more effective when I was just feeling like I was there with them.

Over all I really enjoyed Trainport and I think that it’s a great last read of the summer.  It allows you feel like you’ve gone on a great adventure even if your vacation funds have started to run low.

[Trainport is available for .99 cents on Amazon]