Crocodiles and Children in Captivity: a Horribly Exciting Mix

To Cure, by Francis Benedict

Have you ever stopped to think that approving the deaths of children by ignoring vital medication testing procedures might be tolerable?  Well, by the conclusion of “To Cure,” I guarantee it’ll cross your mind, even if only for an instant. Benedict’s most prolific skill lies in expression and the ability to lead you to empathise with characters that should be entirely alien to our sensibilities. As you absorb the witty, intelligent dialogue and style, you’ll pause to consider the emotions and motivations of the people who deliberately deviate from societies laws. The more enthralling experience in between the covers of “To Cure,” is trying to find the line at which you decide the villains have become so evil that they themselves deserve to be, perhaps, eaten alive by crocodiles.

To add depth to the plot, a heavy family presence is threaded through the story so that the danger in which each character finds themselves is not only personal but also a danger to the people that love them. A fantastic read that thoroughly deserves top marks.

Incredibly (and terrifyingly!) this novel was influenced by true events. Benedict asserts that the text is purely fiction, but he was inspired by the events involving corporately funded child abuse in Northern Nigeria. If you’d like to know more about the motivations behind this work, Benedict’s blog can point you in the right direction: https://goo.gl/VpPufP

Highlights!

Expression: Even aspects such as the character’s choice of vocabulary propels the narrative in a very exciting and stimulating way.

Empathy: You’ll be left wondering whether or not you would have sided with the scoundrels, or the heroes.

Setting: Not only is this eBook predominantly set in an enthralling, semi-rural location, but the individual scenes are extremely variable. Move from a metropolis to the banks of an ancient waterway with the turn of a page (or, the press of a button).

Get it here: myBook.to/tocure

"Wise Before Their Time," a Guest Post from Ann Richardson

“As Powerful As Any Great Classic Of Fiction”

So said Sir Ian McKellen in his Foreword to my book. And it is.
Do you remember the terrible times of AIDS and HIV in the 1980s and 1990s? If not, are you curious to learn what it was like for those diagnosed?
Wise Before their Time, first published in 1992, shows in moving detail what it was like to live with HIV/AIDS when there was no real treatment for this life-threatening illness. It tells the true stories of over forty young men and women from all over the world, attending an international conference of people with HIV and AIDS in London in 1991.
I have added a new cover and a short introduction to the new version, but the book remains essentially the same.
These were very young people (most were in their twenties and thirties) having to cope with an unexpectedly shortened life span.
They describe the difficulties of telling their parents, friends and partners of their diagnosis, while trying to cope with the day-to-day problems of staying healthy, keeping in work and supporting their friends.
They all experienced enormous stigma, blame and guilt because of the disease. This can be seen in all kinds of ways ­– from small things, like an Irishman being disappointed that friends did not want him to play with their child, to larger ones, such as man being placed alone in an isolation hospital in Goa for some months with no help.
They all knew others who had died. And one mother tells the story of the death of her toddler.
Yet this is in no way a struggle to read. It is touching, it is enlightening and it is sometimes funny.  But most of all, there is virtually no self-pity. On the contrary, the participants were committed to celebrating the joys of life to the full. Which is why I chose the title – they were, genuinely, wise before their time.

For more information or to buy: https://myBook.to/Wise

 Ann Richardson, the Author.

Wartime Reflections in Forgotten Reflections

Forgotten Reflections: A War Story, By Young-Im Lee

This wonderful story reflects on both war and culture in a way that leads you to feel a sense of wonder about the ancient world: South Korea. While investigating her heritage, a young woman discovers that her grandmother’s past is as intriguing as it is incredible. Jia becomes entirely devoted to her dying grandmother’s story and, as a reader, you’re lucky enough to be invited on a journey back in time that plunges you into a wonderful world. As the title suggests, this world is a tumultuous one that delivers as much action, sadness and suspense as it does joy.

Perhaps my favourite aspect of “Forgotten Reflections,” is the way that Lee presents seemingly insignificant aspects of civilisation, such as the crafting of blank paper and carving of musical instruments. These industries, which could almost be considered as personal hobbies in the modern western world, embody the values and difficulties of our ancestors. If we further inspect the crafting of blank paper as an example, Lee poses the question: What would happen if we could not communicate with our loved ones? Such an advanced and fascinating concept is a welcome treat in indie ebooks, and you’ll thank Lee, as I did, when you have the opportunity to explore a range of similar ideas in the war-torn, but still magical, realm of South Korea.

Highlights!

Structure: Visualise the contrasting zeitgeists of the modern world and rural South Korea after The Second World War

Characters: A host of deep, developing characters exist in this novel that will give you an entire community of voices and opinions to which you may listen or recoil.

Themes: The strongest and most prevalent highlight in “Forgotten Reflections,” is the blend of past and present themes that will leave you questioning the future of a nation that certainly deserves your utmost attention.

Get it here: https://goo.gl/vadVER

Australia Falls in Dreadnought Rising

Dreadnought Rising, by Tom Hart

Don’t you love it when an ebook smacks you in the face with something that feels original? This book will always have a special place in my heart because I’m Aussie and “Dreadnought Rising” deals with the invasion of Australia: how foreboding! As the first instalment in a series (Dark Star), Hart’s narrative does an excellent job of entertaining while crafting the tip of a developed and complex universe. The great thing about this sci-fi is that it feels immensely possible. The intergalactic themes and suggestions are either imaginable or probable and I found myself travelling on a journey that I could believe. 

This credibility in a purely fictional story is a lot of fun and it’s something that you’ll certainly hope to encounter again; lucky it’s a series! When questioned about the “Dark Star” series, Hart suggested that the battles are packed with “Historical references to the decline of the Greek City States.” This, coupled with Hart’s military experience, is sure to contribute to an intricate, enthralling chain of conflicts.

Packed with charming killers and suave tyrants, you’ll be struggling to decide which of our (Earth’s) enemies you want the protagonist to battle first.

Highlights!

Characters: And not just the individual characters, the way the characters are organised. The interactions between the warring factions in this book are splendid.

Pace: The plot charges ahead as you’re thrown across the planet and the universe.

Conflict: A series of growing conflicts in this eBook adds to the action.

Get it here: https://goo.gl/Q7tJ2e

Hawaiian Terror in Mano

Mano, By Liam Robert Mullen.

Get ready for Mano! A badass Hawaiian cop who becomes the island’s best defence against the onslaught of terrorism. Full of danger and suspense, Mano builds on the standard evil portrayed in similar ‘police VS bad-guy’ books by endangering the entire population. 

These criminals don’t want to steal or attack individuals; instead, they wage war against the entire community.

This novella develops to include a host of interesting characters quite quickly and “Mano,” effectively presents the psyche of the antagonist as well as the hero. Mullen has peppered his narrative with emotion and action to entice the appetite of every peckish reader, and you’ll be thoroughly satisfied upon completion of this literary meal.

Highlights!

Antagonists: I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just announce the fact that anyone who enjoys an insight into the characters that the coppers are attempting to apprehend will certainly love this book.

Setting: It’s set in Hawaii in a way that presents the most lovely aspects of paradise while illuminating the darker bits that we often overlook.

Scale: It’s sometimes difficult for a novella to start with an officer and effectively extrapolate until the defence forces are involved in an epic struggle, but Mano does just that.


Get it here: https://goo.gl/HZJXkd