You can find out more about the author, Rizwan Asad, by visiting his website at: Home - Rizwan Asad | Author
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If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "City Kitties;" Author: Rizwan Asad; Publisher: Ness House Press; December 1, 2021
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Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo ​

Ok, let's talk about this stunning cover that mixed vibrant colors, gold writing, and a gorgeous model that combined, created a glamorous portrait of the book's heroine, sixteen year old Aurora, in this fairytale retelling of "Sleeping Beauty." I must admit, I was scrolling for fairytale stories and this cover popped up and literally seduced me. Had to have this book!

In this retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," Aurora Briar is a blood witch, the last of her kind, carrying the heavy burden of saving her people, a coven of witches, as well as herself. The only way to break this curse is to cross the Shadowlands, described as dark and foreboding, and waking the sleeping prince in another kingdom.  Along the way, we meet mystical creatures, shifters and vampires and some surprising twists (which I will not give away).

What I liked best about this book was the loyal bond between Aurora and her best friend, Hazel, who would do anything to keep Aurora safe, even if it means she must sacrifice her own comforts and embrace her own fears.  It was great to see this relationship unfurl within the pages, giving the story a touching, human element we can all connect to and aspire to have with others in our own lives.  

As the main character of the story, Aurora is extremely burdened with what she must do and we see her striving to be strong with glimpses of uncertainty and doubt and panic that envelopes her as she keeps trying to push forward.  We must not forget, she is only sixteen years old with the fate of a coven and her own life in the balance.  She will be confused and scared.  She will act impulsively...and so she does so, many times... but with the reassurance and fierce loyalty from ever-present Hazel, these two balance each other perfectly.  Where one may be weak, the other is strong.

The romance between Aurora and Sage and in addition, Hazel and Rune, was a cute element in the book.  Sweet teenage love here. If this journey never took place, then perhaps these characters would not have encountered one another.  It was a domino effect unfolding in this sub-plot and throughout the journey in the Shadowlands and ultimately, in what transpired at the castle harboring the sleeping prince.  All this chaos they were enveloped in held some happiness that was waiting to blossom.

I am not going to expound about that happened at the castle in detail, but I will say everything ties in together and I was taken off guard and not able to predict what would happen.  I thought one thing was going to happen but instead, the opposite occurred.  This is good writing on the author's part and should be noted.

One occurrence in the book that did not sit well with me was a death that took place mid-way through the book.  I don't believe it was necessary for this character to die by the hand of a... let's just say particular person... so as not to spoil it for other potential readers. It just did not sit well with me and I was uncomfortable with it.  I hoped they would have found some common ground. 

In summation, this is an entertaining book worth reading if you are keen on fairytale retellings.  It whisks you away and places you in a mystical world, unfurling your imagination.  I appreciate the author's efforts in taking a chance in some scenes, thereby keeping the reader in suspense with twisting plots and sub-plots.  Well done.

4.5/5 rounded up to 5/5.  I took off half a point for the death scene but rounded it back up to 5 as in all fairness, I don't believe the entire book which is well-written, should be judged by one scene I personally looked down upon.

​I look forward to reading and reviewing Ms. O'Neale's other books.

You can find out more about the author, Stacey O'Neale, by visiting her website at:  USA Today Bestselling Fantasy and Paranormal Author, Stacey O'Neale (staceyoneale.com) 

​I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together. All opinions/views are my own.

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "Cursed Beauty;" Author: Stacey O'Neale; Publisher: Pheonix Reign Publishing; 1st Edition (August 30, 2021); Kindle Edition

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo 

​These simple words popped up throughout the book, “Open Evening,” inciting a chilling sense of foreboding. This is an excellent, subconscious premonition of what is to come...we are being prepped. The seed is cast. Author, Lee Hall, spins a horrific tale in this first book within a series which instantly grips the reader in a roller-coaster ride of epic proportions. Mr. Hall neatly lays out the plot with a plethora of fleshed-out characters, high octane scenes that build tension and great detail that paints a moving picture within the reader’s mind.

Mr. Hall is endowed with his own, unique style of writing. He does a fantastic job of building tension that culminates in horrific descriptions and well thought out scenes which contribute to the ultimate goal of creating a sense of fear and urgency within the reader’s imagination. Take for instance this line:

“Taking one glance behind me as I ran, an image imprinted itself forever; that of a human entrails in a slaughter house. Blood red remains everywhere, parts of people nobody should ever see, the interior of pure hell.”

