Eric Balch's Blog, page 4

Title: Supernatural Pizza

Author: Quinn Buckland

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: (4 / 5)

Available: Amazon

Tired of being under the thumb of The Supernatural Council – Sid the vampire, Tish the succubus and Mac the troll decide to go their own way and open their own business, a small pizza place they lovingly dub Supernatural Pizza. 

To be successful, the trio must work their way around being bad at marketing, customer reviews, employee interviews, sick days, protestors, and a very angry Supernatural Council.

Supernatural Pizza is a short urban fantasy novel set in modern day.  The story follows Sid, Tish, and Mac, three supernatural creatures (vampire, succubus, and troll respectively) who are tired of living under the rules of the Supernatural Council and decide to start a business together.  The three start up a pizza parlor catering to humans.  They take off quickly and become quite popular among the people, as it turns out that Mac is a great cook.  With the Council plotting to shut them down by any means necessary, the three owners must tread carefully as they navigate the world of small business.  

Supernatural Pizza is a fun urban fantasy story.  The existence of supernatural creatures is known to the public, so the three mains do not need to disguise themselves in their store.  All of the characters are interesting and well rounded individuals.

Overall, Supernatural is a great story with a unique premise. It is a short novel, making it a quick read, but the length does not detract from its entertaining story.  Fans of paranormal and urban fantasy will be sure to enjoy this book.

Quinn Wayne Buckland was born in Fairview, Alberta, Canada, and has lived all over the province. The eldest of three siblings, his love of writing was apparent from age 12 when he started writing too many short stories to count, as well as songs and poems.

Quinn spends his time absorbing what can only be described as an unhealthy amount of science fiction media. That, of course is when he’s not writing or playing with his lovely dog, Pepper.

The post Review: Supernatural Pizza appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: Unicorns Are Really Vampires

Author: AJ Niblock

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: (4 / 5)

Available: Amazon

The stories got it wrong. Magical creatures aren’t what we’ve been told. Many of them prey on humans. For the last ten years, all the creatures humans believed were fictional have shared our world with us. Needless to say, they haven’t coexisted well. Some of the magical creatures are dying off. The mermaids are desperate for help. Their numbers are dwindling. 

Jamie, an ordinary human from Port Harbor, is entrusted with a magical artifact and a quest. On her way to find the warlock, Virgil, she makes some unlikely friends—a fairy and a unicorn hunter. Trying to help the mermaids is only one part of Jamie’s new life. 

She is also being hunted by a unicorn turned vampire. Her journey will take her to magical realms and introduce her to creatures she doesn’t even know the names of. Her world is about to change. Can she restore the magical barrier and prevent the complete destruction of both worlds?

Unicorns Are Really Vampires is the first book in The Magical Realms Adventures fantasy series.  Set in Maine in modern times, the story follows Jamie, a young woman who doesn’t believe that all magical creatures are evil despite their actual natures being vastly different from their stories.  When a mermaid asks her for help, she sets out on a quest to seek the help of the warlock named Virgil.  Along the way, she must team up with a variety of characters to reach her goal, including a mischievous fairy named Kip and a unicorn hunter named Zak.  She learns that finding Virgil is only the first part of her journey and that she must help restore the world to its natural state.

Unicorns Are Really Vampires is a fun and unique fantasy story.  Jamie is young and impatient, but has a relatable vulnerability to her.  She slowly learns more of herself as the story progresses and gradually comes to realize she has an important role to play in the future.  Virgil is a mysterious character who knows more than he lets on.  The other characters are all unique and interesting individuals, including the vampiric unicorn who stalks Jamie.

Overall, Unicorns Are Really Vampires is a great story with a unique take on magical creatures.  It is enjoyable from start to finish as we learn more about the characters and the creatures they encounter.  Fans of fantasy will certainly be looking forward to future installments.

AJ Niblock studied literature and creative writing at the University of Central Missouri. After completing her MA in Literature and teaching college for many years, she returned to school and completed a degree in Veterinary Nursing. Currently, she lives near Seattle with her husband, daughter, two mini dachshunds, three cats, and a bird, and is working on Jamie and Virgil’s next adventure. AJ Niblock invites you to visit her online at amandaniblock.com.

The post IndieApril Review: Unicorns Are Really Vampires appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: The Jitterbug Apocalypse and Ten Orders of Kung Pow Chicken

Author: Brett Revolt

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: (4 / 5)

Available: Amazon

Famously famous around the planet, former Hollywood megastar Catalina Mack goes to great lengths to escape her own popularity, until her privacy must be sacrificed to save the life of an old friend. Can she unravel the mystery of his cryptic and heartbreaking past before it’s too late? 

And what does the Hungarian black market have in common with a group of retired swing dancers? The past and the future meet head on in a twisty, road trip expedition courtesy of ancient technology, sporadic calamity, and a tolerable amount of distant settings. 

