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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , - Reviews

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0 to Bitch in 10 Seconds or Less
0 to Bitch in 10 Seconds or Less
Author: Amy Hatch
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 4/12/2009


A little 5 x 5-inch paperback chock full of quotes under a number of categories such as "Love and Sex" or "The Facts of Life" or "The Beauty Within." Some you'll have seen before but maybe never connected with the original source: some of which are surprising. I hesitated to post my copy for trade because I think that this little tome is something that I'd probably pick up again and again just for the fun of what's inside.


101 Super Sports Jokes
101 Super Sports Jokes
Author: Judith Stamper, Don Orehek
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
 9
Review Date: 8/26/2006


Baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and more! If you get a kick out of sports, 101 SUPER SPORTS JOKES will give you plenty of laughs. Join the all-star joke team and start chuckling.

What is a personal foul?
Your very own chicken.

Cute, clean jokes for children!


The Accidental Spy
The Accidental Spy
Author: David Gardner
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 1/24/2023


The Accidental Spy by David Gardner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Accidental Spy is one of the most entertaining books I've read in forever!

I was hooked! At the start of the book, the main character Professor Harvey Hudson is trapped in the depression trifecta: he's lost his job, wife, and self-respect. But wait! There's more. He's secretly paying the mortgage on his widowed mother's home while living in a dump over a poultry butcher shop, and the job at his old girlfriend's software company is kicking his butt. I could completely relate to Harvey's job security woes and his discomfort with his much younger coworkers. The fact that he knows absolutely nothing about the work at T&M exacerbates the problem and his deepening loss of self-worth. All in all, Harvey is a decent and lovable guy. The premise that he outsources his job to India absolutely sold me on picking this book up, and I was wholly behind Harvey's strategy proving to be a successful move. And it really did work like a charm until it didn't.

I was also completely caught up in Amaya's backstory and involvement in the Russian cyberattack plan. She's gentle and a total lady but feisty when she feels she's been wronged. I rooted for these two to click and find their HEA.

The author's writing style was easy to read and deliciously witty. This was definitely a book I didn't want to put down; it was a five-star read for me from the start. However, there was at least one sentence (if not more) where I wanted to round that up to "11." ("Because I stole his wallet.")

With its outstandingly clever plot, witty, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and sympathetic main characters, I highly recommend THE ACCIDENTAL SPY to readers who enjoy spy thrillers and would like a lighter, less-than-serious take on the genre.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.



Accusations
Accusations
Author: Fran Lewis
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 5/4/2023


Accusations by Fran Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The irresistible premise - the vengeful stories behind the names on the headstones - really caught my imagination!

Accusations is the fifth book of short stories in author Fran Lewis's Faces Behind the Stones series and is another interesting collection of tales from the grave. Headstone by headstone, the spirit of the person below ground narrates their life story and how they came to their final resting place. Many relate a story of a voice silenced too soon; others will need the reader to decide whether or not they deserved what happened.

There is quite a range of tales and circumstances for the reader's consideration. Although the first couple dealt with teachers and working in a public school district, the rest have few similarities or connections. Some tell of desperate situations and despair, with the speakers ending their misery themselves. Further into the collection, the stories get darker and more horrific in nature. Quite a few characters are horrible, horrible people. I couldn't stop reading.

The stories are told in an almost stream-of-consciousness fashion and, at times, are difficult to follow. Some offerings still felt like rough drafts in need of additional polish. Still, I recommend ACCUSATIONS to readers who enjoy short stories and horror fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.


ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder: A Common But Often Overlooked Disorder of Children
Review Date: 1/11/2009


I've read a number of books about Attention Deficit Disorder over the years and I still think that this is the hands-down BEST one. Easy to understand and relevant.


Advanced dBASE III Plus: Programming and Techniques
Advanced dBASE III Plus: Programming and Techniques
Author: Miriam Liskin
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 12/7/2009


Advanced dBASE III PLUS shows you how to

Write portable, hardware-independent systems as you follow the author's detailed examples

Use new features for greater convenience when you work with multiple files at the dot prompt

Apply new error-trapping capabilities so you can work with more flexible on-line help systems

Benefit from file-and record-locking features that enable you to design a multiuser database system

Tap into local area networks

Database managers, system designers, and busines professionals can use the author's expertise and insights to achieve optimal dBASE III PLUS performance.


The Adventures of Captain Jimmy Jams
The Adventures of Captain Jimmy Jams
Author: Summerton Thompson Connor
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 10/8/2023


The Adventures of Captain Jimmy Jams by Summerton Thompson Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Tantalizing hints of wonderful adventures to come, highlighted with lovely pastel illustrations.

The Adventures of Captain Jimmy Jams by Summerton Thompson Connor is a lovely bedtime picture book to share with the young read-aloud listeners in your family. With its calm and pretty illustrations and fun prose, the book offers tantalizing hints of adventures to come once they are in Dreamland. (And there were nights this Boys' Mom would have tried almost anything!)

I loved how the author included items on the bed as crew members with fun nautical titles. Pretending their bed was a ship on the water would have hooked my boys, and many children may easily relate to this, having already experienced a similar idea from playing "The Floor is Lava."

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN JIMMY JAMS would be a nice calming-down story for the end of a busy day.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.


After the Fall (Star Trek : New Frontier)
After the Fall (Star Trek : New Frontier)
Author: Peter David
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 12
Review Date: 5/14/2007


Author Peter David's unforgettable novels of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and the crew of the Starship EXCALIBUR remain one of Star Trek's most popular book series among fans. Now, David takes the New Frontier universe in a bold new direction that will at once shock, thrill, and delight longtime and brand-new readers of this acclaimed series.

Three years have passed since the events depicted in the novel STONE AND ANVIL, and for the past and present crew members of the U.S.S. EXCALIBUR, life has taken many surprising twists and turns. Captain Elizabeth Shelby has been promoted to admiral and heads Space Station Bravo... while her former ship, the U.S.S. TRIDENT, has a new captain. Soleta has left Starfleet to embrace the perils of exploring her Romulan heritage. The powerful Zak Kebron serves as the EXCALIBUR's counselor and head of security.

And Mackenzie Calhoun? Well, Mackenzie Calhoun's still who he is.

As Si Cwan, prime minister of the New Thallonian Protectorate, prepares to marry off his sister Kalinda in a politically advantageous pairing that will strengthen his newly restored empire, the bride-to-be is abducted just before the wedding in a calamitous event that threatens to destabilize the entire sector -- especially since Kalinda's abductor is someone all too familiar.

As the EXCALIBUR, the TRIDENT, and the entire Thallonian fleet attempt to bring order to their sector of space, none could ever suspect that a mysterious alien force may also be playing a part in Kalinda's disappearance -- and that the entire galaxy may soon face a long-forgotten enemy.


After the Green Withered
After the Green Withered
Author: Kristin Ward
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 4/14/2019


The sixth mass extinction in Earth's history, precipitated by unchecked drilling and a variety of environmental disasters, has occurred and the planet is in the midst of a decades-long drought. The nation has closed its borders and the military was brought in to control widespread violence as water dwindled and rationing got serious. As the story opens, the U.S. has been consolidated into 18 states based on river basins, the remaining population clustered into cities in each state, couples are limited to one child, and water is controlled by one all-powerful agency: the Drought Mitigation Corporation (or DMC.)

Enora Byrnes, now in her last year of school, has grown up in Prineville and this has always been the way things were. As she approaches graduation, she is expected to make a decision on her future â how she is going to contribute to society henceforth, as an adult. Undecided and with few choices open to her, all she knows is that she does not want to go into the DMC. Her best friend, Bram, a few years older and of the same mind had been selected by the DMC never to be seen or heard from again. The DMC was for the elite in town: their children groomed for service since birth. Enora was not one of the elite. But as graduation nears, Enora is singled out for the DMC anyway and begins her training in addition to her school work eventually ending up at a training base several hours away.

With her recruitment, Enora begins to see improvements in the lives of her parents: better housing, increased water credits, better and more food. Enora feels obligated and stuck especially when things that the DMC does don't jive with what she and the rest of the population has always been told.

