Eric Balch's Blog

Title: Moonshadow’s Champion

Author: Dianna Gunn

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Available: Amazon

I received an ARC for this review.

In the weeks after the events of Moonshadow’s Guardian, Riana finally has what she’s always wanted: a free life in the human world. No more commands. No more restraints on her will. No more being used as a living weapon.

Yet the scars she earned escaping her old life don’t just mark her body. Nightmares haunt her sleeping hours and news of Jacob VIII’s plans to exterminate the telars harry her waking thoughts.
If she wants to keep the fragile place she’s built for herself and the peace she secured for Moonshadow, she must decide if she will once again take up her blade—this time against her former master.

Elsewhere in Moonshadow, unrest and discrimination have roiled into a deadly storm of force. Revolution is brewing—and even Jacob VIII’s death might not be enough to stop it from sweeping over Moonshadow.

Moonshadow’s Champion is the sequel to Moonshadow’s Guardian and the conclusion to the Moonshadow Rising Duology. Following the events of Moonshadow’s Guardian, Riana now serves Moonshadow directly rather than answering to its ruler, King Jacob VIII. As the king grows increasingly paranoid, he plans a crusade of exterminate the telars entirely while also lashing out at his subjects. Riana is put in the difficult situation of how to deal with a king who seems to be going insane, with the best solution seemingly being a treasonous one. Meanwhile, a new leader has emerged among the telars, a woman named Fiona, who gathers forces and forms alliances behind the scenes.

Moonshadow’s Champion is an excellent story. Riana desperately wants to move on from her past and live a life of her own, but keeps getting pulled back into being a living weapon. She expresses deep regrets about her past, which repeatedly comes back to haunt her. King Jacob VII is paranoid and unreasonable, descending into madness that effects even the loyal subjects of his own court. Jacob’s son, Marcus, just wants to do the right thing, but is put into situations where he must do horrible things for the common good. Fiona is stubborn and vengeful, wanting nothing more than true freedom for her people, even if that means wiping out the royal bloodline. All the characters involved are unique and well-portrayed with their own desires and motives.

Overall, Moonshadow’s Champion is an entertaining and well-written story. Like Guardian, it is a dark tale, but easily enjoyable by those who prefer lighter fantasy. Dark Fantasy fans will enjoy this book as much as the first. Moonshadow’s Champion is an excellent conclusion to the duology, but fans of Dianna’s work will certainly be hoping for additional stories within the world of Moonshadow.

Dianna Gunn is a freelance writer by day and a fantasy (and occasional science fiction) author by night. Her fantasy novel, Moonshadow’s Guardian, was released in November 2018. 

When she’s not writing, Gunn can be found working to develop the indie author community. She hosts the #weeknightwriters Twitter chat at 7PM EST and is a co-host of #ReviewPit, a quarterly event designed to connect indie authors with review bloggers.

The post ARC Review: Moonshadow’s Champion appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: The Werewolf’s Story

Author: Fenrir Thorvaldsen

Genre: Horror

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0

Available: Amazon

Set. in the modern-day, Wil is a werewolf. I know utter trope, but a different utter trope. The book is from his point of view, and he is an evil psychotic murdering killer who is not a guilt-torn, suffering individual. No, he loves being a monster and definitely has nothing to do with sparkly vampires.

This book is not for the faint of heart or the fragile of emotion. This is a brain-crushing, soul-wrenching, body-squirming, emotional wrecking depiction of what an amoral, primal, soul-less, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, savage being does when it lives amongst humanity.

Wil is captured during a holiday in a warzone by the British Army.  They lock him up and interview him with the hope of getting him to work for them. This feeds his ego well, and he regales them with his past and how he became a werewolf. During this debrief, we learn of Fen, his Werewolf soul. How they met, and the bond that they have. Oh, and some of the murders and killing the duo have done.

We then see him given an opportunity to work for the service and go through his basic training. Wil finds he enjoys the job, and we see how much he loves being a sanctioned psycho.