Will there be golf cart chases? Accidental tasings? Adventures in Chinese takeout along the way? In a word, yes. If you like your mysteries to be formulaic and predictable, then you should probably skip this one.

The Jitterbug Apocalypse and Ten Orders of Kung Pow Chicken is a humorous mystery novel.  Set in Hungary in the year 2043, the story follows retired movie star Catalina Mack, who runs a bar with her business partner Zsolt.  When she mistakenly tasers her old friend nicknamed Fish mistaking him for a homeless person stalking her, she ends up with his belongings.  Among the items is a mysterious old cell phone that Fish does not want anyone to get ahold of.  Catalina sets off on a journey with Fish to unlock the mystery of the phone, trying to remain anonymous and keep Fish safe.

The Jitterbug Apocalypse and Ten Orders of Kung Pow Chicken is a fun mystery set in an interesting depiction of the future.  Catalina Mack is already trying to stay anonymous at the start and steadily grows to hate her fame even more as the story progresses.  Fish is a mysterious character himself, with many aliases and nicknames and Catalina slowly learns about his past as the story progresses.

Overall, The Jitterbug Apocalypse and Ten Orders of Kung Pow Chicken is quite enjoyable.  Uncovering Fish’s history, learning of Catalina’s past, and solving the mystery of the cell phone are all intriguing aspects of the story.  Fans of cozy mysteries will be sure to enjoy this book, along with its surprise ending.

Brett Revolt is a former professional wrestler who gained notoriety in the early 90s by racing shopping carts illegally. After a nervous breakdown caused by Y2K paranoia, Brett retreated to the forest where he lived in a tree and hunted squirrels for food. He dramatically reappeared in 2006, as the guitarist and front man for the band Zombie Kitten, a group that achieved such celebrity from their first public performance that they decided to never play together again. Now retired and living in Alaska, Brett enjoys sour cream, filing cabinets, and troglodytes.

Not really. Brett is a graphic designer who always wanted to design a book cover, so he wrote one. This is his first novel. 

The post IndieApril Review: The Jitterbug Apocalypse and Ten Orders of Kung Pow Chicken appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: Dark Ocean

Author: Patrick Carpenter

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: (4 / 5)

Available: Amazon

In a galaxy far from and long since the existence of Earth, Addy Palmer and her brother, Alex, struggle to live amongst the corruption and post-war chaos of the Sarian empire. Every day seems like just another pessimistic drop in the bucket for Addy. 

Then, one day, everything changes when Alex inadvertently discovers that he has a super-human power. This phenomenal event is witnessed by a man named Zach Brine, an obsessive and meticulous soldier from a secretive organization called “Prism,” binding the three of them together on an epic quest to discover the origin of Alex’s power.  Along the way, Addy seeks to discover meaning in her life that was once defined by hopelessness and nihilism. 

Wondrous worlds, mystical creatures, and kindred spirits open her heart to all that is possible. Unfortunately, her journey also reveals a long repressed, tormented past involving a warlord who calls himself “the fox.” 

Now awakened, Addy cannot take back what she knows. Can she reconcile it all and find her true purpose? Will she be able to help Alex find his as well? Most importantly, can she do it without losing herself in the process?

Fans of young adult titles like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Ender’s Game will enjoy this dystopian tale of cosmic powers, fated meetings, and faraway worlds.

Dark Ocean is a science fiction novel.  Beginning on the planet Grantitan, the story follows Addy Palmer, whose anger and nihilistic worldview stems from the horrible conditions of the planet’s society, and her brother Alex.  An accident at a sports stadium reveals Alex to have incredible abilities and catches the attention of Zach Brine, a soldier in the mysterious organization known as Prism, who recruits them into the organization.  Seeking to unlock the secrets of Alex’s power, Zach whisks them off to Prism’s headquarters where the undergo rigorous and brutal training, competing with other cadets to become full members of Prism’s ranks.  

Dark Ocean is an engaging story filled with the fun and innovation that science fiction brings.  Addy’s character development is portrayed well, as she starts out with anger issues and a nihilistic view that she struggles to overcome.  Not very personable to start, she slowly allows herself to open up.  Alex is cheerful, friendly, and likable from the start.  The other characters are all well rounded and serve the story very well.

Overall, Dark Ocean is an enjoyable story.  Plenty of futuristic technology and scifi action abound among the personal stories of Addy, Alex, and Zach.  Fans of science fiction will be sure to enjoy this book and I’m sure everyone who reads it will be hoping for the next entry  .

Patrick grew up in Sanford, Maine, where he spent the better part of his life. He has traveled to many places, but New England has a special place in his heart. It was here that he went to college at the University of Southern Maine and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Theory. Before that, he received a culinary arts degree from York County Community College. 