When she and her partner are sent to the town of Renascence to neutralize a dangerous rebellion their doubts about the DMC and their role in the agency mount when the rebels turn out to be mere children and the DMC is hiding some horrible secrets below ground and behind locked doors in secret facilities there.

I really enjoyed this tale of a dystopian U.S. The author did a fabulous job of creating the world that Enora lives in. Enora seems like such a typical teenager on the brink of high school graduation with the usual angst associated with fitting in, living up to her parents' expectations, friends, and young love. Then there are some terribly tough decisions about her future and the horrible revelations that gradually unfold. And the story's not over â there's a Book 2! This story kept my attention and kept me reading late into the night because I couldn't find a good spot to stop. It is action-filled and thought-provoking. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy young adult books and those that like dystopian/post-apocalyptic tales as well.


Afterburn (Bio Rescue, Bk 2)
Afterburn (Bio Rescue, Bk 2)
Author: S. L. Viehl
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 14
Review Date: 4/10/2006


This author has just grown on me. I started reading about her "world" with StarDoc and the StarDoc series. This book is the second in a related story which began in BIO RESCUE. This is a good follow-up to the characters there and introduces some new and interesting ones. I think the story is better if you've read the other series already because they do allude to characters and events that happened in the past. Some quite important to action in this one. But this author just keeps getting better and better.


Alien Landscapes
Alien Landscapes
Author: Robert Holdstock, Malcolm Edwards
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 7/23/2008


Gorgeous collection of artwork of alien worlds that breathes new life into some of the best science fiction stories. I was intrigued enough by some of the views to look up the novels that they were illustrating. Really made them come to life.


Alina: A Song For the Telling
Alina: A Song For the Telling
Author: Malve von Hassell
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 3/28/2021


Alina: A Song for the Telling is a wonderfully told story set in the Christian court of Jerusalem during the Crusades.

During his lifetime, Alina and Milos de Florac's father, Guy, had been far more interested in his family and music than estate management, and the holdings, as well as the retainers that depended on its success, had all suffered due to its neglect. And when his beloved wife, Beatriou, and eldest daughter, Maria, tragically succumbed to the sweating sickness, he sank into immovable despair, and things only got worse. Not long after, he was found drowned, a suspected suicide, and his brother, Garsanc, and his wife, Marci, arrived, determined to set things right and repair the damage to the family name.

The brother and sister felt increasingly stifled, trapped under their new guardianship. Milos was constantly in trouble for one scrape or another. He was young and undisciplined; their father had been lax with the boy's education in estate management much as he had been. Nor were there the funds to send Milos as a page to the household of a knight where he could learn and trained as a squire before returning home to take up his duties when the time came.

Although bright and musically-talented like her father, Alina was not considered a great beauty, and lacking an attractive dowry, her prospects for an advantageous marriage were dim. She dreamed of becoming a trobairitz, a female troubadour, traveling the country, perhaps the world, playing her lute, and singing songs of her own devising. She became alarmed by the parade of unsuitable men her aunt keeps thrusting in her path, and the threat of the convent starts to look more desirable.

As the tension at home mounted, the siblings formed an escape plan: they would join one of the parties of knights, merchants, and pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land on the pretense of praying for their father's endangered soul. Aunt Marci and Uncle Garsanc agree, glad to have the pair out of sight for a while as they continue to mend the damage to the estate all the years of neglect had wrought. Uncle Garsanc knows of a group preparing to depart soon and led by a reputable knight from right there in Provence, Baltazar de Aurignac. With money from Uncle Garsanc in their pockets and Alina's lute carefully wrapped for the journey, the young brother and sister set off for Lyon to join their new companions and head off on the trip of a lifetime.

Author Malve von Hassell has written a wonderfully immersive tale set in 12th century France and Jerusalem. Set during the time of the Crusades, the long journey by horseback is interesting and exciting and so descriptive that I felt I was right there with Alina and Milos. The arrival in Jerusalem was full of sights and smells, dust and heat, color and antiquity. There are mystery and political intrigue galore that kept me turning the pages as I soaked up the atmosphere the author so skillfully and effortlessly crafted. ALINA is historical fiction, so real people and events are included in the story, and fact and fiction fit together flawlessly. It is amazing to me thinking about the massive amount of research this author did in completing this wonderful story. This realization only came to me later after putting the book down because I never felt like I was reading history; the story was so lively and entertaining.

I enjoyed that the book was told from Alina's point of view, and the thoughts and feelings of the young teenager felt true and natural. I also liked that she'd learned how to behave properly from her mother and had enough self-discipline to control her emotions and reactions to how she was treated at the court in Jerusalem. I felt this enabled her in her role as an onlooker of the various political schemes and drama. Well-behaved and a proper lady, she was useful yet overlooked and dismissed at times, allowing her the freedom to move about without being missed.

I recommend ALINA: A SONG FOR THE TELLING for readers of historical fiction, especially those that would enjoy the 12th century setting of the Crusades, France, and the history of the Christian court in Jerusalem. The book is suitable for YA and adult readers, and I could see this as a read-aloud book for middle grades and younger and something the entire family would enjoy.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through France Book Tours.


All the Broken Girls
All the Broken Girls
Author: Linda Hurtado Bond
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 9/10/2022


All the Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder and the ever-present threat of the evil eye create an atmospheric story of danger and dread.

Even with 11 Emmys to her credit, when a tip from a confidential informant leads to a lawsuit against the television station where she works, crime reporter Marisol 'Mari' Alvarez is put on probation, quickly becoming persona non grata. Her disgrace hits bottom when she returns to work, and the boss publicly pulls her from the crime beat, assigning her to cover fluff pieces and filler. But old habits die hard and on her way to her first feature assignment, a new baby sloth at Busch Gardens, Mari sidetracks to the scene of an unfolding murder investigation only blocks from her own home. If she gets on location before the police button down the crime scene, people are more willing to talk about what they know.

When she and her photographer, Orlando, arrive, they discover a woman had been gunned down at point blank range as she answered the door. Whoever committed the murder had placed a gold coin with a crown on it on one of the dead woman's eyes, a possible sign that this was the work of the local gang, the West Tampa Kings. But for Mari, the murder becomes much more personal. The circumstances are eerily similar to those surrounding her own mother's murder ten years earlier. Fearing the two crimes could be related, Mari worries that her mother's unidentified killer has returned to their peaceful neighborhood.

All The Broken Girls was a fantastic thriller of a mystery! Mari, the disgraced reporter, had my complete and immediate sympathy. I admired how she kept her head up when all her coworkers were eyeing her, and her boss blamed her for the lawsuit when she knew she had the goods all along. I loved her relationship with her abuela and was fascinated by the inclusion of her practice of Santeria traditions, rituals, and belief system. I liked that Mari was clever and figured out the clues quicker than her police contacts. I felt her heartbreak as she identified with the two Rodriguez sisters and later discovered the betrayal of family members. I enjoyed the sprinkling of Spanish in her thoughts and dialogue throughout the story.

I also liked the police detective, Antonio 'Tony' Garcia, and the tension and eventual chemistry between the two main characters were fabulous. His family was delightful, especially his mother. I loved how she was so in charge of the family and her son. I liked how they and Mari's family were such an integral part of their neighborhood.

The setting in West Tampa was unique, and I enjoyed the geographical mentions and the tantalizing inclusion of the market and other real places. The descriptions of the Cuban-American community were both colorful and comfortable. The subtle references to traditional foods and dishes teased me to find the nearest Cuban-influenced restaurant "quick, fast, and in a hurry."

The action is constant, and I had trouble finding a good stopping point to put the book down. Consequently, I couldn't leave the story alone for long; it was that absorbing and exciting. There was a sense of urgency to see what happened next. There was that feeling that whoever was behind the murders was watching the heroine, and something terrible would happen. With a creepy stalker dude hanging around somewhere just out of sight, mysterious and puzzling notes cropping up, and the ever-present threat of the evil eye, the story had a continuous atmosphere of danger and dread.

I recommend ALL THE BROKEN GIRLS to readers of mystery and thrillers who like strong female protagonists and those who would enjoy the Cuban-American flavor of its West Tampa setting.


All Time
All Time
Author: Mack Leonard
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 4/10/2019


In the year 2397, Miranda Hawking is living with her parents at the Hawking Refuge for Troubled Intelligences, a âretirementâ sanctuary for used-up channelers. These synthetic beings, in their prime, had interfaced with the most powerful artificial intelligences that guided the universe and then interpreted their thoughts in a way humans could understand.

Many of the channelers eventually succumbed to the pressures of their responsibilities and, if they were lucky, ended up at the Refuge cared for by Miranda and her loving parents but forbidden from ever contacting their master intelligence again. One such resident is the mysterious (in Miranda's teenage-crush eyes), Brightside, who had been channeler to the great master intelligence, OMNIUM.

When the Information Police come knocking, Miranda discovers not everything at the sanctuary is as tranquil and mundane as she'd thought. Not only has Brightside been in communication with his old master but her mother is involved in something with him as well.

Helping Brightside to escape, Miranda attempts to find out what is going on. She joins Brightside onboard a subspace ferry and next finds herself face to face with Altrius Prime, the highest political authority in the solar system (and the oldest one), who she prevents from committing suicide by making an unauthorized time jump.

As she disrupts his plans, Miranda herself makes the jump and ends up on a wooded mountainside in the year 1058. No sooner has she gathered her senses from the jump when she is attacked by a warrior from the invading horde known as the Holders of the Chain.

Her rescuer is an apprenticed painter, Friskin York, who along with his master had been on the mountain to capture the magnificent vista. Miranda slowly falls for Friskin as the three travel to find a place of safety from the invasion and search for her parents who tried to follow her during her accidental time jump.

All Time is an engrossing story with great characters and vivid world-building not only of a far future but of the past. There are numerous twists and turns along the way as Miranda tries to understand her new reality and she doesn't always find herself welcome. There are unresolved issues in this first book that I hope to pursue in subsequent books in the series.

I highly recommend this book for readers that like time travel stories and grand adventures.



Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions: Book 1: From Frights to Flaws
Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions: Book 1: From Frights to Flaws
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 4/7/2023


From Frights to Flaws by Sunayna Prasad

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A magic-laden plot with a nice touch of mystery and suspense!

From Frights to Flaws is the debut novel by young author Sunayna Prasad and the first in the planned seven-volume, middle-grade fantasy series, Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions. With its realistically relatable young heroine, her friends, and family members leading the action, this first book was a fun and imaginative adventure where good triumphs over great odds and the evil behind it.

A major strength of the story lies in the realistic portrayal of the pre-teen characters, with their friendships, rivalries, and squabbles. Alyssa and Hailey relate to each other like siblings, and 'mean girl' Destiny Cox brings conflict into the group of friends. Much of the dialogue feels authentic and true to life. I liked that the author had adults who made regretful decisions but later apologized for their hasty actions.

The plot slowly divulges the main characters' backstories while maintaining the action's pace. The current menace is confronted and dealt with, and the book concludes on a positive note, leaving plenty of room for future adventures.

I recommend THE FRIGHTS OF FIJI to middle-grade readers who enjoy a magic-laden plot with a nice touch of mystery and suspense.


The Amazing Spider Man (Look and Find)
The Amazing Spider Man (Look and Find)
Author: J. Janes
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 2/7/2009


Drawn in in "comic book look," this is a typical "Look and Find" book for the kids especially for those that like Spiderman. Hardcover version and over-large size makes it easy for little hands to hang onto and pore over.


Amber and the Sheikh
Amber and the Sheikh
Author: Stephanie Howard
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 5/14/2007


Amber didn't believe that desert sheikhs still made a habit of kidnapping beautiful women and riding off into the sunset! And then she met Sheikh Zoltan al-Khalifa. But did this prince of the desert want Amber as a wife... or just as part of his harem?


Amelia Bedelia
Amelia Bedelia
Author: Peggy Parish, Fritz Siebel (Illustrator)
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.8/5 Stars.
 6
Review Date: 8/27/2006


Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have hired a new maid. And not just any maid! It's literal, lovable Amelia Bedelia, and her ways of cleaning house are hilarious. When Mrs. Rogers says to draw the drapes, Amelia Bedelia sits right down with a pencil and paper and draws them. From dressing the chicken to dusting the furniture, she's trying to do EXACTLY what Mrs. Rogers tells her. But somehow things just aren't turning out right....


Amethyst, The Shallows
Amethyst, The Shallows
Author: Kellye Abernathy
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 2/21/2024


Amethyst, The Shallows by Kellye Abernathy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Return to Dipitous Beach for the exciting and satisfying continuation of the story begun in THE AQUAMARINE SURFBOARD!

Amethyst, The Shallows is the second book in the series or companion book to author Kellye Abernathy's middle-grade/young adult magical realism novel, The Aquamarine Surfboard, which I read a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed. With its variety of characters' experiences, multiple points of view, and atmospheric portrayal of the small oceanside community, this magical return trip to Dipitous Beach even surpasses the wonder of the first.

The main characters are a core group of friends who attend the same school and share many of the same interests, perfect for their setting as a beach town, such as surfing, oceanography, and preservation of marine life. Their hometown is slowly coming out of quarantine after a devastating sickness has swept through the country, and the friends have suffered through a long period of isolation and fear. Many of their parents or adult acquaintances died during the pandemic, and the story reflects how grief continues to affect them all. The characters' behaviors are individualized, showing that not everyone reacts to their loneliness, fear, or sorrow in the same ways.

Two particularly interesting characters are Tad, Lorelei's younger brother, and Isaac, the son of the aquarium director. Tad, who quickly became my favorite character, is doing his best to be there for his mother, who is in a coma and is still ill from the recent sickness. He is neurodivergent but growing in his ability to control his emotions, which he experiences as colors. Isaac has just arrived in town from back East to live with his non-custodial father after the death of his mother from the sickness. He's angry and resentful and hates the beach and ocean. His only solace seems to come from music. He, too, is neurodivergent and experiences musical notes as colors. I loved these two very different characters together.

As in the first book, there is a brief sojourn underwater for a couple of the characters. While this visit isn't as extensive as the first, the wonder and the magic are still ever-present and provides some new surprises.

While this book could be read independently, I feel it should be read after the first one for the best reading experience and comprehension. While time has passed and new life situations and struggles present themselves and are the focus of this companion story, the previous book lays a necessary and magical foundation on which these subsequent events rely.

I recommend AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS to middle-grade and young-adult readers of fantasy and magical realism.


Amym: The Mamluk Who Defied Death (New York Vampire)
Amym: The Mamluk Who Defied Death (New York Vampire)
Author: KD McQuain
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 10/3/2019


This is the story of how Amym, the elite servant to the Chord and the Lesser Blessed of the New York Vampires series, came to be.

Amym was a mamluk, one of the soldier-slaves to the Mamluk Bey, in his adopted city of Cairo. He was young, strong, rising quickly up through the ranks, and in love with the slave girl, Ketevan. Just as was preparing to approach Ketevan's master for her, the Mamluk Beys and all their troops are ambushed and massacred at a ceremony at the Pasha's palace. Due to the actions of his own master, Amym narrowly escapes and flees to the Bey's home to rescue the Bey's wife and family as well as Ketevan and her master and his household. As he is leading them to safety across the desert, Amym is confronted outside their nightly encampment by some of the Pasha's soldiers. As he fights them off, this wreck of a human figure joins the fray and destroys the soldiers finishing up by tearing out their throats and drinking their blood. He takes Amym to a tomb below ground where he remains a prisoner for several years with the creature feeding off his blood as he desires.

So, fans of the series get a great backstory for Amym, one of the principal characters reappearing throughout the New York Vampires series. This story is filled with interesting historical world-building and the action is constant. A note: there are detailed sexual encounters, so this is definitely for adult readers.


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