The Northlore Series, a collection of Scandinavian folktales and poems

3 out of 5 stars

This was a collection of Scandinavian folktales and poems. First, I want to say that I loved the idea of this book! I think anthologies are a great way to learn about new authors and I thought this was an amazing idea!

I love folklore, fairy tales and mythology so this sold me right away. It was a collection of poems and stories.

There were some beautiful poems in here but sadly the stories just didn't hold my interest as much as I would have liked them.

Sadly, there were actually very few parts of this series that I really enjoyed. 

I'm not sure what it was the storytelling, maybe the stories themselves but something just left me... underwhelmed. 

Nonetheless I loved the idea of this book and just because of that, because I love seeing mythology worked with, I'd pick up the next copy and I suggest everyone pick up a copy of this, there might be at least one thing that catches your eye!

Shadows of Asphodel (Shadows of Asphodel #1) by Karen Kincy

3 our of 5 stars
1913. Austria-Hungary. Ardis knows better than to save a man on the battlefield. Even if he manages to be a charming bastard while bleeding out in the snow. She hasn't survived this long as a mercenary without some common sense.

This book was an odd book for me. It sounded really cool, actually I really liked the idea of it. But there was something about it… it felt to me like it lacked something major, maybe conflict?

I know there was some in there but it just didn't hold me I guess.

The book itself was good, I read it quite quickly actually and I enjoyed it as I was reading it, but I felt like there was a lot of filler.

As far as main characters went, again it felt like there was something lacking. I really liked the idea of this book and I really liked the idea of the characters. I love the idea of a necromancer actually! And the world that this book was set in was a great world! It was well thought out and detailed. The main character had a fun back ground, and I loved reading about her, I think more than anything it was just her personality that threw me off.

While the characters didn't do much for me I would have loved to see more about their world.

I can't say I'd read more about the characters but I would read more about others in that world!

Diary of a Gay Teenage Zombie by Justin MacCormack

4 out of 5 stars

I was given this book to review by the author.

Personally, I love novellas, short stories and novels. Each one has its benefit and this was the perfect novella. It took me about a weekend to read, while still doing other things, and that was just what I was hoping for from this book.

Diary of a Gay Teenage Zombie tells the story of, well, a gay zombie who is a teenager and his life. In all honesty it was quite close to a mundane life- but I liked that about the diary. It was nice to read a day to day diary of a zombie. I've always loved zombies and the history behind them so I thought the idea of this story was great! I also thought it was very well executed and a fun read. It was a light read, so some of you may not like that! Personally, I love a night light read about day to day life.

As far as the characters went, they were likeable for the most part. I would have liked to get to know them a little better but with diary format sometimes that is hard.

In all honesty, I was disappointed with some of Jay's choices. Though on some level I could understand them I just couldn't back them.

This story had an element that really drew me in. To me, this story had so much to do with accepting who you are. Maybe that wasn't what the author intended but it was what I took from it. Finding a way to make the bad good and finding a way to accept yourself and let people in.

Jay did some annoying things, I'm not going to lie about that, but I also think he did some teenage things. He acted like a teenager and that lead to some dumb choices- so you have to keep in mind that the character is a teenager, or at least I had to.

When it comes down to it this story was more than worth it.

On a final note, I would have liked to see more about the zombie virus- but that's okay because I fully expect to see more in this series! 

Through his Lense by Anna Bayes

3 out of 5 stars

Newly divorced and rediscovering her place in the world, Fiona found a strange solace in taking photos of herself. Next step: she hired a professional photographer to take her portraits. Modelling for him felt empowering. Would this be only a one-time thing or would she have the courage to pursue a relationship with Nathan, the photographer whose green eyes captivate and disarm her?

Where to start… well, I guess let's jump right into it! This story actually did that too! We jump right into a masturbation scene. 

Its a short book, and in my opinion it's an erotica. There are some romantic elements to it but this is the kinda book you read for the sex. 

Speaking of the sex... I have to admit that I loved the idea of this book. A girl goes to a photographer to celebrate her new divorce with a photo shoot? Only to fall for the photographer? Perfect!

But... there was just something about this book. While I had a hard time putting it down I also had a hard time feeling invested in it. The characters didn't feel real to me, and most of all this wasn't a very erotic book for the amount of sex it had in it. I saw quite a few opportunities where there could be been a little *hem* detail where there wasn't. 

To put it frankly this book just wasn't doin it for me. 

None the less it is a cute, light read, which is why I'm giving it a 3 star review. Not bad but not amazing.

