Between Seasons by Aida Brassington

Synopsis:

Patrick Boyle dies in the fall of 1970, just days before he's due to report for the Vietnam War draft, which seems like a good thing until he realizes he's stuck in the house with no indication of when he'll be escorted to heaven. And after his parents leave the house, he's trapped without company -- until a mysterious woman who can channel his memories buys the house forty years later. The spring brings with it new life, but falling in love with the new owner may only bring heartbreak to them both.

Review: 

This is a really intriguing concept for a book, I mean could you imagine being stuck in a house for years after your death? I myself am not a fan of a lot of ghost stories, mostly because they tend to lean towards the horror genre, and thank goodness this is not a horror genre book. I do however like a good story that makes the ghost a character that has depth as well as draws me into the character enough for me to forget that they are actually a non-corporeal person. 

Patrick's story is just so sad right off the bat, you can't help but feel bad for a guy who dies and is trapped in a house. It's hard to watch the parents who have lost their child leave the house and watch poor Patrick have to go through his own wake. I think the most impressive thing about the book and about Patrick was that the book didn't get stale. Even though the book takes place in one real location, with someone essentially stuck there, it never got repetitive. I can't stress how much of an accomplishment it is that the book didn't get old throughout the entire thing. 

I think the biggest concern for me in this book was, I was really craving some kind of emotional relationship with the two characters. So when Sara shows up my main concern was how the relationship was going to pan out and when she moved into the house, I literally felt like I was on pins and needles waiting to see how the two of them are going to finally going to talk and interact and maybe even fall in love. 

Overall I enjoyed the book, and the whole thing was a pleasant surprise. I'm not entirely sure I would recommend this book for YA readers, but anyone who likes a good romance or even looking for a new take on the idea of a "ghost" story. 

Aida Brassington Interview

Today we are joined by Aida Brassington author of the book Between Seasons, which we will be reviewing later on today. She offers some great insights into the book and I hope this interview peaks your interest enough to read the review later today and the book! 

UFR: If you were picking a theme song for this book what would it be and why?

AB: There's a song I listened to a lot while writing this -- Through Glass by Stone Sour. The sound of it and the sentiment really get to the heart of the loneliness that spurs the novel. Both Patrick and Sara have experienced loss and want in a major way, and it draws them together.

UFR: If Patrick were in a book club (or more applicable for the book, what book would he read while trapped in the house), what book would it be and why?

AB: Funny you should ask. Patrick hides a small cache of books in the house before his parents move on. His favorite: The Turn of the Screw/Henry James. In my head, he loves the book because he can identify with it -- it's a ghost story, but the reader is left to wonder if it's all in the main character's head.

UFR: Are there any characters in the book (and if so who and how so) that share personality traits with you? 

AB: Absolutely. Patrick and Sara are both avid readers, as am I. Patrick and I share a love of music. And, of course, Sara and I both live in haunted houses.

UFR: What was the hardest scene for you to write and why?

AB: The scene where Patrick's parents leave at the end of chapter one. It's a fairly emotional scene, and it was difficult for me to understand what that must feel like. I gave it so much thought and agonized over trying to get it right. In the end, I think it contains just the right amount of sadness and disillusion.

UFR: A lot of paranormal books start with some kind of element of death, but normally those people turn into functioning members of society (well as much as a vampire or werewolf can), how hard was it to write about Patrick who died but was still left around but for no one to see. What kind of impact did that have on his psyche?

AB: The hardest part of writing Patrick as a ghost and within the parameters of his world was having a limited setting. Every scene in the novel takes place within five rooms and a staircase, basement, and attic. Of course, it also contributes to Patrick's overall sense of claustrophobia, so it has its advantages. And having no company for forty years made Patrick more curious and eager to know who bought the house.

UFR: A woman comes into the picture for Patrick, years after his death, making their love story a unique one. How tough was it to write a relationship between essentially a ghost and a person? Or did it allow you to focus on the inner workings of the people and less about the physical?

AB: It gets easier throughout the story, but initially you have two people who can't interact or can only interact in very specific ways, often without one of those people understand what's going on. Even though it was more difficult, it was fun -- sort of a dance or a puzzle where some pieces fit and some don't. Later in the novel when Patrick and Sara are aware of each other, not being able to physically touch is helpful to increase the sense of longing necessary to move the story forward. I know a romance novel without any sex is not everyone's cup of tea, but I like to think it helps build the tension.

UFR: What are some of your favorite authors to read? Do you stick with the paranormal/urban fantasy genre or do you read a wider mix of books?

AB: I read a lot, and my reading list spans genres and categories. I just finished reading Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and Under the Dome by Stephen King. My favorite writers are John Irving, Kurt Vonnegut, and Amy Stolls. Even as a writer, my work is all over the place. BETWEEN SEASONS is probably the closest thing I've ever written to a true romance. I also write young adult urban fantasy and adult psychological suspense. 

UFR: Is there any advice that you would give to aspiring writers?

AB: Seek feedback, and not just from your friends and family. My work improves because my beta readers and critique partners feel safe to tear it apart. It stings, but I learn from it. Writers are naturally too close to their own work to objectively self-edit or critique.

UFR: Do you have any new books in the works? And if so would you like to tell our readers a little bit about it?

AB: Yes, there is a sequel to BETWEEN SEASONS titled NORTH OF FROST. It's due out, I think, in spring 2012, although may end up being late due to some other circumstances. NORTH OF FROST continues on with Sara and Patrick's story, providing a bit more explanation about what happens to Patrick (and why) at the end of BETWEEN SEASONS. It also explores the consequences of getting exactly what you want.

UFR: Finally, is there anything you want your potential readers to know about you or the book?

AB: I'd like to say thank you -- I'm grateful to those who read my work. It's an honor!

Athena's Promise by Annetta Ribken

Synopsis:

As the front desk manager of a hotel on the edge of Zombietown, Pallas is used to dealing with angry centaurs, surly trolls, and zombie housekeepers. The trouble really starts when one of her guests ends up dead. But that's not her only problem.

Pallas needs to find the killer, and fast, or she'll lose her job, her home, and the ragtag family she's adopted out of her crew of "critters". 

In the course of the investigation Pallas uncovers connections to a nasty Oddities dealer deep in the heart of Zombietown, forcing her to expose a trauma from her past which could threaten her future. With everyone and everything she loves in danger, the promise made to the Goddess Athena may well damn her if she breaks it, but she is bound and determined to save her friends, her home, and everything she's built.

Review: 
There is something to be sad about having a unique hook, something out there, that makes you as a reader say "huh, I really want to know what happens". For me it's the fact that Pallas works at a hotel at the front desk. When I first started going to college I was working at the front desk of a hotel, and believe me it isn't an easy job, I myself had to deal with a shooting (someone got shot in the butt, so it wasn't a murder like Pallas). So needless to say when I saw Pallas worked the front desk of a hotel that catered to the supernatural, and one where I murder happened, I was super intrigued.

As a front desk worker Pallas is basically responsible for anything and everything that comes up in the hotel. Making sure employees have everything they need, guests have everything they need, dealing with conventions, and reservations, oh and of course the inner politics that are in every job; oh and of course all the while trying to navigate all the difficult and different supernatural "critters" circumstances.

I love Pallas, she is a take charge kind of girl who is willing to do anything to get the job done. And it's not just because she is some crazed work-a-holic (although she is), it's because he work is her home, and all those people that she works with are her family. She's also a girl with a past, and a past that she hold close to the vest. In fact it's kind of fun going throughout the book and trying to put together the pieces of this woman's past.

Another reason why this book is such a fun read is because it is a part of a larger murder mystery throughout the book and it's really interesting to attempt to figure out who did it, why they did it, or if someone in the hotel did it.

There are parts in this book that make you laugh, and there are parts that seriously make you want to cry along side of Pallas. The employees are all creatively written and distinct in their own rights. Not only that but the world building is fantastic. What I think is even more impressive about this book is so much of it takes place in one setting, and when you have a book take place in one setting it can easily become repetitive. But that was never a problem for Athena's Promise, it was fun and interesting from beginning to end.

