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Book Review: You Only Get One Shot by Kevin J. Kennedy and J.C. Michael

You Only Get One Shot by Kevin J. Kennedy and J. C. Michael

Kevin J. Kennedy, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1548671518

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

One story to save your life: that’s what the email said.  One chance to save your life.  If the author of the email doesn’t like it, you’re dead.  One chance at redemption: one of four will live.  The players are four writers the email’s author blames for causing the suicide of an aspiring writer by being crass, rude.  deprecating, and insensitive.  This is serious, and not a scam: a fifth one has already gone to meet their maker.  The four contestants in this twisted game are Fiona, Diane, Drexl and, Simon, each of them as different as they can be.  None of them remember an aspiring writer they had snubbed so badly as to cause them to commit suicide.  They each send in a story: a story that may save their life.

 

You Only Get One Shot has an excellent premise that grabbed me from the start.  This was a twisted novella that flowed so well that I read it in nearly one sitting.  The suspense and action worked that well for me.  The opening chapter was brilliant.  It set the tone in a manner that pulled me straight in.  The characters each get their own chapter, which includes their submission: they are distinctive with their own individual tones, and it was easy to keep the various players separate.  The descriptions were well done, not going overboard.  I have not read anything like this before.  The main criticism I have is with the editing.  Mostly in the last quarter of the story, there were several instances of spelling errors and missing or duplicated words, and the occasional sentence that didn’t work.  I also did  not like the ending.  It was a twist that just didn’t work for me.  The epilogue was excellent though.  I have not read either of these authors’ work before, but would like to.  This was a fun story and well worth reading. Recommended for adult readers.

 

Contains:  Violence, Swearing, References to Suicide, Sexual references/situations/slavery, Abduction.

 

Reviewed By: Aaron Fletcher

 

 

 

Posted on May 4, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: The Rogue Mountains by Joshua Tarquinio

The Rogue Mountains by Joshua Tarquinio

Joshua Tarquinio, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-0999240212

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

Brothers, Pennsylvania is a small town nestled in the shadow of three tree covered peaks known as The Rogue Mountains.  The main industries are farming and hunting.  Brothers is considered to be the edge of the East, at least since the Events of Pittsburgh, 23 years ago, when the monsters moved in.  Hideous creatures dedicated to tearing humans limb from limb, these beasts live for eating, sleeping and making little monsters.  They have taken over The Rogue Mountains and infested them.

Mt. Fayette is home to The Witch: no one has seen her for years, and no one wants to.  Mt. Liston is where the Cave Worm lives: nobody that wants to stay sane or alive goes there.  Ever.  Devil’s Mountain is where the hunters go to work. They come into town for a week or two to get their thrills and trophies. When they visit, the monster population is pruned back, and the town gets to survive a little longer.  Times are changing though–  humans are not the only hunters these days.

The Rogue Mountains was a pretty good read.  I expected lots of monsters, guns, and general mayhem, and it delivered.  The plot was consistent and the pace flowed along with the action well.  I did think that it was a little long and drawn out. It could have used a little less romantic sub-plot and more action.  The descriptions were well done, and kept me tuned into the environment.  There were a lot of characters, but the author did a good job of making most of them distinctive, with different personalities and goals.  There were occasional typos, but not enough to break the flow of the story.  I really liked the unique situation that was set up at the start, and the author did a good job delivering on the promise.  I have not read any of this author’s work previously. Recommended for adult readers.

Contains: Adult Language, Swearing, Adult Situations, Sex, Suicide.

 

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Posted on April 27, 2018 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Army of Darkness/Xena Warrior Princess: Forever and a Day by Scott Lobdell, art by Elliot Fernandez

Army of Darkness/Xena Warrior Princess: Forever and a Day by Scott Lobdell, art by Elliot Fernandez

Dynamite Entertainment, 2017

ISBN-13: 9781524103514

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, and comiXology ebook

The Army of Darkness/Xena Warrior Princess: Forever and a Day storyline opens with Xena holding her wounded life companion, Gabrielle, after her army has been destroyed by the ultimate evil. The only recourse she has is to use a page from the Necronomicon that Ash gifted to her to use in a time of ultimate need. Ash heeds the call (I mean, he has no choice since the portal sucks him in, right?). Ash has to put aside his need for some sugar from fellow S-Mart employee Amber until he can solve Xena’s problem, especially when he discovers she doesn’t remember him—over and over again. The problem gets compounded every time Xena uses the sheet to call him back. Ash’s time travel disruptions are damaging the time loop and may destroy it altogether. What is causing the timeline to screw up, and can Xena finally get it together enough to trust this traveler from the future?

I’m a sucker for anything with Xena or Ash. Lobdell is able to keep the tone of the both Xena and Army of Darkness well throughout the entire run. Ash is still the womanizing, chainsaw-wielding fella, and Xena retains her edge and sharp wit. I loved seeing them take verbal potshots at each other. Gabrielle was definitely the voice of reason when they needed it. The artwork was fantastic, too. I read another review that said Xena was too cheesecake, but I really don’t see it.

If you enjoyed any of the other Army of Darkness crossovers, you should pick this up. I enjoyed the hell out of it. What more can I say? Hail to the King, Baby… Recommended.

Contains: some blood, and, of course, Deadites

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

Posted on April 26, 2018 by , Reply
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