And that is exactly what I felt like reading this book…as if I was in a kind of hell that my mind never thought to imagine. The book reminded me of those teenage blockbuster horror flicks we watched repeatedly a few years back. It wasn’t just a book. It was a saga…a horrific saga that left my throat parched at the end of every major scene!

In summation, the author wrote a fast-paced, detailed story brimming with palpable tension and fear, delivered to the reader with seamless writing and a fierce intent to mystify and horrify.

A great first book!  5/5

I was not asked to write this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

You can find out more about the author, Lee Hall, by visiting his website at: Lee's Hall of information – A blog and journey in publishing (leehallwriter.com)  

​I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together. All opinions/views are my own.

This review is also posted on Goodreads: Open Evening by Lee Hall | Goodreads

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "Open Evening;" Author: Lee Hall; Publisher: Satin Publishing; Kindle Edition (August, 2016)

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo ​

More!
I want more from this author. 
I want this magic he created in "Dio In The Dark" to continue in other books. 
I was instantly captivated by the intriguing plot. The once mighty, mythological Zeus and powerful Olympians in modern-day Toronto are attempting to adapt to life but are drawn into a battle that casts a dark veil over their lives once Zeus vanishes. It is up to his son, Dio (a.k.a. Dionysus), with whom he has a strained relationship, to put aside the resentment he feels towards his father and embark on a perilous journey to find him.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Take in this early line in the book regarding Zeus: 

"Zeus, god of thunder, overseer of the universe, the lightning hurling King of the Gods himself, sprang easily to grab the handle and land on the running board of the garbage truck. He wore dirty blue overalls and work boots. The back of his overalls read, “Barker Sanitation,” and the front, over his immortal heart, had a patch that said “Zed.”"

Hahaha!  I love it!  I laughed... out loud! This was so refreshing to read!  Witty humor is continuously laced throughout the book which was a wonderful addition, seasoning it with a plethora of flavors.  I caught myself giggling many times at the descriptions and the banter that ensued throughout the book.  Here is another line I greatly enjoyed:

"“You tell me about The Darkness every freakin’ Friday. And this ‘young one’ business? Man, I’m sixty-two years old! Only thing young about me is my teeth, and even them is gettin’ to be teenagers!”"

Even though there are some lively, humorous scenes going on in the book, we also have some strong issues snaking forth that steadily develop within this book as the plot deepens such as family squabbles/resentment, depression, self-doubt, alcoholism, longing for love and family, loss and grief and other issues that are laced throughout the characters.  Even though the book appears light, it contains other complex layers, touching upon real life experiences/traumas that exist in the world. 

I studied Greek Mythology at school and note that these immortals were consistently illustrated as being stoic, all powerful, literally larger than life.  Their aloofness and seriousness you read about were not present in this book.  The author does a wonderful job in this book to alter your previous perceptions of the gods by humanizing them with shattered hopes, dreams and flaws. ​

​I like way the characters were fleshed out.  They were painted with a carefully detailed writing brush.  I truly felt the inner-turmoil experienced by Dio and Apollo. Both had issues but both came together to rescue their father and the rest of their family and mankind from an evil force.  The title is perfect for the story as Dio was in fact stumbling in the dark in his personal life as well as when he set out on his journey to rescue his father.  The darkness enshrouding Dio is twofold and aptly played out in the book.  Dio, is indeed, "in the dark."

It was a treat for me to read and encounter such notable Toronto areas such as The Don River, Young-Dundas Square and the Fairmont Royal York Hotel- a personal favorite. These 'mentionables' added an intense sense of realism to the author's story and made it a delightful, personal experience for me.

I don't believe the book would have had the same effect on me if it went into long-winded detail depicting the background of Greek mythology, adding several dry pages that would have taken away from the flow of the story.  The book is under 200 pages- enough to tell the story and keep you interested.  From one sentence to the next, the author's writing is seamless, drawing you in as if each word was held together by invisible strings leading you from one page to the next.

In summation, this book delighted me on many fronts.  It contained a well developed plot, an engaging writing style and carefully executed tones that intermingled with one another. It was properly formatted, I did not detect any grammatical or typing errors and... it made me smile and shut out the world for a few hours.

This creative work can only be best described as something beautiful and promising.

This author is a gifted writer endowed with an abundance of artistic clarity and vision to create a piece of fiction that stimulates the reader's imagination. I hope he does a few more follow-up books as this first book deserves it.

5/5. 

You can find out more about the author, Rizwan Asad, by visiting his website at: www.rizwanasad.com  

​I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together. All opinions/views are my own.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and on Amazon.

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "Dio In The Dark;" Author: Rizwan Asad; Publisher: Ness House Press; 1st Edition (October 15, 2021)

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo