Uncommon Death- Spotlight and Giveaway

A princess who makes dangerous bargains with the afterlife. A man desperate to save his wife, no matter the cost. An uber driver for the undead.
 

Death, whether real or metaphorical, comes for us all. Yet it is not always the end. And in the depths of grieving can be the promise of hope and redemption.

The tales and poems in this anthology explore the depths of love, loss, and transformation. Whether in a reimagined folktale or a modern urban fantasy, A Kind of Death features a fine balance of tragedy and comedy, but always with a hint of wonder and hope.*

*As this anthology concerns matters of loss (all handled tastefully and without graphic depiction), certain stories might prove challenging for sensitive readers. Recommend reading with a hot beverage and/or a packet of tissues.

My Thoughts
I've only just started reading this anthology, but already I have been struck by the tone and the authors' analysis of death and lose. The read has come at an interesting moment in my life, both in fall which is one of the first images of this anthology, but in my first trip back to my childhood home on my own. In past years, after my family and I moved part way across the country, we had all come back to visit friends and family occasionally. However, this time I made the drive on my own, choosing for myself where I would go and what memories I wanted to relive.

I had not expected that through this trip I would begin to reflect on all of the themes of this book— the absence of loved ones who have passed from this life, love of family who I have come to see, loss of the life I would have had had I finished growing up here, and the wonderful things I have gained by leaving the good things of this place behind.

Though the losses in my life are far from recent, there are still echoes of them that will always remain. So far, this anthology expresses those ideas beautifully.

Uncommon Universes Press is a traditional publishing company featuring fresh science fiction and fantasy stories with wonder, adventure, and sacrifice. Check out the links below to learn more!

Website: https://uncommonuniverses.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncommonuniverses/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncommonuniversespress/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncommonunivers

Giveaway

A Hardback copy of A Kind of Death plus two art prints, bookmarks, and stickers. Ends Nov. 1st.
 

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Unscripted- Davis Bunn

My Rating: 2 Stars

Description: Young line producer Danny Byrd is well-known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner--and former best friend--makes off with their investors' money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to her impossible bosses only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it--even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.

Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

Bestselling and award-winning author Davis Bunn takes you into the beating heart of Hollywood with two characters determined to thrive in a cutthroat business.

My Thoughts: This book wasn't for me. I realized upon receiving it and looking at the author's bio that I had read something by this author before but under a different pen name, and I hadn't cared for it. Since this was a completely different genre, I went into the story with an open mind knowing that some authors do better in different genres.

In the end, I don't think the issue for me is the author's ability to come up with an interesting story but the writing style. The story never really grounds you in POV, sometimes going pages without even mentioning the character whose perspective you are in. This leaves it completely up in the air as to what the character is thinking and feeling during pretty important points.

I think that this style is meant to work for suspense. But it often means that the reader has no idea what the character is going to do until they do it. And I know this method works for many readers, but I find that it makes it difficult for me to care about the characters. There is a scene at the beginning, where the reader learns that someone new has betrayed the main character but are left completely in the dark as to whether or not this is news to him for a number of pages even while being in his POV.

This method also made certain reveals seem over dramatic. It created a build up to things that didn't feel like they deserved it and glossed over things which I wanted to know more about. And for me, this made it easy to put down.

I have provided an honest review after receiving a copy of the book from the publisher.

The Spice King- Elizabeth Camden

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description: Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building an acclaimed global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Resolved to salvage his family before they spiral out of control, he returns to his ancestral home for good after years of traveling the world.

As a junior botanist for the Smithsonian, Annabelle Larkin has been charged with the impossible task of gaining access to the notoriously private Delacroix plant collection. If she fails, she will be out of a job and the family farm in Kansas will go under. She has no idea that in gaining entrance to the Delacroix world, she will unwittingly step into a web of dangerous political intrigue far beyond her experience.

Unable to deny her attraction to the reclusive business tycoon, Annabelle will be forced to choose between her heart and loyalty to her country. Can Gray and Annabelle find a way through the storm of scandal without destroying the family Gray is fighting to save?

My Thoughts: The wealth of research into the political and scientific climate of the time period in this book is amazing. I loved the concept of two people falling in love over a common interest, as well as a hero who suffers from a common disease from world travel in his time. Historic ways of preforming science has always fascinated me and this novel captured that.

The romance in this book is fun as well. While Gray is not a particularly romantic man, his earnestness more than makes up for his lack of charm. Though I never fully understood his dislike for the government programs which worked toward the same goals as him, I appreciated his willingness to put aside his distaste Annabelle's sake. And I also appreciated that Annabelle did her best to live by her conscience, even when it would have been easier to run away.

I think that The Spice King is a fun read which explores a unique aspect of history. If you love Camden's books, historical fiction with intelligent characters, or romance founded on uncommon hobbies and interests, then this may be the book for you.

I have provided an honest review after having received an ecopy of the book through Netgalley.

Going Back Cold- Kelley Rose Waller

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: After the unexpected stillbirth loss of her daughter, physicist Dr. Jane Whyse feels as empty and lifeless as the landscape that surrounds her on the remote Antarctic base where she and her husband work. As the geniuses of PROJECT SPLIT HORIZON pursue faster-than-light travel, Jane begins to secretly wonder if there is an opportunity to use the piezoelectronic technology she’s created to time travel. What if she could somehow undo the loss of her daughter? Jane's honest, ugly struggles to understand God’s sovereign plan for all of time and space in the midst of raw pain leave her questioning everything. The more success she finds in her scientific career—and the closer she may be to a chance to fix the worst day of her life, the more conflict she finds in her marriage and in her own heart. Can she seek healing from this devastating loss while she tries to play god? Jane must choose between faith in a God whose mercies are new every morning, or coldly turning away

My Thoughts: Going Back Cold is a what I think of as a more "serious" science fiction. The science is far more realistic than in most books that I read, with the story detailing many of the discoveries and inter-work relationships found among the members of the Split Horizons research team. While I did not find that it was exactly the kind of story that I prefer, I could think of a number of people whom I believe would have really enjoyed it.

So far as real world scenarios in which Christians find their faith a source of conflict in a scientific field, I felt that this book was mostly realistic. The Whyse's are able to believe in God while still pursuing science, but they also experience frequent questions about how they possibly can do so, as well as some hostility from other team members.

As the narrative also dips into the thoughts of many of the other original Split Horizons members, there are parts of the story which you wont find in traditionally published Christian fiction (such as swearing, certain innuendos, ect.). I felt that this was very well handled, making the environment realistic without overdoing it. I am very happy to recommend this book to those who love this style of science fiction and are looking for something with a Chrsitian worldview.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book from the author.

 *Book releases Oct. 1, below is an affiliate link for preorder*