Archive for the ‘Fantasy’ Category

	Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: LucasBooks (July 7, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 0345511530 ISBN-13: 978-0345511539	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Synopsis:

Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos and former Sith Apprentice Asajj Ventress are forced to team up on a mission to assassinate Darth Tyranus, otherwise known as Count Dooku.

Characters:

Quinlan Vos – Jedi Knight with an ability to retrieve memories of a person by touching an object they owned.
Asajj Ventress – Dathomirian Witch and former Sith Apprentice to County Dooku.

Review

I really liked this book. This was the first book in the new Canon, and concerned one of the EU characters that actually survived the whole Star Wars Canon reboot. Vos seemed to be a character that fans connected with, and it was good to finally see an adventure with him as the focus. Previous novels, now no longer part of the Canon had focused on Mace Windu, Yoda, and others. So it was good to see Vos get a little literary attention.

Asajj Ventress was never a character I connected with, but after readin this I really liked her. It’s clear she felt a little guilt and anger about her life as a Sith, and is wanting redemption and to be accepted, something the Jedi Council seems to make her feel will never happen.

Overall the whole plot of the story to assassinate Dooku never really seemed to be much of a plot, but seemed to be in there as a way to connect the two characters, and give them a goal to work towards cooparatively. Along the way there are different subplots and dangers they find themselves in. As a team, I’d love to see the two of them teamed up in more stories.

I’d definitely recommend this one to all the Star Wars fans out there. It’s one of the best of the new Canon and shouldn’t be missed, so grab a copy and stop back by to let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Award-winning author Christie Golden has written over thirty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists. She is the author of several original fantasy novels, including On Fire’s Wings, In Stone’s Clasp, and Under Sea’s Shadow, the first three in her multi-book fantasy series The Final Dance from LUNA Books.Among Golden’s other projects are over a dozen Star Trek novels and the well-received StarCraft Dark Templar trilogy, Firstborn, Shadow Hunters, and the forthcoming Twilight. An avid player of Blizzard’s MMORPG World of Warcraft, Golden has written several novels in that world (Lord of the Clans, Rise of the Horde) with three more in the works. She has also written two Warcraft manga stories for Tokyopop, I Got What Yule Need and A Warrior Made. Golden lives in Colorado with her husband and two cats.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Mass Market Paperback: 1104 pages Publisher: Bantam (September 26, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 055358202X ISBN-13: 978-0553582024	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Synopsis:

The never-ending struggle for the Iron Throne continues throughout Westeros with forces coming from all directions to claim it for themselves. Who will survive A Feast for Crows.

Characters:

Jon Snow – Illegitimate son of Ned Stark, Member of the Night’s Watch.
Sansa Stark – Oldest Daughter of Ned Stark
Arianne Martell – Princess of Dorne, and oldest child of Doran Martell.

Review

This was originally going to be one book. However, it was so large, that George R. R. Martin decided to split it into two books, this volume, and the companion volume Dances with Dragons. Each books focuses on half the characters, and one side of the world. In this case, it’s the people in and round Westeros.

A Large part of this novel focuses on the people of Dorne. Up until this point, we the readers haven’t seen much of Dorne. We’ve seen Oberyn Martell rather briefly in A Storm of Swords. This time we see many of his children, siblings, etc. This to me was one of the more interesting aspects to this story. I loved the daughters of Oberyn. The one aspect of the story that didn’t appeal to me, was the storyline with Arianne Martel and Myrcella Baratheon. Even after reading the whole series, I have no clue what that whole section was about.

Cersei Lannister in King’s Landing is facing problems of her own. A religious fundamentalist group has began a rise to power, and they aren’t very happy about her past behaviors. This storyline I rather liked, because after all her machinations in previous novels, she finally gets a bit of payback for her behaviors. Karma is indeed a bitter companion.

Arya Stark has arrived in Braavos and is beginning her training in the ways of Black and White. She’s fascinated with the thoughts of revenge and killing those who hurt her family. It may be the dark side of my soul, but I find her to be one of the more interesting characters in the whole series.

But in true Martin fashion, those are just some of the story threads you’ll read about in Feast of Crows. There are plenty more. Overall, this wasn’t my favorite book of the whole series. It just seemed to drag at times, and while it introduced a lot of new and interesting characters and places, nothing really seemed to move forward much.

If you’ve been reading A Song of Fire and Ice though, you’ll need to read this. If you haven’t, you’re really missing out. It’s a great fantasy series and while long winded and confusing in parts, takes you on a great ride. Definitely check it out, and stop by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally since then. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made.

In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Mass Market Paperback: 1216 pages Publisher: Bantam (March 4, 2003) Language: English ISBN-10: 055357342X ISBN-13: 978-0553573428	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Characters:

Brienne of Tarth – A Female Knight.
Arya Stark – The youngest, headstrong Stark Daughter.

Synopsis:

*********************** Warning Spoilers may apply for those who have not read the previous books *******************

The War of the 5 Kings is covering the major part of the landscape. Who will reign victorus. Will it be Joffrey Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Robb Stark, or are there other unseen forces waiting to seize the throne?

Review

The Third installment in George R. R. Martin’s Epic Fantasy series A Song of Fire and Ice. Brienne of Tarth is charged with returning Jaime Lannister to King’s Landing in exchange for Arya and Sansa. Along the way she must face many adversaries with their own agendas.

Robb Stark is busy trying to keep his army together as they continue to win battle after battle, while his little sister Arya finds herself on the run and joining with a group of rebels. Meanwhile, at the Wall, Jon Snow and his brothers find themselves defending the wall against a horde of wildlings.

This was the longest book in the series, and at times really seemed to drag a bit. While there was a lot of blood spilled, a lot of storyline, and a lot of action, there was also a lot that just seemed to drag me out of the story. George R. R. Martin can spin a great story, but there are times where he seems to spend way too much time on descriptive prose.

That being said though, I liked the book, and will continue on to read the last two in the series. I’m anxious to find out what occurs with all these characters, and that is where the strength of these novels come in, is in character development.

For those of you into the series, or lovers of fantasy novels, you definitely want to pick up this series. But for readers with limited attention spans, I don’t think this series would be for you. Definitely for older teens and adults to the violent content, language, sexual situations, etc.

If you give it a read, drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally since then. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made.

In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Great Plains Teen Fiction (September 1, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 1927855098 ISBN-13: 978-1927855096	Order book here:

Synopsis:

For seventeen-year-old Maggie Johnson, transitioning the dead isn’t hard. What’s tough is surviving the insults and pranks of Serge Popov, high school thug and the dumbest jock to ever set foot in Dead Falls, Alberta. When she finds him dead and later discovers his spirit trapped in her room, she figures it’s a case of divine justice. Let the jerk rot for eternity, bound to an earthly prison. But someone – or something – has a different agenda. If Maggie doesn’t help Serge cross over, she’ll die at the hands of the otherworldly entity that’s taken an interest in the dead bully. As she digs into the circumstances of Serge’s murder, she’ll uncover the secrets hidden by the world of the living and the wonders revealed by cities of the dead – if her investigation doesn’t kill her first.

Characters:

Maggie Johnson – Young High School girl discovering she has the ability to see and talk to the dead.
Serge Popov – Young High School boy, who is found dead.  Now he wants Maggie to find out why.

Review

This seemed like a strong departure for Ms. Deen, particularly from past works I’ve read of hers. I was used to books that were a bit of a mystery/thrillers but with comic twists. There wasn’t much lighthearted about this, and I think that was a good thing. The characters were so rich, and living. There were also big shifts. I began the story absolutely detesting the character of Serge. There wasn’t a thing to like about him. As a reader I was taken on the same journey as Maggie. I had to learn to tolerate him, and as I learned more about him, I actually began to feel sorry for the guy. To pull you in, and make you have real feelings towards the characters, is a beautiful gift.

It seems as if the story was left open at the end for further adventures of Maggie. If that is true, then I look forward to where her new life might take her. The plotting was very tight, and while I as the reader knew what was going on before the end, there were many other surprises in store for me.