Though he spent years in restaurants and banking, writing has always been his true passion, and creating this book was the most passionate work he has ever performed. 

Besides writing, Patrick enjoys hiking, fitness, gaming, cooking, and spending weekends with his family. 

The post Review: Dark Ocean appeared first on Eric Balch.

The World of Sarcasca Merch Store is now open. If you wish to purchase merchandise related to my book or world setting you can do so now. You can acquire T-shirts, masks, mugs, and a variety of other items.

Show your love for Assault on Devil’s Den by purchasing the above items with the cover.

Explore the continent of Sarcasca with the map.

Join Pelagius as a servant of Ender and become a Champion of Valor.

Or swear your loyalty to Babu and become a Soul Hunter.

You can reach the March Store by either going to the Merch Store page on this website or through the following link https://teespring.com/stores/my-store-10349023.

The post Merch Store Now Open appeared first on Eric Balch.

Assault on Devil’s Den is now available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible.com, and iTunes

The post Assault on Devil’s Den Audiobook Now Available appeared first on Eric Balch.

The audiobook for Assault on Devil’s Den has completed production. The product is undergoing review to make sure there are no glaring errors or any fixes required.

The post Assault on Devil’s Den Audiobook Update appeared first on Eric Balch.

Title: Star Wars: Darth Maul: Son of Dathormir

Author: Jeremy Barlow

Genre: Comic/Science Fiction

Rating:

Available: Amazon

May contain spoilers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Collecting Star Wars: Darth Maul – Son of Dathomir #1-4 and material from Star Wars Tales #7-9.

Getting cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi and being rejected by his former Sith Master Darth Sidious isn’t going to defeat Darth Maul. In fact, it only makes him mad enough to take on the galaxy – with an army of Mandalorians! After forming the Shadow Collective – a criminal organization composed of the Hutts, Black Sun, the Mandalorians, and the fearsome Nightbrothers – Maul wages war against Darth Sidious and his generals, Count Dooku and General Grievous!

Adapted from unproduced screenplays for Season 6 of The Clone Wars television show, this is the final chapter planned for Darth Maul’s saga

Star Wars: Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir is a 4 issue comic series in the Star Wars universe.  The story follows Darth Maul after his capture by his former master, Darth Sidious, on the planet Mandalore.  Showing the events of an unfinished season 6 Clone Wars story arc after the show’s cancelation, the comic details how Maul escaped from Sidious with the help of his Mandalorian followers and allies among the crime syndicates of his Shadow Collective.  The resulting storyline involves Maul’s battles against Count Dooku and General Grievous as Sidious tries to draw out Mother Talzin, leader of the Night Sisters.  Maul’s attempts at revenge against his master vary in success, leading to a final battle on Dathomir.

Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir is an interesting story.  Filling in the gaps of Maul’s story between his defeat at the hands of Sidious at the end of season 5 and his renewed rule of Mandalore in the season 7 series finale of the revived Clone Wars, Son of Dathomir answers many questions as to how Maul escaped from his former master and how he ended up back in charge.

Overall, Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir is an entertaining story.  It is a quick read that provides answers for many questions involving Maul brought on by untimely cancellation of The Clone Wars.  Clone Wars fans will enjoy this short comic series.

 Jeremy Barlow is an Eisner Award nominated writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. Graphic novel credits include STAR WARS, MASS EFFECT, CALL OF DUTY, ALIEN vs PREDATOR, and METALOCALYPSE.

The post Review: Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir appeared first on Eric Balch.

In addition to reviews, I will now occasionally be doing an Author Spotlight. Author Spotlights are non-review book promotions, usually highlighting a specific author and/or book. These generally come at the request of the author in question and can serve as a substitute for a review if I am too busy to do one. Author Spotlights can be done as a favor for the author, sometimes in exchange for a promo or review.

The post Author Spotlights appeared first on Eric Balch.

With the fate of his people on the line, the truth is his greatest weapon…

Eighteen-year-old Dante refuses to let evil conquer the galaxy. And the fact that his own father acts as the instrument of a dark lord’s unrelenting destruction only makes it harder. But when Dante learns a mysterious warrior has strange visions of his family, he discovers she may hold the key to defeating his father.

As sinister attacks threaten more and more planets, he fears their purpose is to prepare for an ultimate showdown. But with clues scarce and the girl’s mission to help him turning deadly, Dante might be running out of time before those he swore to protect are doomed.

Can the young hero unravel the mystery and win freedom for the universe?

The Spinning of Deception is the enthralling first book in the Sunspear science fiction series. If you like epic tales of the battle against darkness, intriguing characters, and dangerous adventures, then you’ll love Elizabeth Lavender’s star-spanning saga.

Buy The Spinning of Deception to fight for goodness and light today!

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZLS4HL1

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/spinningofdeception

The post Author Spotlight: Elizabeth Lavender appeared first on Eric Balch.