He has a handler he only knows as the Chief, who did his initial debriefing and tries to limit the collateral damage to Wil’s jobs. Usually unsuccessfully.

The Werewolf’s Story is a horror novel.  Taking place in modern day, in a variety of locations, the story follows Wil D. Beeste.  Whether or not this is his real name is up for debate.  The book is told from Wil’s perspective as he shares his life story.  Wil is a werewolf who gets captured by the British army and forced to serve with them.  The timeline seems to switch around ;covering his time working for the British army and possibly events from before and after his capture.  He shares the details of his many hunts and killings over the years.

The Werewolf’s Story is rather unique.  It is a novel written in the form of a biography.  Wil is an unrepentant monster in every sense of the word.  He is a murderous psychopath who enjoys what he does and loves being a werewolf.  He loves to psychologically torment his victims before dispatching them in the most brutal way possible.  Wil’s handler, The Chief, is a mysterious character.  Even Wil knows very little about him except that he must report to him.  

The Werewolf’s Story is an engaging story, but it is not for everyone.  It is quite violent and the kills are described in gory detail.  If you don’t mind the graphic nature of the book, you’ll likely enjoy it.  Fans of old school monstrous werewolf stories will certainly like it.

Fenrir has a love of philosophy, psychology and Stoic ideals. He believes that all people can improve themselves through dedication. Hard work and learning about oneself can lead you to your goals and happiness. His Non-fiction books help promote these ideals.

He also has two titles based on his education experience. He is hoping to help the overworked teachers of the world and has been one.

He has also recently released his first Novel playing with the psychology of a psychotic character—a psychotic character who also happens to be a Werewolf. He was not forced to write a biography for a real werewolf. That would be a nonsensical notion.

Since his late teenage years he is proud that he had managed to maintain his height at a constant five feet ten inches. If only everything in life were that simple. He currently works as a veterinary surgeon in Plymouth, UK, and doesn’t think the job is all that bad really. On his days off he spends his time being cruel to pot plants, drinking cups of tea and, occasionally, writing.

The post Review: The Werewolf’s Story appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: The Hummingbird

Author: Jacob Devlin

Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale Adaptation

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Available: Amazon

In the explosive finale to the ORDER OF THE BELL trilogy, The Carver must assemble forces from Wonderland, The Woodlands, and from his own home to prepare for the final confrontation against the wicked Ivory Queen.

The Hummingbird is a young adult fantasy novel and modern fairy tale adaptation and the final book in the Order of the Bell Trilogy.  The story follows Enzo and his friends as they return to the New World (our world) for a final confrontation with Avoria.  On arrival, they find New York trapped in a perpetual winter, with a massive citadel rising from the center of the city.  They must fight their way to the fortress and ascend to the highest floor to defeat the evil queen and save all world’s from her tyranny.

The Hummingbird is a fun story full of fantastic peril.  Enzo continues developing into a truly worthy leader.  All characters involved, enemy and ally alike, are interesting individuals.  Important decisions must be made, sacrifices performed, and fears must be conquered to defeat the evil queen in a truly epic finale.

Overall, The Hummingbird is an excellent story and a fantastic way to end the trilogy.  Fans of fantasy and fairy tale adaptations will love this book and will be hoping to see Enzo and friends again.

When Jacob Devlin was four years old, he would lounge around in Batman pajamas and make semi-autobiographical picture books about an adventurous python named Jake the Snake. Eventually, he traded his favorite blue crayon for a black pen, and he never put it down. When not reading or writing, Jacob loves geeking out at comic book conventions and blasting Italian pop rock music in his car. He does most of these things in southern Arizona.

The post IndieApril Review: The Hummingbird appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: The Savior’s Champion

Author: Jenna Moreci

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0

Available: Amazon

Tobias Kaya doesn’t care about The Savior. He doesn’t care that She’s the Ruler of the realm or that She purified the land, and he certainly doesn’t care that She’s of age to be married. But when competing for Her hand proves to be his last chance to save his family, he’s forced to make The Savior his priority.

Now Tobias is thrown into the Sovereign’s Tournament with nineteen other men, and each of them is fighting—and killing—for the chance to rule at The Savior’s side. Instantly his world is plagued with violence, treachery, and manipulation, revealing the hidden ugliness of his proud realm. And when his circumstances seem especially dire, he stumbles into an unexpected romance, one that opens him up to unimaginable dangers and darkness.

The Savior’s Champion is a dark fantasy novel and the first book in the Savior series.  Taking place in the realm of Thessan, the story follows Tobias, a kind artist who has been forced to put his artistic endeavors on hold to support his crippled sister and his mother.  In order to better support them, Tobias enters the Sovereign’s Tournament, a brutal and deadly competition in which the winner marries the Savior, the ruler of the kingdom.  Tobias must fight to survive the tournament while at the same time developing feelings for a healer named Leila.

The Savior’s Champion is a fun and unique story.  Tobias is a gentle soul forced into a deadly completion.  He doesn’t even want to marry the Savior, who he has never even seen, but feels that it is the only way he can afford the medicine for his sister.  Leila is a kind young woman, but mysterious and secretive.  All the characters in the story are unique with different motivations.  Some are friendly and fun despite the situation they are in while others are murderous and cruel, reveling in the carnage of the tournament.

Overall, the Savior’s Champion is a great story with a fun premise.  Fans of dark fantasy will be sure to enjoy this book and will be looking forward to future installments.

Jenna Moreci is a bestselling dark fantasy romance and writing craft author, as well as a YouTube sensation with hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Her first installment in The Savior’s Series, The Savior’s Champion, was voted one of the Best Books of All Time by Book Depository.

Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Jenna spends her free time snuggling up with her charming partner and their tiny dog, Buttercup.

The post IndieApril Review: The Savior’s Champion appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: The Unseen

Author: Jacob Devlin

Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale Adaptation

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Available: Amazon

Through the looking glass and into the shadows…

Enzo and his friends may have survived their confounding journey to the enchanted realms of Florindale, but now they find themselves fighting for their sanity and lives while stuck on the other side of the very mirror they set out to destroy.

With their families trapped by a former ally with a crippling fear of the queen, Enzo, Rosana, and Zack must play a deadly game in Wonderland, where shadows are on the move, kings are at war, and one of them wants Rosana dead.

As darkness hovers over the world, the friends must lean on each other and stop the King of Hearts from following through on Avoria’s orders: Break them.

The Unseen is a young adult fantasy novel and modern fairy tale adaptation and the second book in the Order of the Bell Trilogy.  The story follows Enzo, Zach, and Rosana after the events of the Carver has left them trapped in Wonderland.  With Wonderland having fallen on dark times, the three must find their way through the world, alongside two missing allies who have been there for years, while trying to maintain their sanity among the madness.  Their arrival gets the attention of a powerful enemy.  During their adventure, Pino, Pietro, and many others remain in Florindale, trying to find a way to bring the children back from Wonderland while also attempting to rally other allies to the cause of defeating Avoria.  Unfortunately, the king has other plans and seeks to prevent this alliance from forming.

The Unseen is a fun story filled with fantastic peril.  Enzo continues his development, getting past his anger from the previous book while also discovering a hidden talent that he shares with his grandfather.  All the other characters in the story, both returning and new, are unique individuals with distinct personalities.  The inhabitants of Wonderland are especially quirky and eccentric in many ways.  The state of Wonderland is portrayed very well.  It is both tragically divided and just as maddening as always.

Overall, The Unseen  is an excellent story and quite entertaining.  It presents a unique, modern twist to many fairy tales and classic stories.  Fans of fantasy and fairy tale adaptations will be sure to enjoy this book and will certainly be looking forward to reading the finale.

When Jacob Devlin was four years old, he would lounge around in Batman pajamas and make semi-autobiographical picture books about an adventurous python named Jake the Snake. Eventually, he traded his favorite blue crayon for a black pen, and he never put it down. When not reading or writing, Jacob loves geeking out at comic book conventions and blasting Italian pop rock music in his car. He does most of these things in southern Arizona.

