The Steampunk Chronicles 0.5

THE STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES:

The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

'Normal Girls Don't Have Something Inside Them That Makes Them Capable Of Remarkably Violent Things'

Being thrown unceremoniously out of a house closely followed by your carpetbag is no way to be fired. Although when you hit a governess so hard she's sent flying across the room without half of her teeth, well one can hardly blame others for thinking her the spawn of Satan and dismissing her without a reference. And so left on the streets with nowhere else to go Finley returns home to her mothers.

Finley is hardly home a day when a job opportunity lands in her lap. However why Lady Morton, a friend of her former employer, is happy to take her on knowing the circumstances of her termination is beyond her. But despite her reservations and the mystery surrounding her new employment, Finley is happy working for Lady Morton. That is until she discovers the sinister reasons behind a Lord Vincent's actions.

The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne is a compact yet feisty story of a girl who is unlike other girls. Finley is intelligent, bold and strong. Incredibly strong. She also has an other self that takes her over in times of stress and anger. As an introduction to the world of automatons, high society and mad scientist, this is the perfect prequel to the Girl in Steel Corset and if it's any indication of things to come, the Steampunk Chronicles should every bit as dark and exciting as this.

The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne - click for FREE ebook

Kady Cross Webpage

On sale: 01 May 2011
Price eBook (US): $2.99 - But Free For A Limited Time
ISBN: 9781459204140
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Finley
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Skychasers Trilogy #1

THE SKYCHASERS TRILOGY:
GLOW by Amy Kathleen Ryan

A Destiny Written In The Stars!

Earth has increasingly become uninhabitable, acid rains from the sky, fertile lands give way to barren deserts and people starve. For Kieran and Waverly and the other children aboard the space ship Empyrean they have no recollections of the harshness that Earth has become, but nor have they ever experienced sunshine, wind or the sea. Being born in space headed for a New Earth these children are humanities hope for a future.

Life aboard the Empyrean was simple and apart from living in a metal ship flying through space Waverly was just an average girl. That is until Kieran proposes to her. Waverly knows it is her duty to marry and have children of her own, being almost sixteen many would say she is old enough for such responsibility, but Waverly is not so sure. Although Kieran is kind and in truth she does love him, she can't help being drawn to another.

However when the Empyrean's companion ship the New Horizon approaches, Waverly discovers there are more important things in life besides love, there is survival. Separated from everyone she loves, surrounded by lies, deception and harsh truths, Waverly endures abuse, violence and kindness at the hands of these strangers that have captured her. Kieran, on the other hand will undergo torture, responsibilities and transformation with those who have been left behind.

Glow is just the beginning of this exceptional space adventure that will hold you captive. A brilliantly complex story that allows for heroes to make mistakes and the villains to act with the best intentions. This is a tale of two children growing up too soon, experiencing their world irrevocably changed and learning home will never be the same again. More then a story of humanities quest for a future, it is a dark and unvarnished look at how far people will go to survive. Simply a great read.

Any Kathleen Ryan Webpage

Amy Kathleen Ryan @ Pan Macmillan

On sale: 01 October 2011
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781742610320
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Survival
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Brookehaven Vampires Book 1

THE BROOKEHAVEN VAMPIRES:
Laney by Joann I. Martin Sowles

'This Is Just The Beginning'
  

When she first laid eyes on the hansom new guy she couldn't help but fantasise what it would be like to be held in his arms. However it was not her but her best friend that first had that honour, albeit under the most undesirable of circumstances. She had never felt for anyone what she felt for him and it seems he fells the same way. So why then was her aunt, who is more like a best friend, so against the one person she could possibly love?

The more time she spends in his presence the more time she wants to spend with him. She could happily spend forever staring into his beautiful emerald green eyes and if she had her way she would. However there is more to this gorgeous boy them meets the eye. He is older then her, he never seems to eat, he avoids direct sunlight and makes numerous reference to the past. Luckily for him she has an open mind when it comes to relationships.

Laney is a love story between a mortal human and an immortal vampire. However it is neither his blood drinking nor her desirable blood that is standing in the way of these star crossed lovers, but his family and hers. Although the vampire romance has been done before this story has a way of sucking you in, and along with the romance there is danger, blood and a mystery left unsolved. If you thought Twilight was good then you'll love this series.

Joann I. Martin Sowles Webpage
Paperback @ Brookehaven Publishing
Paperback @ Amazon
eBook @ Smashwords

On sale: 01 January 2010
Price (US): $15.99
ISBN: 9780984486717
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Vampires
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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POD 1

POD:
POD by Stephen Wallenfels

Pearls Of Death!

When they arrived he was asleep in bed and besides his dog Dutch the only other person in the house was his over obsessive father. He was expecting to sleep for at least another hour before he had to drag himself out of bed and get ready for school. He expected to meet up with his best friend Alex. Instead he was dragged from his sleep by a head splitting screech and the presence of black spears in the sky.

