Category: Book Reviews

by John Irvin

A commentary by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY AS THE SUN WILL RISE!!!

“No,’ Titiana’s face felt hot as she turned on him. She was livid. “I want to go home! You will return me home!’”

As the Sun Will Rise is another favourite of mine. I love ballet, I love dragons, and I love fairies, so this was a sweet story that just came to me one day. It’s one of those fairy tales that you just wake up and it’s there.

Paul is a Dragon-born, only he doesn’t know it at first. He thinks humans naturally shed scales of skin on a regular basis.

Titiana is a fairy who got lost from her world and found a sorcerer. The sorcerer took her under his wing and taught her ballet—of course, being a fairy adds to the magic of the dance and she becomes renown for her performances. The arts bring the sorcerer wealth beyond his wildest dreams. Is he going to hold to his promise and help her return when their contract is up?

How is Paul going to help her if the sorcerer doesn’t keep his word?

What sort of battle would a sorcerer, a Dragon-born, and a fairy get into?

            I actually wrote this for a friend who loved dragons—I’d always told her she was a fairy too. Now whether she’s read it or not by now, I don’t know. I haven’t heard a word in response hahaha.

            Yes, sometimes I see magical creatures or spirit animals in some people—it’s a trait of mine. I have friends who make me think they’d be great fairies, mermaids, werewolves, even elves. Like every writer, eventually every person you know ends up in some way in at least one or two of your books. Our books are pieces of ourselves and therefore pieces of people who are apart of our own lives.

            This story was one of the easier ones to write, I’ll admit. I must say, I don’t believe I’ve written a book with a dragon in it until this one—and I enjoyed it. So if you love urban fantasy with dragons, fairies, sorcerers, and a touch of ballet, this is the book for you. There’s a little tiny dab of romance in it too. So I hope you enjoy!

Click this link to go check it out: AS THE SUN WILL RISE.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

Another side note, I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Carolyn Turgeon

Published by Broadway Paperbacks

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY MERMAID!!!

“This is how it works, she thought. When the world becomes something new, it seems always to have been that way.” –Margrethe

            It’s a retelling of the original story—not so different that you don’t recognise it, but unique enough to be told apart.

            Princess Margrethe has be hiding in a convent, away from the tumultuous wars that are plaguing her kingdom. She sees what appears to be a miracle one dark evening: a glimmering mermaid drags a half-drowned man onto the rocky shore.

            She believes there is a reason why the mermaid brought the man to her.

            Meanwhile, the mermaid—whose name is Lenia—feels the deepest ache in her heart. She desires to return to the human man. But how? He is a human she is a mermaid—there’s no way their worlds could ever cross again. Or is there?

            There is a Sea Witch who promises legs if Lenia is willing to give up her voice, home, even her health. Will Lenia do it?

            The Little Mermaid was my favourite fairy tale when I was a child. So when I found this book a few years back, I fell in love with the characters immediately. With the different twists to this tale, I was held in suspense.

            How was it going to end? How was Lenia going to survive this debacle? Or Margrethe? Was Margrethe going to turn evil?

            Two women with everything to lose in the pursuit of love, things could and would get hairy—I knew that much. So those pages were turned almost nonstop—pretty sure I remember finishing the book in two days.

           If you love mermaid folklore, the Little Mermaid, and a new twisted turn to an old story, this is the right book for you!

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: MERMAID.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

Another side note, I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Peter Ackroyd

Published by Thomas Dunne Books

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY REBELLION!!!

“It is enough,’ James said. ‘I know by this you are a true messenger.’”

            Whether it’s controversial monarchs, kingdoms uniting, the in-fighting of ruling dynasties, Peter Ackroyd proves himself a worthy historian.

            Rebellion is the story of the beginning of a United Kingdom under King James VI of Scotland and I of England. But this book is not just about that debatable character alone, it also takes the reader into the Glorious Revolution.

            What brought on the overthrow and execution of Charles the First, son of King James? What were the signs and reasons for this violent stage in British history that the contemporaries named it glorious?

            Peter Ackroyd gives a great extensive detail of the era.

            If you love British history, this is a must read. Scotland and England’s uniting was a tense time. Whether you side with one dynasty or the other—or even if you like or dislike the King James—this book has some intriguing views into the whole ordeal. I enjoyed a new light on that time and it even helped me understand the forthcoming Revolution that took place shortly after the Glorious—one much closer to home: the American Revolution.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: REBELLION.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

Another side note, I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Kiera Cass

Published by HarperCollins Publishers

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY THE SIREN!!!

“It’s funny what you hold on to, the things you remember when everything ends.” –Kahlen

            She almost died in a shipwreck, the Ocean saved her. To pay the Ocean back, Kahlen must live the life of a Siren. One word from her mouth kills people—it’s the most enchanting music to their ears and they feel an undeniable urge to cast themselves into the Ocean.

            But Kahlen enjoys spending time on land with people. Even though she can’t talk to them, she’s still able to listen and watch.

            Then Akinli shows up. Sweet, handsome, nearly perfect in every way, he forges a connection with her and will not deny it. Even though she can’t talk to him, he seems to understand her thoughts and feelings.

            But to love a human is against the rules of the Ocean—naturally.

          Will Kahlen be able to follow her heart and break those rules? What happens to a Siren who turns against her calling?

            Not exactly a mermaid book, these folk have legs, but the Siren is an amazing story about a girl with a secret. I found myself wishing I could just wrap my arms around Kahlen and tell her it would all be all right. Even after she loses her family but gains a new one, after she struggles for almost a century over having to kill so many people because the Ocean commands her to, after she meets Akinli and is tortured in her soul because she can’t speak her feelings to him.

            But love can cross any Ocean. I loved watching how it all worked out. The intensity was sweet. Kiera Cass does an amazing job as always. Most seem to know her by her Selection series—and most who read those and enjoyed them, have complimented this work as well. As of the writing of this review, I’ve only read the first book of the Selection series. It’s good, but I find the Siren more up my alley.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: THE SIREN.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

Another thing, I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Liz Braswell

Published by Disney Press

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY AS OLD AS TIME!!!

“He always managed to pick her out of the crowd, though she didn’t always have blond hair. Or green eyes. Or that height. Or that color skin. It was bewitching.” –Maurice

            It’s a different take on the famous Disney fair tale. Belle is a captive of the angry, terrifying beast. She longs to see the world as always. But when she touches the enchanted rose, visions flood her brain. Belle sees her mother—someone she thought she’d never ever see again.

            What’s more disturbing, she figures out her mother was actually the Enchantress who cursed the Beast and his castle and all the servants. Confused, bewildered, shocked beyond belief, Bell and the Beast must come to terms with something.

            They need to work together to unravel this dark mystery. What truly happened twenty-one years ago? How are their families tied together?

            Another Beauty and the Beast unique telling that is a favourite of mine. I enjoyed the strange new mystery unfolding before my eyes as I read each forthcoming chapter.

            I could feel Belle’s surprise when she discovered the identity of the Enchantress. Though closely similar to the original Disney story, it is yet different to the point I could see a whole new movie being made from it. Although, I’d say, this book is even better than the movie and I love the movie—both animated and live-action now!

            If you like fairy tales with a dark fantasy twist, this is a great weekend read for you.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: AS OLD AS TIME.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

Another mention, I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. 

If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful! I’m also considering adding a second tier in which those patrons would get an exclusive short series, an episode once a week. If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them. 

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com