The post IndieApril Review: The Unseen appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: Hydra’s Wake

Author: Daniel Jones

Genre: Steampunk

Rating: [umr 5]

Available: Amazon

It’s time to bring back the Creature Feature! Kaiju Hydra Steampunk style!

Hydra’s Wake is an action-packed SciFi Thriller where survival is at the heart of the story. Get ready for nonstop, fast paced action, and all of the carnage expected of a good creature feature! Strap yourself in, please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, and enjoy the ride!

When dirigible pilot Rogue Whip crashes in the Deep Forest Province of Shell, he takes refuge in an old, abandoned mining camp. However, he quickly discovers the camp is the territory of the four-headed hydra—a rare but vicious creature that mercilessly hunts and kills its victims using its “wake,” an airborne toxin that causes hallucinations.

However, the hydra isn’t the only monster out for Rogue’s blood. The sadistic Lord Albert Richtoff has hired a mercenary to take out Rogue, confusing him with a spy by the same name. As his enemies fall under the influence of the hydra’s wake, Rogue rescues a beautiful but mute woman whom Lord Albert abused and left for dead. To rescue her and survive, the hunted now becomes the hunter. But can Rogue kill both the hydra and Albert, or will they destroy him first?

Hydra’s Wake is a steampunk novel.  Taking place on the planet of Shell, the story follows Rogue Whip after he crashes his dirigible.  During his attempts to survive, he comes across a mining camp and learns of the dangerous wildlife on the planet, including the hydra.  Massive in size and with multiple heads that regenerate twice if decapitated, the hydra also emits a gas called the hydra’s wake, which is believed to cause sever hallucinations.  He soon learns that the is being hunted by Lord Albert Richtoff, who believes that Rogue has stolen something from him.  Rogue must now avoid Richtoff and his mercenaries while also trying not to get eaten by the hydra.

Hydra’s Wake is a fun and entertaining story.  The world of Shell is presented very well as a dangerous place.  Rogue is a kind man who just wants to survive and get home, but will also help others.  Albert Richtoff is a sadistic monster who enjoys torturing and murdering those he believes have wronged him.  All the other characters involved, including Albert’s mercenaries, are well developed with distinct personalities and motivations.  The hydra is presented as a force of nature and the sense of dread it instills when it is nearby is excellently portrayed.

Overall, Hydra’s Wake is a fun and engaging story.  Steampunk fans will enjoy the descriptions of the vehicles and technology.  Fans of kaiju stories will love the way the hydra is presented.  Both will be looking forward to any possible follow ups.

Daniel Jones is a Creature Feature author who puts the focus of his stories on a variety of legendary and mythical animals.

He was born in California US, growing up in a military family, he lived in several places all around the world; including Japan, Germany, New Mexico, and England. Daniel is an Eagle Scout; an accomplishment he takes great pride in, as well as the oldest of three brothers, and a total child of the 90’s. He currently lives in Maryland, USA with his wife Robyn.

He has a passion for nature and animals and can often be found wandering local parks, zoos, or aquariums in his spare time.

Some fun trivia about him is that his favorite colors are dark green and teal, his favorite animals are Leopards and Rhinos, favorite movies are Tremors, Aliens, and Predator.

The post IndieApril Review: Hydra’s Wake appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: Lich

Author: Doug Ward

Genre: Sword & Sorcery Fantasy

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Available: Amazon

A lich is an undead magic user who, through the use of various spells and components, transforms itself into an undead creature. This gives it a semblance of immortality. These creatures are very powerful and evil. 

This book will introduce you to one such being. Baron Marasmus Ebendoom and his twisted goblin Skum are building an army of undead. The two plan to harvest the peaceful villagers from the hamlet of Springdale to fatten up their horde. 

Sadly, Springdale’s local mage is away. The only one left to stop this horrifying menace is an inexperienced, young wizard named Den. He and a group of misfit adventurers will battle the undead and monsters alike as they gather the magic items they will need to defeat their foe.

Lich is a fantasy novel and the first book in The War of the Stone series.  Taking place in an alternate world, primarily in the hamlet of Springdale, the story follows Den, the apprentice to the wizard Finnious, the town’s local mage.  After Den is attacked by a wandering skeleton, Finnious discovers that the necromancer Marasmus has taken up residence in a nearby tower.  However, since Finnious is already on his way out to help an ally with some other crisis, he puts Den in charge of getting rid of the foul mage, unaware that Marasmus has recently become a lich.  To rid the town of this threat, Den must overcome self doubt in his own abilities and forms a team to take Marasmus down.

Lich is a fun fantasy filled with magic, peril, and adventure.  Den is inexperience and lacks confidence in himself, uncertain that he is up for the task of taking on a necromancer.  The other adventurers he encounters are all unique.  The retired female warrior turned tavern owner Bronwynn becomes his greatest ally, along wth a thief named Pinch, a knight named Hank, and a dwarf named Scree.  All three of his new friends have different motivations for helping Den.  Marasmus himself is power-hungry, seeking to gain immortally and ultimate control over life and death.  Even Marasmus’ goblin servant Skum has interesting goals and motivations.

Overall, Lich is a fun, entertaining, and well-written story.  The tale reads very similar to a Dungeons and Dragons adventure, which adds to its charm.  Fans of fantasy and D&D will enjoy this book and will be looking forward to future installments.

Doug Ward currently lives in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Slippery Rock University. He has a BFA is in Fine Art and spends much of his time doing oil paintings, which incorporate mythology and science, and writing.

If you want to get in touch, you can find him at Twitter @authordougward, or check out his fan page at https://www.facebook.com/wardswoods/.

The post Review: Lich appeared first on Eric Balch.

Trial by Tournament is now available on audiobook on , , and iTunes

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Title: Pork Pie Pandemonium: Albert Smith’s Culinary Capers Recipe 1

Author: Steve Higgs

Genre: Mystery

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0

Available: Amazon

When a retired detective superintendent chooses to take a culinary tour of the British Isles, he hopes to find tasty treats and delicious bakes …

… what he finds is a clue to a crime in the ingredients for his pork pie.

His dog, Rex Harrison, an ex-police dog fired for having a bad attitude, cannot understand why the humans are struggling to solve the mystery. He can already smell the answer – it’s right before their noses.

He’ll pitch in to help his human and the shop owner’s teenage daughter as the trio set out to save the shop from closure. Is the rival pork pie shop across the street to blame? Or is there something far more sinister going on?

One thing is for sure, what started out as a bit of fun, is getting deadlier by the hour, and they’d better work out what the dog knows soon or it could be curtains for them all.

Pork Pie Pandemonium is a mystery novel and the first of the Albert Smith’s Culinary Capers series. The story follows Albert Smith, a retired detective living in England, as he takes a culinary tour around the country. His vacation is almost immediately interrupted by an incident in a pork pie cooking class he is attending. Despite the warnings of local police, Albert decides to investigate the incident himself, along with the help of his service dog, Rex Harrison, and the pie shop owner’s teenage daughter, Donna. Together, they follow the clues to solve the mystery and save the shop, all the while getting into more and more trouble.

Pork Pie Pandemonium is a fun mystery set in modern day England. Albert Smith is an interesting character. He is friendly, but can also be grumpy and stubborn, insisting on solving the mystery. Donna is eager to solve the caper as well, driven and desperate to save her mother’s pie shop. The story even takes us inside of Rex’s head and hearing the dog’s thoughts on the matter is quite amusing.