When they arrived she had just said goodbye to her mother. She was awoken early by her mum leaving for work, she would be back soon and then they would head to the beach. She had never seen the beach before. She was left alone while her mother was gone. She was left alone when they arrived. All around her people were in a panic while she sat alone and waited her head exploding with noise and the sky fill with blinding flashes.

POD is a tale of two people facing a world in chaos. Josh is trapped in his home with only a father slowly driving him crazy, spending his days watching the world outside his window slowly fall apart. Megs is left alone in a hotel car park amongst strangers spending her days struggling to survive, watching as her world falls down around her. When an alien force takes over the skies it is the threat from those on the ground that is the greatest. An absorbing and stirring read that is original, frightening and a little heartbreaking.

Stephen Wallenfels Webpage

Stephen Wallenfels @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 July 2011
Price (AU): $19.99
ISBN: 9781742375663
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Pearls Of Death
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Iron Witch Trilogy Book 1

THE IRON WITCH TRILOGY:
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

An Iron Grip On The Heart Of A Fey!

Being dragged to a party she never wanted to attend filled with people who don't want her there should have been the worst night of her life. It easily would have been too if not for the tall handsome guy she meets while hiding out on the roof. Suddenly with this one meeting she will realise that she is not the only one who is different, not the only one with secrets. But now her secrets are all coming out.

When a chance encounter with a rogue wood elf leads to the abduction of her best friend, a choice must be made. Either save her best friend and turn against the secret society that has raised her, or follow the rules of a society that she is beginning to question and allow the one person who was always there for her to be lost to the vicious fey that destroyed her family.

The Iron Witch brings a new twist to the fey genre introducing an ancient society of alchemists. Growing up amongst these alchemist Donna has many secrets, as do the alchemists who healed her after a childhood attack that took her parents left her marked as different and her arms tattooed with iron. Despite the distinct lack of dragons, this is a fast paced and fascinating story of an ancient secret society, a centuries old fey war, an elixir of life and a new romance with a handsome half-fey.

Karen Mahoney Webpage

Karen Mahoney @ Random House

On sale: 01 February 2011
Price (AU): $18.95
ISBN: 9781864718270
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Alchemy
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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Robopocalypse

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

I Have To Live!

Twenty minutes after the war ended Brightboy squad made a discovery that was as disturbing as it was inspiring. This discovery was literally little more then a black box, but what made it so monumentious, so compelling, was that this was The Black Box of the war. Every human to have an impact on the outcome of the war, no matter how small their part, were monitored and recorded, their actions forever replaying within the black box. These are the heroes of mankind, these are their stories.

Deep underground a scientist is bringing the most sophisticated machine ever built online; this is the beginning of the end for mankind. A solider in Afghanistan is reporting on an event that should never have happened, could not have been possible. A little girl is awoken by a nightmare, only it wasn't a dream. A technician in Japan is watching the one person he loves squeeze the life out of him. A Texas driller and his crew will take a job in remote Alaska, it will be their last.

Robopocalypse is a story of the enduring nature of mankind, but more then just a story of survival it is a story about life. Within these pages are the very best and worst of mankind, for even as adversity brings out he best in some, it brings out the worse in others. But ultimately this is a story of people who have become heroes through their everyday actions of survival. A brilliantly thought-out story that is told in the most engrossing and compelling of ways. A story that is all the more chilling because  it tells of a future that is all too possible.

Daniel H. Wilson Webpage

Daniel H. Wilson @ Simon & Schuster
Robopocalypse

On sale: 01 June 2010
Price (AU): $29.99
ISBN: 9780857204134
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Robot War
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Raven Finch Book One

RAVEN FINCH:
The Curse Of The Dead Woods by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

I'm Not A Witch!

A lonely girl sits atop a tower kept prisoner by an evil witch. A witch that just happens to be her mother. When not cooking, cleaning and singing, Raven would spend her days watching the forest from her tower window as far below children she will never get the chance to meet, run and play. While she dreams of friendships with children her own age in reality her only friend a ghost who was originally called forth to frighten her but instead is afraid of sunlight.

A dangerous fall leads to a discovery that Raven has long dreamt about, but has never believed possible. So as the evil Agatha's powers are weakening, Raven decides set off to discover just what it is her witch mother is hiding from her. Through a secret passageway she finds the paths to new friendships, a magical realm and the fearful Dead Woods and it is there that she will uncover the greatest secret of all, that is if she can survive long enough.

The Curse Of The Dead Woods is a fairytale full of ghosts, kittens and fairies. While there are magical spells and treasure hunts there are also hidden secrets from the past that must be uncovered. What started out as an intriguing story soon turned into a lot of running back and forth and Raven herself spends much of the time denying the painfully obvious. Accompanied by some enchanting illustrations throughout this story there are also a few errors that could not be ignored but overall this not a bad read as a children's book.

Samantha Jillian Bayarr @ Livingston Hall Publishers
eBook @ Smashwords

On sale: 22 November 2010
Price eBook (US): $0.99
ISBN: 9781453805190
Recommended age: 9+
In a word: Dead Woods
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to children
Star rating: two of five
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The Hero Chronicles Book One

THE HERO CHRONICLES:
The Hero Of 1,000 Years by Christine E. Schulze

A Hero Of Destiny!

Starting at a new school is not so bad when you have familiar faces waiting to great you, and not so familiar faces just waiting to be your friends. Chasmira is happy to be reunited with her old friends Tiffany and Aaron, but soon realizes how much they have all changed when Tiffany constantly disappears without question and Aaron is shown to be a mean bully. However Chasmira's many new friends assure her that all this is nothing new.

After repeatedly finding himself the victim of several deadly incidences, out of no where Arron is flung into the past and is again under attack but this time by dark warriors on black horses carrying black weapons. For some reason these warriors have decided that Aaron and his new friend Alyssa Liv are threats to their cause, that is until it is revealed that Arron is a hero, but not just any hero, he is the Hero of 1000 years, the Hero of Destiny.

The Hero Of 1,000 Years is a story of a large group of friends who also happen to be fairies and elves. A dark and evil man is out to rule the world and only Arron as the hero, along with the help of his brave friends, stands a chance at stopping this great evil. Along the way there are dances to attend, a dragon to slay and a school to save. This self published story has some errors and forgotten story threads that I assume will be picked up in the following books, but as a story of magical teens it reads more like a children's book and I think it will be more appreciated by a younger audience.

Christine E. Schulze Webpage
Paperback @ Amazon
eBook @ Smashwords

On sale: 18 September 2009
Price (US): $6.99
ISBN: 9781448689880
Recommended age: 6-12
In a word: Hero
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to children
Star rating: two out of five
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Iron Fey Book 3.5

IRON FEY:

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

Puck's Tale!

Grimalkin may be cunning, conceited and hold a good many favours over a large number of fey, but that has only succeeded in creating a good many enemies among the fey for himself. Now as Grimalkin has gone missing it has fallen to an annoyed Ash and, to his dismay, an annoying Puck to find the wayward cat. However before they can get started duty, and deceit, calls them to action.

Leanansidhe has promised to assist Ash and Puck in finding Grimalkin but only at a price. On what may well be a suicide mission for Ash, and a way to rid a love rival for Puck, these two fey will have to pull of the biggest prank ever, and they will have to do it right under the nose of Queen Titania herself. Succeed and they will be one step closer to finding Grimalkin, not to mention one favour down, fail and it will cost then their very lives.

Summer's Crossing takes immortal enemies Puck and Ash on a dangerous detour through the summer court to retrieve that which has been stolen. The love hate relationship between these two once friends has never been more predominant, especially now when one must place his life in the hands of his sworn enemy. A fun, clever and witty little tale that cautions against giving favours to the fey and being wary of deals made. Just because the fey can't lie doesn't mean they always speak the truth.

Summer's Crossing - click below to read

Julie Kagawa Webpage

Iron Fey

On sale: 01 June 2011
Price eBook (US): $2.99 - But Free For A Limited Time
ISBN: 9781459206403
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Violin
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Flight Of The Silver Vixen #1

THE FLIGHT OF THE SILVER VIXEN:
The Flight Of The Silver Vixen by Annalinde Matichei

An Action Of Impulse, Or Divine Intervention!

These are not your average teen hoverbikers. These blondes and brunettes are tougher, smarter and more fearless, though some might argue reckless, then your average hoverbikers. Determined to pull of the biggest jink ever these joy-riders have decided to swoggle the Navy's new and experimental space-craft the Silver Vixen. However when a simple turn into orbit becomes a speedy getaway through an aethyr crease these seven simple hoverbikers soon find themselves changed.

Far from home these teens are no longer an anonymous gang of misfits; the crew of the Silver Vixen have, through necessity, established order into their ranks. Most notably is the newly appointed Captain Antala who is as dashing as she is fearless, but more importantly is Mela, the wise and regal Princess of the Blood Imperial. However these titles are little more then formalities until a life preserving action taken by this crew leads to far flung consequences on a strange, yet oddly familiar new world.

Flight Of The Silver Vixen is more then just an intemorphic space odyssey, it is an epic adventure of danger involving space pirates, corrupt politics, demons and a band of teens who find themselves accidental heroines. An all girl aethyr adventure on a planet where both sexes are female, this unique and compelling story holds alien terms, spiritual beings, philosophical thoughts and an appearance by a strange race of beings who possess both female and males sexes. This rare and exhilarating book is undeniably a must read.

Annalinde Matichei @ The Sun Daughter Press
Paperback @ Amazon
eBook @ Amazon

On sale: 24 March 2011
Price (US): $14.99
ISBN: 9780615464794
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Daughter-Knights
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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