A Slice of Quietude by Sharon Cho

4 out of 5 stars

I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This story was cute. It was a fantasy LGBT romance and had amazing characters in it.

The romance was super soft and not quite as romantic as some people would like it but I loved the amount of romance that was there. I couldn’t put this book down, and mostly it was because of the world that the author created and the characters/ their stories. 

I've got to be honest. The story itself didn't drag me in. I wasn't all that invested or interested in what the characters were doing or why, but I did really like the characters. 

This was a hard book for me to review because I am so picky normally that if I don't like character I won't bother with the but like I said, I really liked this world. I thought the story was really cute, the world is amazing and I want to see more from the author! 

To the Survivors

One Man’s Journey as a Rape Crisis Counselor with True Stories of Sexual Violence  

Robert Uttaro  

“Rape counselor Uttaro draws upon his years of experience to warn that sexual abuse is far more prevalent than most people suspect, and provides a moving series of survivor stories. Uttaro persuasively argues that each survivor's story is unique—and this militates one-size-fits-all advice. The surprising revelations of the survivors Uttaro interviews corroborate his claim that justice is an individual concept that depends on what redress survivors seek. Uttaro's assurances that survivors are not defined by sexual abuse offer the possibility of a positive resolution. This book is both informative for the general public and supportive for those who have suffered sexual abuse. It is hard to imagine that members of either group will not gain from reading it.”  

- Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review 

“An engaging examination of a painful subject, with a focus on healing and forgiveness.” 

- Kirkus Reviews  

“Compassionate advice...Quite Moving.”  

- Kirkus Reviews   

“To the Survivors weaves together many candid accounts to form a brave and alarming exposé of assault. It is a worthwhile, eye-opening project”  

- Foreword Clarion Reviews   “To the Survivors is quite a read. It’s informative. It is very compassionate. It is insightful. I think you have presented more than one perspective. And you haven’t done it from a positioning of one-sidedness. You really have covered quite a few different perspectives, both of those that have been the victims of this horrific act and those that want to help. So I really think it’s quite a powerfully packed book. To the Survivors is a very powerful one.” 

– Donna Seebo, The Donna Seebo Show 

To the Survivors is a deeply-moving, empowering, and brutally honest book about one man’s journey as a rape crisis counselor with true stories of sexual violence shared by survivors in their own words. Gently and beautifully constructed, To the Survivors is moving, tender, sharp, and piercingly true all at once. Readers will encounter uncensored written stories, poems, and interviews from women and men who have been sexually abused, plus the advocate-author voice that weaves their experiences together. The survivors are diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity, yet each gives a similarity raw and heartfelt account of his or her victimization and recovery. The authenticity and vulnerability with which survivors speak resonates profoundly. But this book is not just for survivors of sexual violence. Robert Uttaro believes anyone can benefit from the words in these pages, rape survivor or not. 

To the Survivors is a timeless resource for a world that struggles with the repercussions of sexual violence.  

Below are small excerpts from some of the contributors in To the Survivors:  

Corey: To other survivors: Know that things do get better.  

Alexis: There is someone. I might not know you or know what you look like, but know I’m with you in spirit. Or whatever you believe, know that I’m right there with you. I believe you. 

Jim: You can have the shame taken away. You can go from bein awkward in social situations, from beatin yourself up with negative talk and everythin right across the board, to comin out the other side and standin on your own two feet. You can feel comfortable in your own skin, have your confidence come back, have your self-esteem come back, and see everything that’s good about the world. That does exist out there, even through something as very, very dark as this. There is hope on the other side. There really is.  

Rebecca: Anger and hatred weigh you down and stress you out. Believe me, I know! I’m not saying that suddenly you’ll be stress free and forget the whole thing – I’m saying forgiveness makes you stronger. It’s one of the hardest things to do – but it’s worth it. Life never gives you more than you can handle; at times it may seem false, but it will all work out in the end. You’ll always have the chance to take something negative and turn it into something positive – starting with forgiveness. Always smile, because life gives you so many things to smile about. 

Jenee: Make peace with all people if you can, and especially, make peace with yourself. Always know there are friends somewhere rooting for you. There are people you don’t know, always praying for you and lifting you before God. 

LINKS TO WEBSITES/SOCIAL NETWORKS 

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Journey-Counselor-Stories-Violence/dp/149093166X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427240506&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+uttaro 

Website: http://www.robertuttaro.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-The-Survivors/172523809579943 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robert_uttaro