Overall, Pork Pie Pandemonium is a fun story. The circumstances surrounding the incident in the pie shop are mysterious and more dangerous than initially believed. Rex is quite a character himself, often providing some comedy with his antics, but never to the detriment of the story. Mystery fans and dog lovers will be sure to enjoy this book and will be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

When Steve Higgs wrote his debut novel, Paranormal Nonsense, he was a captain in the British Army. He would like to pretend that he had one of those careers that must be blacked out and generally denied by the government, and that he has to change his name and move constantly because he is still on the watch list in several countries. In truth, though, he started out as a mechanic – not like Jason Statham in the film by that name, sneaking around as a hitman, but more like one of those sleazy guys who charges a fortune and keeps your car for a week even though the only thing you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.

At school, he was largely disinterested in all subjects except creative writing, for which he won his first prize at the age of ten. However, calling it the first prize he won suggests that there were other prizes, which is not the case. Awards may yet come, but in the meantime, he enjoys writing mystery and thriller novels and claims to have more than a hundred books forming a restless queue in his mind because they are desperate to be written.

Now retired from the military, he lives in southeast England with a duo of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, he doubts he’ll ever leave, the beer is just too good.

The post Review: Pork Pie Pandemonium appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: Pork Pie Pandemonium: Albert Smith’s Culinary Capers Recipe 1

Author: Steve Higgs

Genre: Mystery

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0

Available: Amazon

When a retired detective superintendent chooses to take a culinary tour of the British Isles, he hopes to find tasty treats and delicious bakes …

… what he finds is a clue to a crime in the ingredients for his pork pie.

His dog, Rex Harrison, an ex-police dog fired for having a bad attitude, cannot understand why the humans are struggling to solve the mystery. He can already smell the answer – it’s right before their noses.

He’ll pitch in to help his human and the shop owner’s teenage daughter as the trio set out to save the shop from closure. Is the rival pork pie shop across the street to blame? Or is there something far more sinister going on?

One thing is for sure, what started out as a bit of fun, is getting deadlier by the hour, and they’d better work out what the dog knows soon or it could be curtains for them all.

Pork Pie Pandemonium is a mystery novel and the first of the Albert Smith’s Culinary Capers series. The story follows Albert Smith, a retired detective living in England, as he takes a culinary tour around the country. His vacation is almost immediately interrupted by an incident in a pork pie cooking class he is attending. Despite the warnings of local police, Albert decides to investigate the incident himself, along with the help of his service dog, Rex Harrison, and the pie shop owner’s teenage daughter, Donna. Together, they follow the clues to solve the mystery and save the shop, all the while getting into more and more trouble.

Pork Pie Pandemonium is a fun mystery set in modern day England. Albert Smith is an interesting character. He is friendly, but can also be grumpy and stubborn, insisting on solving the mystery. Donna is eager to solve the caper as well, driven and desperate to save her mother’s pie shop. The story even takes us inside of Rex’s head and hearing the dog’s thoughts on the matter is quite amusing.

Overall, Pork Pie Pandemonium is a fun story. The circumstances surrounding the incident in the pie shop are mysterious and more dangerous than initially believed. Rex is quite a character himself, often providing some comedy with his antics, but never to the detriment of the story. Mystery fans and dog lovers will be sure to enjoy this book and will be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

When Steve Higgs wrote his debut novel, Paranormal Nonsense, he was a captain in the British Army. He would like to pretend that he had one of those careers that must be blacked out and generally denied by the government, and that he has to change his name and move constantly because he is still on the watch list in several countries. In truth, though, he started out as a mechanic – not like Jason Statham in the film by that name, sneaking around as a hitman, but more like one of those sleazy guys who charges a fortune and keeps your car for a week even though the only thing you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.

At school, he was largely disinterested in all subjects except creative writing, for which he won his first prize at the age of ten. However, calling it the first prize he won suggests that there were other prizes, which is not the case. Awards may yet come, but in the meantime, he enjoys writing mystery and thriller novels and claims to have more than a hundred books forming a restless queue in his mind because they are desperate to be written.

Now retired from the military, he lives in southeast England with a duo of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, he doubts he’ll ever leave, the beer is just too good.

The post Review: The Pork Pie Pandemonium appeared first on Eric Balch.