Review: NOT EVEN THERE

This is a short story but another wonderful person on Twitter: J. Scott Sharp. You can follow him @JScottSharp.

Premise (Taken from Goodreads): Roger met Libby for the first time and would do anything to be with her. She's beautiful and popular. He and his best friend are not. Quite the opposite. But then his friend tells him a secret and Roger's whole life goes into a tailspin that he may never get out of.

It could be a matter of life and death.

The Good:

Love Triangle: Ah yes, we've seen them everywhere. However, Mr. Sharp provides a fresh view of the love triangle. This time the story comes from the point of view of one of the pursuers not the pursued. I like the take because it let you see in the eyes of someone else.

Main Character: I really enjoyed Roger. I could put myself into his shoes. It really took me back to being in high school (Not sure if that is a good thing). I could also relate to his dilemma over Libby.

The Plot: It was simple which is perfect for a story this length. It did not have anytime to get me confused with other subplots.

The Bad:

Character Motivations: At times I had to question the character motivations fo David and Libby. However, I know this a short story and I could probably understand where they were coming from more if it had been longer.

Overall: This is great short story. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something they can read in one sitting. I'm looking forward to reading more on Mr. Sharp's work.

Review: THE GRIMOIRE: LICHGATES

This is by another great author. S.M. Boyce, or @thesmboyce on Twitter.

Premise: When hiking in the Rocky Mountains, Kara Magari steps through a magical portal that takes her to the hidden world of Ourea. She becomes the master of the Grimoire, a book that will answer any question she asks of it. Now, as the Vagabond, Kara must unite Ourea while everyone in it seeks to use her to their own ends or kill her if they can't.

The Good:

Worldbuilding: First let me say that as a child I always daydreamed of traveling to another world and having adventures there. Not only does this book do that but it does it well, so it holds a special place in my heart. Not only that but Boyce twists the old myths of muses and demons into new races. Ourea is a beautiful vibrant world I enjoyed exploring throughout the story.

Characters: I grew to love both Kara and Braeden as the story progressed. Kara is strong of heart despite her past scars. I loved her intelligence and snark, even though that got her in trouble a lot. Braeden has scars of his own that he tries to overcome. He hides it well with his charm though. He had some of the best lines in the book. Even the villains were well rounded. They were not evil just because. Each had their own goals and reasons.

Story: Wow. Adventure, intrigue, and a little bit of romance. This story has it all and it is just beginning. This trilogy has the beginnings of an epic.

Pacing: It started a little slow, but soon picked up. By the last 100 pages I could not put the book down.

The Bad:
The first few chapters dragged a little for me but not enough for me to stop reading. They soon gained momentum.

Overall: Get this book. This is the Neverending Story for a new generation.

Check out Lichgates at S.M. Boyce's page here: