The Price of Vengeance Review Spotlight

 Welcome to the final day of the book tour for the novel, Price of Vengeance by Kurt D. Springs. Looking for a new scifi novel to sink your teeth into? Then Black Phoenix Book Tours has something for you right here. Vengeance is a dangerous thing...what price are you willing to pay to have it?

 Price of Vengeance is a deep space scifi novel by Kurt D. Springs. This novel will take readers to a planet and a people in the fight for their lives. A young man, orphaned as a child is about to have his entire life disrupted yet again when an alien intelligence utilizing dangerous bugs to threaten the place he calls home.

Price of Vengeance will grab readers attention with a cover depicting a soldier in the forefront. It can be assumed that the soldier is Liam himself. He’s holding a weapon and walking forward as if to exit the cover. Behind him is a trio of soldiers off to his right (our left) jogging along as if in a hurry. The ground appears to be wet from a recent rain, and the lights are lit on buildings and signs behind them.

While the cover doesn’t depict a sense of chaos and danger that will be found within the pages of Price of Vengeance, it’s there. So while the cover may not give you the chaotic vibes you’re looking for that will tempt you to dive into this book, go ahead and give it a chance.

Price of Vengeance will give the false impression of “not being that long” of a book due to it’s small number of chapters, but these chapters are chonky! LOL! We would have preferred shorter chapters though. We say this because it would have helped spread things out more throughout the story without everything taking place in the first chapter or two.

As Price of Vengeance kicks off we’re immediately introduced to Liam and the individuals who will become his foster/adopted family. Liam is a small child when his biological parents are killed. It’s tragic, learning of their quick departure. You’ll worry that Liam and Randolf will have some tension in the beginning, but author Springs is quick to assuage those fears.

We don’t spend any time watching Liam develop over the years. Instead author Springs has readers leap frog ahead in time in Price of Vengeance to “present” day of Liam being a grown man serving in the military.

The fight is still on going against the chitin, but many things have changed. The planet that they live on has become more isolated. They’ve been cut off and have no means of getting off the planet or anyone being able to come in. The military might that the people used to have has been destroyed due to one person’s actions. Their quest for power. Now, the next move in this deadly game of chess is at hand.

Price of Vengeance has a slow start, but the story will gradually pick up steam. Author Springs will drop hints here and there to readers that...something is going to go bad sooner than later. This can be in the simplest form of Liam, especially, taking great pains to cover for someone else. That sense that you’ll feel in those scenes especially? Hold on to them. You’re still going to find yourself with your jaw on the floor, but you’ll probably recover a little quicker.

Price of Vengeance descends into a military drama fraught with chaos and a lot of death. Keep your eyes peeled for traitors and lots of betrayal, especially in the first round of chaos that reigns. No one is going to know who to trust. There will be some sparks of romance in the beginning, but author Springs makes sure to keep it as a passing thing that only gets more attention closer to the ending.

Price of Vengeance will focus on Liam fighting for his life, getting revenge for what has happened to his family, and doing his best to bring down an evil that threatens them all.

Throughout the Price of Vengeance author Springs explores Liam’s uniqueness and his abilities that he has had since he was a child. Now, Liam has help to improve what he has and what he knows if he is going to face off with the intelligence behind the chitin that are invading the city and killing it’s people.

Piece by piece this story becomes more interesting and engaging. Liam is the focus of the story, but author Springs also shifts to his brother from time to time as well, so that readers can get things from his perspective. Also, we get viewpoints from Azurius, the dangerous enemy who is looking to conquer the planet in the name of the Rebellion. Azurius has his own collection of secrets, and one by one they will come to light.

As Price of Vengeance draws to a close author Springs is quick to remind us readers – this is just the first book in the Dreamscape Warriors series. Liam and his brother may be getting a nice little “happy ending” for right now, but there is another player getting ready to step into the game. Does this mean that Liam and Randolf will be pushed to continue the fight? Or will there be someone new? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

4 out of 5 stars

Price of Vengeance

by Kurt D. Springs

Black Phoenix Book Tours

August 13-16

 What is the price of vengeance?

One could understand why Liam was angry. He was orphaned at the age of two by a group of giant carnivorous insects called the chitin. Taken in by High Councilor Marcus and his wife, Lidia, Liam was raised with their older son, Randolf, in New Olympia, the last remaining city on the planet Etrusci.

As an adult, Liam becomes a soldier. After being cut off from the city, Liam finds that there is an alien intelligence behind the chitin. To defeat it, he must discover who he is and how to use his powers. Then, Liam discovers that a traitor, responsible for his birth parents' deaths, had murdered his beloved foster parents. Will the price he has to pay in his quest for vengeance prove to be an even more unbeatable foe?

Universal link for the book on Amazon

About the Author

Kurt D. Springs is presently an adjunct professor of anthropology and archaeology in New Hampshire. He holds a PhD. in anthropology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, as well as a Master of Literature in archaeology from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and a Master of Liberal Arts in anthropology and archaeology from the Harvard University Extension School. His main area of interest is megalithic landscapes in prehistoric Ireland.

Kurt also writes reviews on Kurt's Frontier.

Professor Springs currently lives in Manchester, New Hampshire.

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The Curse of King Midas Review Spotlight

Welcome to the book tour of The Curse of King Midas. Readers who enjoyed the story of King Midas are not going to want to miss out on this dynamic and in-depth retelling of this eternal story. Keep reading for our review, and more about this book and the author. 

 

 The Curse of King Midas is the first book in author Colleen M. Story’s the Midas Legacy series, and readers who enjoyed the story of King Midas as a child will not want to miss out on this novel!

The Curse of King Midas draws readers in with a cover depicting a man standing in a parapet looking out over his kingdom and city. His back is to the reader, a crimson and cream colored cloak drapped over his shoulders with a sword in his right hand. Ahead of him, the sun is descending in the sky, while a river runs away into the distance. Is this the fateful king himself looking ahead to where he hopes to expand his kingdom? Only one way to find out.

The Curse of King Midas is an engaging historical fantasy style novel. This book takes the familiar story of King Midas and gives it some meat to make it into a dynamic tale. Readers can even think of this book as the “origin” story for King Midas. Sorta. It holds this thought process in the beginning, but the story shifts and takes a different turn.

When readers meet young “Midas” he goes by a different name. He is living a different life, and he had a small sister. He was a young tribal boy living in the grasslands. Until that fateful day when everything changed. On that day, he lost everything he knew and loved, and he almost lost his life, too. But for the intervention of one...he would no longer be of this world.

The Curse of King Midas will originally unfold like a story of revenge. He is out to recover something precious to him that was stolen. When the story starts he’s a young boy, but when the story shifts forward in time, he is a king of many years now, grown children, and...he still has not recovered what he lost. Cue eyebrow raise, right? One would think he’d have accomplished by now, but he hasn’t.

His enemy still stands. His enemy still holds what he once claimed was so important to him. Can he still claim it, if he has had over 20 years to reclaim it, but has failed at every turn? Did he, at some point, give up hope for being successful? Has his enemy proven to be that clever and powerful to thwart him at every turn? Or is there something else going on here?

The Curse of King Midas is a book built with a ton of intrigue and mystery. Never think that you’ve figured it all out, because until you hit a certain point in the story...understand...you have not. Just keep reading and it will begin to make sense in due time.

This book is written in the third person, so there will be a lot of shifting around. You’ll get King Midas, you’ll get his trio of advisors, his two grown children, and a variety of other characters who come in and make appearances. It gets a little chaotic from time to time but author Story works to keep readers from getting too confused by all that transpires in this story.

The fantasy element of this story isn’t necessarily front and center, but it is there. When we say not “front and center” we mean that there aren’t any “fantastical” creatures, or epic scenes packed with magic that remind you that this is a book based in fantasy. The fantasy element is more subtle, but it’s still there and bold enough that readers are able to see and acknowledge it.

The Curse of King Midas absolutely reads like a cautionary tale of “be careful what you wish for.” King Midas has one wish – to defeat his enemy, and for that he needs unlimited funds. This pushes him to make a foolish wish, but it’s the subtle manipulations along the way that throw everything into chaos. It reminds us of dealing with a genie. You have to make sure that you close all the loopholes so that stuff doesn’t come back and bite you in the butt. But of course, why should that cross Midas’s mind when he wishes for the golden touch? We never think of the consequences until it’s to late, and then? Well, then it’s always someone else’s fault that we’re in the predicament that we’re in.

One element of this book that we loved so much is how the truth gradually is unearthed. Midas struck a deal as a child, and he allowed the deal to falter. He was at fault for the chaos reigning at his door, but because he allowed another to dictate, his enemy gained a foothold. It’s wild, but it makes for an absolutely delicious story that will grab you and keep you coming back for more.

As this story draws to a close, do not expect a happy resolution. Things will not go back to the way they were. That can never be no matter what one may claim. But because of this...”gray lie” another round of revenge will be born. Yep, things will continue in a new vein. How exactly? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see, because remember, this is just the beginning.

The Curse of King Midas is a fresh and refreshing take on an old classic. With new life and a little bit of magic, this historical fantasy novel is sure to entrap readers within it’s pages and leave them eager for the next book in this series. We can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Pros:

• Engaging storyline
• Dynamic characters
• Twists and surprises
• Well written
• Page-turner

Cons:

• None of merit

5 out of 5 stars

Black Phoenix Book Tours

June 10-13

The curse of King Midas is real.

In the ancient kingdom of Phrygia, tribal boy Karem Savas thirsts for revenge against King Sargon II, the man who killed his mother and kidnapped his sister. A deal with the dark goddess of the underworld propels him to a powerful position of leadership with a mighty army and thousands of loyal subjects. Crowned as King Midas, he rules from the prosperous capital city of Gordium, where the future shines bright for his two royal children, Prince Anchurus and Princess Zoe.

But Midas is unable to shake his traumatic past. As his deal with the dark goddess turns sour, he seeks help from another, never realizing it will be his undoing. Burdened with a cursed power and floundering against the savvy King Sargon II, Midas must right his wrongs and save his children before it is too late.

Packed with myth, magic, and vengeance, this captivating tale of King Midas begins the new mythological fantasy series from Colleen M. Story.

About the Author

 Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, and speaker with over 25 years in the creative writing industry. "The Curse of King Midas," her newest novel, was recognized as a top-ten finalist for the Claymore Award prior to publication. Her previous novels include "The Beached Ones" and "Loreena’s Gift," which was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner.
Colleen's series of popular success guides for writers—"Your Writing Matters," "Writer Get Noticed!" and "Overwhelmed Writer Rescue"—have all been recognized for their distinction. She frequently serves as a motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers.
A lifelong musician, Colleen plays the French horn in her local symphony and pit orchestras. When not writing, she’s exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest and making up more challenging games for her smart German Shepherd to play. Find more at colleenmstory.com and writingandwellness.com.

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Umbrate Review Spotlight

Welcome one and all to my stop on the book tour in association with Black Phoenix Book Tours for A.D. Jones's Umbrate! Are you a fan of fantasy novels? How about thrillers? Well, author A.D. Jones has got you covered! Packed with twists, turns, and so much drama, this book is sure to keep you glued!

 Something new this way comes. Wonder what it is? It’s a book called Umbrate. Umbrate is a fantasy thriller novel by A.D. Jones that will draw you in and keep you glued to the pages to the very end.

Author Jones welcomes readers to a city called Dalton. Dalton is where Detective Vanic Bradley lives and works. Vanic is dealing with some tough days ahead of him. Work is driving him hard, but when a particular sting doesn’t go as planned, it sets up a nasty situation that he will have to fight to survive. Not just for himself, but for his young son as well.

Umbrate is an intriguing novel that lures you in first with it’s unique cover. You’ll see a character glancing back over his shoulder that you can safely conclude to be Detective Vanic Bradley. Behind him, you’ll see a dark shadowy figure that appears menacing and dangerous. The cover gives readers that this may be a story of an entity out for revenge or something just as sinister.

Umbrate begins with a prologue that takes readers many centuries back in time. You get a sneak peek at a band of characters who end up fighting for their lives against creatures that seem to step out of the night itself. They are swift, dangerous, deadly, and difficult to take down – these creatures. But they are not invincible. They can be killed, but it’s a hard-fought battle, and there are no guarantees, especially in close quarters, that you’ll come out alive.

Now, fast forward to the present day and this is where Detective Vanic Bradley makes his appearance. Umbrate appears to just focus on an average everyday situation for Vanic. He wakes up, greets the day, the woman he’s in love with, and goes into the job. On his desk is a mysterious little envelope that holds within it something seemingly innocuous – tickets to a couple of upcoming events. Vanic doesn’t think much of it and for the most part...neither will you. Well, unless you’re like the few of us who are immediately suspicious of unexpected gifts. LOL! Especially when you’re a cop and as the character notes...could be viewed as a bribe.

As the story progresses you’re going to learn quite a few things about Vanic. He has some deep-seated issues towards certain citizens of Dalton. To be fair though – he’s not the only one, and this will be noted in a way that will leave readers a bit curious, and mildly confused. Don’t worry though, it will become clearer...just later on in the story. So, just keep any questions you may develop close at hand because the answers are there. You just have to wait for them.

The story takes an interesting twist that brings in the drama when a sting goes awry. While one perp is caught, another manages to escape. Yikes, right?! Honestly, it’s to be expected, but while the escapee makes a threat of revenge, it takes a minute for things to begin to fall into place. It doesn’t happen in the way that you would typically expect to see play out. We’re not complaining now mind you! We like that this is handled in such a unique fashion.

Wondering where the elves and dwarves are? They are there in the story! They’re sprinkled here and there, but the author also has a couple come in and take center stage by being helpers to our hero. You’re absolutely going to love the nod that author Jones does to one of the most epic fantasy series in history, the LOTR. It is both humorous and awesome at the same time.

The thriller aspect of this fantasy novel really ramps up when a murder is committed and “tastefully” highlighted with a nice little sign just for our detective. Cue panic amongst the masses. Fun times ahead ladies and gentlemen! Compound the situation with Vanic’s son is with him and the tension just got ratcheted up to the next level with ease. Be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat as you wonder – “What is going to happen next?” “Who is going to be next?” “Where is the author going with this book?” “Is it possible to put thisbook down...even for a minute?” Here’s the easy answer to that last question...no. LOL! The rest? Well, you’ll have to grab a copy of Umbrate to find out for yourself.

Author Jones does a really good job of keeping a reader engaged in the storyline. You’re going to find yourself on the edge of your seat as the danger plays out on the page. While Vanic races against the odds and the clock to find a killer, he has no idea that the odds are trying to stack against him. Author Jones hides in the pages that there is more going on in this book than meets the eye. You are absolutely going to love it.

Now, as you know, this is a fantasy thriller. Emphasis on the fantasy elements, and emphasis on the thriller. A quick question we’re sure you’re having...will there be murder? Ya know, since this is a thriller? The simple answer – yes. Anything overly graphic on the page? Eh, that depends on you the reader. For us? We love a good dose of gore. LOL! So, there are some areas with finer detail, but that’s not the case with every scene depicted in this book.

Umbrate is an interesting story packed with some interesting twists. You are also going to get some flashbacks to Vanic’s youth that will help you better understand some of his personal viewpoints. Readers are definitely going to appreciate how author Jones goes on to develop Vanic’s character over the story.

Umbrate brings a lot to the reader and keeps you entertained, overall, from the first chapter all the way to the end. We wish we could say that the prologue ties into the story, but it unfortunately doesn’t. The centuries separate them, and if there was a connection meant to be made...it’s a miss.

For our first time reading a fantasy thriller, we have to say that overall… we were more than thrilled with this book and look forward to more like it in the future. For readers who love urban fantasy novels, this one is worth checking out. Enjoy a good thriller that will keep you page-turning? Then this one fits the bill just as well! Don’t miss out and grab a copy of Umbrate today!

Pros:

• Engaging storyline
• Unique fantasy creature
• Nice variety of characters
• Good evolution of main character
• Page-turner
• Twists and surprises

Cons

• The prologue doesn’t tie into the rest of the story
• Some terms aren’t explained until much later in the story

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, A.D. Jones, and Black Phoenix Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next!

Umbrate

by A.D Jones

Black Phoenix Book Tours

February 27-March 01

Welcome to Dalton
Home to Humans, Dwarves, Elves and the shadowy Umbral Populace.

Detective Vanic Bradley works hard to keep the peace, coming down hard on the criminal underbelly of the city.

After putting his life on the line multiple times in recent weeks, all he wanted was a day off work to spend time with his son, and re-evaluate his place in the world - but forces beyond his control have other ideas.

For reasons unknown, he will find himself in a race against time as two hundred innocent citizens become collateral damage in a murderous plot centred around him.

Umbrate is the debut Urban Fantasy crime thriller by A.D Jones, that will offer up his take on a fantasy setting that should be welcomed by many readers, regardless of their genre tastes.

Universal link for the book on Amazon

About the Author

A.D Jones lives in the North of England; where he spends his time favouring books over people and can be found writing or devouring said books to review online. He loves Cola, Twin Peaks, cult movies and all things horror. He dislikes the movie ‘The Karate Kid’ with a passion that burns brighter than the sun.

You can find him on Instagram - the_evergrowing_library

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