Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter by Richard Parks is a swashbuckling set of noir short stories set in mediaeval Japan, where demons, ghosts, and spirits of all kinds bring barely fathomable mysteries to the down-and-out detective, Yamada no Goji. In essence: Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter Yamada-san is officially a lord of the imperial court, but he…
If you’re a novelist treading water (it looks so much like drowning, y’know) with the whole ‘how to publicise your novel’ thing, there is an answer: workshops! Now, this particular one is Author Social Media, hosted by BeNovel. It’s a one-day workshop, although you’ve got two dates and locations to choose from: Pickering, Ontario, on…
Nobody Wakes Up Pretty by Diane Lefer is a book that takes you on a trip through racist 1990s New York. It’s punchy, gritty, has a few patches of seriously real and squelchy sex, and its message is more than relevant in today’s civil rights climate. In essence Diane Lefer feeds you through a blender…
Ronald DeStefano is a novelist and writer who has a new way to enjoy books. For him, it isn’t just about the way the words read; Ron provides a backdrop, specially composed music, and an interactive element to the way the words scroll. Ronald’s vision is more than just a tightly-written futuristic drama; it’s an…
Eleanor: The Unseen by Johnny Worthen is a solid tale. The characters have the depth of real people, so the challenges they face become the reader’s fights, but more than that, the story ambushes you in just a few pages. It’s the kind of book that permeates your mind. Click the image for the Amazon…
Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman is a combination of Regency-period romanticism (with lots of lords and ladies, and minuets and arranged marriages) with modern day action, with a little steampunk chucked in for good measure. In essence: Between Two Thorns Follow the trail of Cathy, a fae-touched member of one of the Great Families…
Black Cloud by Juliet Escoria is the kind of book that stays with you. It bugs you. Little things about yourself remind you of it. So you pick it up again, and check through, reminding yourself of how you felt when you read it. In essence: Black Cloud This is not a comfortable book, but…
Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig is one helluva yarn, and the first in the Miriam Black trilogy. If you want to conjure a miasma of human vileness with shots of blacklight humour, this is the book for you. In essence: Blackbirds This book is a death-fest, in a highly entertaining, twisty-turny format that keeps you slavering…
On The Edge by J.B. Christopher is a gritty, seedy, and well-imagined police procedural of the classic noir type. In Essence: On The Edge On The Edge is a dark tale of a gambling den that thought itself above the law. It opens with the reveal of a bomb-extortion plot; a bomb inside a landmark casino in…
Johnny Worthen is the prolific writer of BEATRYSEL success. His second novel, ELEANOR, THE UNSEEN, released just yesterday, is set to display more of the poetical, flowing prose delivered in the first. Immerse yourself in the catalogue page, if you want to be sucked into its intrigue and look out for the giveaway at the bottom…
The Book Bird 