Overall a great story, by a great author. I look forward to more of the story. Due to some dark imagery, I wouldn’t recommend this for all ages, but would recommend it for older teens and adults. So pick up a copy of Guardian, and be sure to stop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

When I was little, there was only one thing I wanted to be when I grew up: a superhero. Sadly, this goal was made moot when I realized that being a klutz was not in fact, a super power, and my super-weakness for anything bright and shiny meant that a magpie with self-control could easily defeat me in a battle of wills. Hence, the turn to writing as an occupation. I don’t get to live on a secret space station orbiting the earth (and thank God, because I get motion sick on a merry-go-round), but I still get to wear leotards, a cape and say things like, “STAND ASIDE! THIS IS A JOB FOR WRITING-GIRL!”

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Natasha for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: William Morrow (February 3, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 0062330268 ISBN-13: 978-0062330260	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Synopsis:

Multiple award winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things—which includes a never-before published American Gods story, “Black Dog,” written exclusively for this volume.

In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction—stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013—as well “Black Dog,” a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods, exclusive to this collection.

Trigger Warning explores the masks we all wear and the people we are beneath them to reveal our vulnerabilities and our truest selves. Here is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghosts stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explore the realm of experience and emotion. In Adventure Story—a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane—Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience A Calendar of Tales are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year—stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother’s Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale The Case of Death and Honey. And Click-Clack the Rattlebag explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we’re all alone in the darkness.

Review

I’ve never read Neil Gaiman’s work before. As such, I’m not 100% sure how qualified I am to critique it. When I was approached to do this review though, I thought it was a great opportunity to get to know his work. I expected, that with a title like Trigger Warnings, that there would stuff that offended my sensibilities. That really didn’t seem to occur.

What did occur, is that I struggled with the book. My first impressions was of someone on an acid trip, writing about the things he was having during his hallucinatory fantasies. I wasn’t sure that I was able to finish, then I talked to others, and discovered this was just Mr. Gaiman’s style of writing, and was intended to leave me scratching my head.

With that knowledge in hand, I returned to the book and continued to trudge through the stories, and found a few that I really liked. My personal favorites: A Doctor Who story, an elderly Sherlock Holmes story, and a twist on the Sleeping Beauty story.

While I didn’t love or even understand the point of everything written, maybe the point was there was no point, I found myself entertained, and for that alone I’d recommend this. I’d say definitely due to content, that it is only for older audiences. But for those who are fans of Mr. Gaiman, or of his style, I think you’d like this. Check it out and be sure to drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

A sophisticated writer whose creative genius is unparalleled, Gaiman entrances with his literary alchemy, transporting us deep into the realm of imagination, where the fantastical becomes real and the everyday incandescent.

Full of wonder and terror, surprises and amusements, Trigger Warning is a treasury of delights that engage the mind, stir the heart, and shake the soul from one of the most unique and popular literary artists of our day.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Heid at Harper Collins for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

1 people like this post.

Like 

	Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Del Rey (July 8, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 0345540700 ISBN-13: 978-0345540706	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Characters:

Paxon Leah – Descendent of the prince’s of Leah and holder of the Sword of Leah.
Chrysallin Leah – Paxon’s Sister.
Arcannen – Dark Magician with ambitions to take over the Druid Order.

Synopsis:

A young man is drawn into adventure when his sister is kidnapped by a dark wizard. Unknown to him, he is about to awaken some long dormant powers that are a legacy of his family.

Review

I’m a huge fan of Terry Brooks and with each book release I look forward to it with eager anticipation. This book was no exception. It varied slightly from the normal formula. No Wizard convincing the average person to take up an adventure. This time the hero takes on the adventure of his own accord, in order to rescue his sister. Along the way, the story follows the classic mythological/fantasy pattern. The young man discovers his own dormant powers. Along the way he also forms his own little group of adventurers.

This was a fun fantasy novel,that once again took me to a world I love to visit. While a lot of the plots have been revisited, the characters still feel fresh and appeal to me. I look forward to Mr. Brooks next release.

If you’re a fan of Fantasy, or of Mr. Brooks writing, then you definitely want to check this book out. Be sure to drop in and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Terry Brooks is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books, including the Dark Legacy of Shannara adventure Wards of Faerie; the Legends of Shannara novels Bearers of the Black Staff and The Measure of the Magic; the Genesis of Shannara trilogy: Armageddon’s Children, The Elves of Cintra, and The Gypsy Morph; The Sword of Shannara; the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy: Ilse Witch, Antrax, and Morgawr; the High Druid of Shannara trilogy: Jarka Ruus, Tanequil, and Straken; the nonfiction book Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life; and the novel based upon the screenplay and story by George Lucas, Star Wars:® Episode I The Phantom Menace.™

His novels Running with the Demon and A Knight of the Word were selected by the Rocky Mountain News as two of the best science fiction/fantasy novels of the twentieth century. The author was a practicing attorney for many years but now writes full-time. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Mass Market Paperback: 1040 pages Publisher: Bantam; Reissue edition (March 6, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0345535421 ISBN-13: 978-0345535429	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Synopsis:

The battle for the Iron Throne and Westeros continues as 7 people vye for the role of King. War, Destruction, and the loss of life is in store for the people of Westeros, as many fall victim to the power struggle.

Characters:

Robb Stark – Lord of Winterfell and King of the North.
Joffrey Baratheon – King of the Seven Kingdoms
Stannis Baratheon – Claimant to the Throne and Joffrey’s Uncle.
Daenerys Targaryen – The Mother of Dragons and daughter of a former King.

Review

This is the second book in the Song of Fire and Ice Series. The title comes from the fact that with the death of Robert of Baratheon, and the questionable rise of his heir Joffrey, there are struggles all over Westeros for King. Not only has Joffrey taken the throne, but Robert’s brothers Renly and Stannis also claim the throne. Robb Stark is named King of the North, while Theon Greyjoy has anointed himself King of the Iron Islands. With all these Kings running around, there can only be one result, War.

Tyrion Lannister tries to forge his own path to power through his being named as the acting Hand of the King.

Arya Stark is on the run after her father’s death, and posing as a boy joins a group headed to join the Night’s Watch.

Jon Snow and a group of the Night’s Watch are sent after the Wildlings and the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder.

Daenerys meanwhile in the East is still trying to amass her own loyal followers and make her own power base.

Like the previous installment, none of the characters are completely safe. Favorite characters will die, and some will be altered in major ways as the events, the war, and the power struggles play out and impact their lives.

The characters just keep getting more interesting in these books. Like the previous book, each chapter is seen through the POV of one of 9 characters. For some this format may be a bit hard to follow, because you tend to jump all around the world of Westeros from character to character. However, if you can manage to follow it all, the result is well worth it.

Like before, there is a lot of violence, sex, and strong language, so for older audiences only. If you’re a fan of the TV show, you should really read the books as they fill in a lot more of the details than the show manages to. But beware, because there are major spoilers to the TV show.

For a great fantasy, though a rather large book to read, be sure and pick up a Clash of Kings, and drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally since then. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made.

In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Mass Market Paperback: 864 pages Publisher: Bantam; Mti Rep edition (March 22, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0553593714 ISBN-13: 978-0553593716	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Synopsis:

A violent, sexually driven medieval kingdom called Westeros, in which the most powerful families battle it out for control of the Iron Throne, and the kingship of Westeros.

Characters:

Eddard Stark – Patriarch of the Stark Family, Hand to King Robert Baratheon, and Lord of Winterfell.
Tyrion Lannister – Dwarf with a smart ass attitude, but seems to be a more decent person than his family.

Review

It took me a long time to get around to reading this book. The mere size of each volume is a bit intimidating. But once you read it, and begin to understand the characters, it becomes quite the addiction. Each chapter focuses on a specific character, and alternates beteen a core group of the characters and how the events relate to them. The characters are very well developed, the plotlines are thrilling, and there are constant cliffhangers.

Unlike many novels though in the fantasy genre, this one doesn’t rely as much on the basic fantasy elements, elves, trolls, orcs, etc. Instead the protagonists are humans, wildlings, and others not yet seen.

Due to a lot of the sexual content and violence though, this is definitely one for older readers, but if you are a fan of edgy fantasy, on an epic scale, then you definitely need to pick up A Game of Thrones.

About the Author

George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally since then. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made.

In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

0 people like this post.