This was good book, a fun read, and kind of made me wish I worked a zombie hotel. There isn't anything to hot and heavy in the book so I would say it would be okay for younger readers, but those of you who really like urban fantasy this is a great read, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Lois D. Brown Guest Post

Paralyzed by Perfection

High on a shelf in my kitchen pantry used to sit a small glass jar full of Skittles. At the time, one of my young children was having a difficult adjustment to a new school year. She fretted over her homework and would become upset if everything wasn’t just right. A friend suggested I try the “Skittles method”—each time she made a mistake on her homework she would get a Skittle if she didn’t fix it. This meant each time her number four slanted too much to one side she had to choose between fixing it or getting candy. Let the Skittles feast begin! Wrong.

It took several months for my daughter to slowly eat her way through that jar of Skittles. When faced with the possibility of having others see a mistake she made, the candy became unattractive. She wanted perfection, so much so that she would pass up candy.

As an author, I found the lesson of the Skittle jar to be invaluable. We write, rewrite, edit, edit some more, proof, stress about it, rewrite it again, etc. to the point where we don’t even like our book anymore. Sometimes our writing needs a lot of work. BUT, and I think this happens more often than we’d like to believe, we’re stalling. We don’t want anyone to see our mistakes. And mistakes there will be.

When querying for my recently published young adult novel, CYCLES, it almost made me sick to push the send button on my email. The nausea didn’t go away after the first time either. It took more than fifty queries until my stomach didn’t do flip flops the moment I thought of writing to another agent.

In the end, it was worth it. I grew a thicker skin (though I could still use a few layers) and I realized that I am simply an imperfect being. I finally decided I would rather have a few mistakes and move forward then feel paralyzed with perfection. 

So go ahead. Do the best you can on your manuscript. Then a little bit more  AND THEN, bite your pencil hard and move down the path you’ve chosen to take, whether that be sending it to a publisher, querying an agent, or self-publishing it yourself. 

Face the fear. :)

Giveaways:

1) an e-book copy of Lois’ young adult Urban Fantasy CYCLES. (Both U.S. and International entries are welcome.) 

CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway 

2) An e-book copy of Lois’ collection of short stories TREASURE HUNTERS. In addition, the winner will receive via snail mail a set of three  magnets made from sandstone only found in southern Utah by Zion's National Park and where several of the stories in TREASURE HUNTERS are set. (Only U.S. entries, please).

CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway

To contact her, please visit her website at www.loisdbrown.com or her blog Life of Lois

Apocalypse Gene by Suki Michelle & Carlyle Clark

Synopsis:

Global pandemic is raging. Olivya Wright-Ono's once loving home has been converted to a hospice for the dying.  Her ability to see auras forces her to witness, with agonizing detail, the vibrant colors of life consumed by malignancy.  The beautiful and troubled, Mikah, is an elite Empath in the ancient Kindred clan, led by the brooding, ever-morphing, monster named Prime. Mikah has learned a terrible truth . . . the plague is linked to Kindred origins.  When Olivya sees evidence of disease creeping into her mother's aura, she has no one to turn to but Mikah. Can he unearth the Kindred secrets and find a cure?  Can she trust this boy whose power allows him to  manipulate her very emotions? With her mother's life, and that of the world, in the balance, Olivya and Mikah embark on a quest to stop the Pandemic, only to discover it is far, far more than a mere disease . . .

Review:

I mentioned earlier today that I was excited about reading this book because there is a lot in media and in movies particularly about the idea of a pandemic occurring and essentially crippling our way of life. It's really hard to imagine what our lives would be like in the event of a pandemic hitting and how we would end up. Would we all be barricading ourselves inside our houses with gas masks, or would it get so bad that it would just become an everyday part of life. 

I think what makes this book interesting right off the bat you get a serious glimpse of how life would be and honestly I am seriously impressed with the amount of forethought put into building a world where geographically it might be the same world we live in today, but everything is so different. Olivya's first chapter of the book exemplifies the differences. What was once a family home for Olivya has now become essentially a hospice, where people come to die. I for one can not imagine being in a position like she is in, to wake up every morning and have to check on and be surrounded by people who have no hope, all of these people are going to die. To make matters worse she sees their auras and that makes it all the more harder for her, because she has to see a visual manifestation of the pain and despair these people are in. Now I don't know about you, but I did start to wonder if she ever had a life outside of this hospice that her home had turned into, and she does, she goes to a virtual school and really that is her only interaction with the outside world. 

Thankfully Mikah uses the V-School as a way to interact with others as well and that is how he ends up meeting Olivya. And if you were impressed with the world building for a world being affected by a pandemic, you have to be even more impressed that there is the creation of a world within a world, Mikah's world. Mikah is basically a part of a cult led by a demon, governed by their own set of standards and morals. In fact it really is not permitted for Mikah to even interact with Olivya. 

There is a lot going on within this book as a whole, and a lot of things I don't want to say in a review because I don't want to ruin the enjoyment for those of you who read this book. That being said the book is easy to follow, very well written, and super easy to like and want to pull for the characters. I have to say one of the things I appreciated the most was that both of the main characters are strong in their own rights, there is nothing more annoying for me when there is a weak main characters who is essentially carried throughout the entire book, so I really like this book because of that. 

I have to say that over all I really enjoyed reading this book. And I would also recommend it to a lot of different types of readers. I think it would work not only for YA and for urban fantasy lovers, but maybe also people who are curious about what a world riddled with sickness would look like. More than anything it's well written so I don't think it's going to have a hard time finding an audience. 

Suki Michelle Interview

Today we have Suki Michelle joining us on today on Urban Fantasy Reviews. And I have to admit I was pretty excited about this book because I enjoyed the movie Contagion way to much, and Suki Michelle's book Apocalypse Gene sounds like a fantastic paranormal twist on a great concept. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as I did! Stay tuned for review of her book later on today! 

UFR: If you were picking a theme song for this book what would it be and why?

SM: First Kate, thanks so much for interviewing me. I'll answer on behalf of Carlyle as well.

The best theme song for our book would be Knights of Cydonia by Muse. Because our book has a sort of electronic Rock & Roll feel since it is set in the near-future and mid-apocalyptic and it also it has the long steady build, with some ups and downs,  and finished with a powerful crescendo.

UFR: If Olivya was in a book club what book would she be reading and why?

SM: She would be reading Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series: characters you can root for, long and complex adventure spanning thirteen books that she could spend in a world other than her own dystopic one,  and a sense that everything will ultimately be all right in the end.

UFR: Are there any characters in the book (and if so who and how so) that share personality traits with you?

SM: Olivya would be the one I have something in common with. Lack of impulse control and a mouth that, under pressure, tends to have a will of its own . . .

UFR: What was the hardest scene for you to write and why?

SM: The first scene with Olivya in the ward with her patients was a tough one. It’s very challenging to portray a character in an empathetic way while still showing the emotional “calluses” they would have had to develop to handle such an ongoing and tragic situation.

UFR: Part of what I found so interesting about your book is the parallels between a disease with supernatural origins and how similar themes are showing up in today's real world (think movies like Contagion), was this an intentional parallel/did you draw some of your inspiration from that?

SM: Sort of, in that I was doing medical transcription for Sloan-Kettering, which is a huge cancer treatment center so as I was doing report after report, it began to seep into my subconscious just how insidious the disease was and how it was far more horrifying then “horror” stories, so it seemed a natural fit for a mid-apocalyptic story.

UFR: Both Mikah and Olivya are under a lot of pressure to find a cure for a disease (both for different reasons), was it difficult to keep the book from being too heavy/intense?

SM: In a way it was. Fortunately, Carlyle and I both tend to find humor even in the worst of situations.  As we were writing, when it really got dark, we unintentionally, started to write bits of funny in and we felt that kept reader from want to slit their wrists before they finished.

UFR: What are some of your favorite authors to read? Do you stick with the paranormal/urban fantasy genre or do you read a wider mix of books?

SM: We both read all kinds of books though my favorite author is Stephen King, I enjoy Dean Koontz, and my favorite novel was Kingsolver’s Poisonwood Bible. Carlyle is a huge fan of Epic Fantasy, particularly Joe Abercrombie and Erikson and Esslemont’s Malazan saga, but he also reads crime novels, literary fiction, and historical fiction.

