The Dragon Storm - Gates

The Dragon Storm - Gates by Anthony DiPaolo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lengthy but worthwhile read...

THE DRAGON STORM – GATES by Anthony DiPaolo is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this supernatural thriller that it guarantees the attention of the reader. This book had me turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.

The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘Join Alexander Storm as he leads a diverse team of would-be-heroes around the world in search of the Twelve Hours of Night. The fabled Ancient Egyptian papyrus has been split into twelve parts and secreted around the globe at major archaeological sites. With only a set of intricate riddles as their guide, the team must face all manner of supernatural nemesis as they race against time and a duo of enigmatic demons who are hellbent on acquiring the Twelve Hours and opening the gates to Hell on Earth.’

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well-written supernatural suspenseful thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense will want it.

THE DRAGON STORM – GATES had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended to all fans of paranormal suspense and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Harvesting Earthlings for Fun and Profit

Harvesting Earthlings for Fun and Profit by Philip Raymond Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Highly entertaining mashup of history and sci-fi!

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

HARVESTING EARTHLINGS FOR FUN AND PROFIT by Philip Raymond Brown is the hilarious sequel to the authors first book in this series, IT GIVES YOU STRENGTH. Again, this is another mashup fiction of history and sci-fi and the result is nothing short of pure nutty fun! It’s a classy, clever and cockle-warming novel that will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. It really is that good.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘In “Harvesting Earthlings for Fun and Profit” it is 1934 and Dr. Zho’s once idyllic planet Dagan is ruled by a brutal dictator. Zho is now a refugee hiding on the primitive planet Earth to escape Dagan. Of course, in 1934 the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression and Dr. Zho experiences a very different America. The book examines those differences while also building the world of Zho’s home planet Dagan, where the Dictator Arixn is using a modified version of the Roman Coliseum to divert the attention of Dagan’s citizens from the fact that their civil rights have been severely eroded. Running low on gladiators for its New Coliseum, the dictator Arixn decides to send a force to “Harvest Earthlings” to fight to the death on Dagan. Zho elicits the help of old friend Major Mike Kelly to stop the Harvesters.’

HARVESTING EARTHLINGS is well-written, satirically lighthearted and exactly the right length to give you excitement and laughs with many surprises along the way, and then it's over, leaving you feeling good but eagerly anticipating more. There aren't many books I'd describe as perfect, but Philip Raymond Brown’s time travel yarns fit the bill. This is a series that also has a distinctly cinematic feel to it. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

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The Outside Intervention

The Outside Intervention by Andrew Orange
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read dystopian sci-fi...

The Outside Intervention by Andrew Orange was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey.

The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘Kier, a young out-lord, gets involved in a dangerous political game where ancient and modern secrets are closely intertwined. To save the largest city in the world from destruction, Kier leaves the Northern Heartland in search of a legendary artifact, created by the Founder of the Empire almost a thousand years before. Much more depends on the results of his search than is known to Kier.’

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written sci-fi with perfect pacing.

If you are looking for an exceptionally written dystopian novel with amazing characters and a gripping plot then The Outside Intervention by Andrew Orange will not leave you disappointed. Recommended to all fans of dystopian science fiction and gets a well-deserved five stars from me.

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