Like 

	Ebook Publisher: Tal Publishing (February 16, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: n/a ISBN-13: 978-n/a	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Characters:

Emiel Dharr – Spice Trader
Jorga – A Khatala Warrior
Amoura Xanna – Magus assigned to help escort Emiel.
Selvetar – A Powerful Magus with his own agenda.

Synopsis:

Spice Trader Emiel arrives home to find his twin daughter’s missing. They’ve been taken, and are being held prisoner in order to force him to deliver a package to the city of Altarra. His only companions in this adventure are a mercenary who despises him, and a Magus who confuses him. In another part of the world, Joga, a Khatala sets out on a mission of manhood. Despised by those non Khatala’s, he’s alone in his survival, until he finds some companions of his own. Along the way both groups learn to challenge long held beliefs and learn about themselves in the process.

Review

R. J. Terrell once again dives into the realm of Fantasy novels. This time it’s a world created from his own imagination. It’s populated with believable and likeable characters. He very carefully, whether purposefully, or just through the art of storytelling, follows the Mythical Heroe’s Journey pattern. Emiel is the reluctant adventurer, thrust into a world unfamiliar to him.

The combat scenes along the way are very well written, and move very quickly. There’s never a spot, where I as a reader grew bored. A mark of a good fantasy is if it addresses contemporary issues, and Mr. Terrell manages to do so within the pages of Unleashed without becoming too preachy or obvious.

Overall, a very fun Fantasy novel and I anxiously await the next entry. For a rating, I’d say older teens and adults due to combat situations, and dark imagery. But for fans of Fantasy, you should pick up Unleashed. If you do, be sure to drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

R. J. Terrell was instantly a lover of fantasy the day he opened R. A. Salvatore’s: The Crystal Shard. Years (and many devoured books) later he decided to put pen to paper for his first novel. After a bout with aching carpals, he decided to try the keyboard instead, and the words began to flow. When not writing, he enjoys reading, videogames, and long walks with his wife around Stanley Park in Vancouver BC.

Connect with me at:

R J Terrell on Facebook

RJTerrell on Twitter

R. J. Terrell on Goodreads

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Mr. Terrel for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

1 people like this post.

Like 

	Paperback: 344 pages Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (September 20, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1623809258 ISBN-13: 978-1623809256	Order book here:
		Order E-book here:

Characters:

King Arthur – The British Monarch resurrected in the 21st Century.
Lance – A young homeless boy chosen as First Knight.

Synopsis:

King Arthur is reawakened in modern Los Angeles with one goal in mind, recreate the Round Table. But this time, he’s going to do things differently.

Review

This was an amazing book, and a series that I will definitely follow. It deals with a lot of social issues, and while telling a fictional story, tackles real world problems. We as a society abandon our children, we leave them to their own devices. As a result, they get involved in drugs, prostitution, gangs and other problems. We then want them punished as adults. We expect adult actions and responsibility, but deny them adult rights and priviledges. It’s areas such as this where this book really shines in delivering it’s message, and the message leaves an impact.

The characters are realistically drawn, and I found myself caring about them. The characters are pulled from all walks of life, and the theme is it’s what is inside that matters. I felt as if I was really reading about broken children. And even despite their rejection, these children rise above it and become a positive force. I just can’t find all the words to explain how much I loved the idea behind this book, and it was obvious that it came from the author’s heart.

I’d recommend it for older teens and adults since it does deal with adult issues such as drugs, teen sexuality, gangs, and abuse. It’s not stories for everyone. Some may find themselves bothered by the content and be unable to read this book, but for others I think they’d find something to love about this book. I recommend it, and if you grab it and read it I’d like to know your thoughts.

About the Author

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of three novels – A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time, and Children of the Knight – who grew up in San Rafael, California.

He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University and earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.

He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II,” the reviews of which are much more fun than the actual movies.

He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook.

He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to seven different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, something that is sorely lacking in this state. He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed he and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.

He has already completed the two continuations of Children of the Knight that complete the trilogy – Running Through A Dark Place & And The Children Shall Lead. Both will likely be released in 2014.

Web Site: michaeljbowler.com.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Nicole at Tribute Book Tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

2 people like this post.

Like