UFR: Is there any advice that you would give to aspiring writers?

SM: You have to write even when you don’t feel like, even when you can’t stand the thought of it. Becoming a writer is like going to night school to become a lawyer or a doctor. It takes a long time and you can’t just go to class, study, and take test and write papers only when you're in the mood. Also, be happy with all your great reviews, but still - you have to toughen up.  Not everyone will love what you write.  Deal with it and move on.

UFR: Do you have any new books in the works? And if so would you like to tell our readers a little bit about it?

SM: Yes, we’re very excited about a new project. We will be releasing the first two books of in the coming months called The Redemption Revelations. The novels will center around a the magical town of Redemption Arkansas circa the Great Depression, a town at the nexus of never and forever, and the crossroads of science-fiction, horror, fantasy, and magical realism.

UFR: Finally, is there anything you want your potential readers to know about you or the book?

SM: Well, what I would like to tell them is this is not a de-activate your brain type of read like some of the angsty teen types of books out there. It’s complex, but we think, ultimately, that makes for a fuller experience. Hopefully, you’ll decide for yourself and let us know.

Once again I want to thank Suki Michelle for joining us here today and don't forget to stay tuned for the review later on today! 

In Shadows by Rebecca S. Foote

Synopsis:

In the fall of 1832, London, England, Ariana Dallenhauf begins an unlikely journey into the dark reaches of the unknown. Her guide and mentor, Dimitri Rochester, takes the young woman and attempts to transform her into what he deems more worthy, an immortal; for Dimitri Rochester is the shadow that consumes light; he is an artful killer, a vampire. Although Ariana is reluctant, she has no choice but to follow Dimitri into her new existence. 

While adapting to her new life, Ariana discovers that her assumptions about Dimitri are wrong and her feelings for him have changed into something more passionate. In gaining a better understanding of what it means to be a vampire, Ariana discovers her history with vampires goes back further than she ever imagined, for she is in the middle of a legend and has become part of its unfolding story.

Review:

I am one of those people who loves the idea of using history as part of a book. The problem for me is that while I like history as a backdrop for some reason it almost never completely works for me. Either the historical elements don't seem that necessary (either the book could take place at any time and it wouldn't matter, or the author just didn't do enough specific research in their time period to really draw me into the setting). Even so I am sucker for historical books, so even though a lot of them never completely satisfy my reading appetite, I keep trying them out and I probably always will. 

I think the first thing I should mention is that the reader should continue through even though the beginning starts off bumpy. I am one of those readers who once I start a book I can't put it down even if I hate (don't ask me how many books I have read that I absolutely hated, trust me you don't want to know the number). But for those of you who need to be sucked into a book rather quickly, this one does not exactly accomplish that. I felt like the beginning was a bit disjointed and it took a while to not only pick up on the action side of things, but also for me to feel a real connection to the characters. 

That being said, one the book got started and the action started to pick up I found it easy to identify with a lot of the characters. Seeing as how most of the characters are vampires, there actions are not exactly, how should I put it, moral? Which hey, is part of the appeal of vampires, and part of the reason we as readers enjoy vampire novels. Following along with Ariana is really what made the book for me. She starts off as a human and then becomes a vampire and is introduced into a world she could have never imagined existed. This makes it easy to identify with her as well as bring you to a pretty good understanding of the world building from her point of view. 

While Ariana made the book for me, there was one other element in the book that peaked my interest and made me want to find out what was on the next page. Even though a lot of the book is focused on Ariana and her learning not just about the world she now lives within and her powers, but there is also an element of mystery going on. I love a book where I spend a lot of time trying to figure out where the book is going to go, who did what, what the mystery is, is there some kind of conspiracy going on. This book did a good job of hooking me into the mystery. 

Overall this was a pretty okay book. It was a short read and it was an enjoyable read, even though the beginning started on the slow side. Other than that I would recommend it to people who like fantasy with vampires, or for those of you who like books that carry a historical element within them.