Malasz

Sarah Buhrman’s Too Wyrd offers a welcome twist on the conventional fantasy protagonist who embarks on a quest.  As the story begins, Nicola Crandall is plucked from the comfort of home by a late-night summons for help, and she readily places her life on hold to combat a supernatural menace. But in this urban fantasy set in Indianapolis, the supernatural exists side by side with real-world problems that take the greatest toll on the most vulnerable.  So in addition to confronting otherworldly abominations, Nicola comes face to face with regular people scrabbling to survive on the fringes of society, and proves to be their staunchest defender. On the whole, her capacity for empathy and inclusiveness is what makes her a compelling hero, more so than her courage or resourcefulness when under threat. The trouble begins when Nicola’s friend Joseph arrives at her door with worrisome news. Her half-sister Muriel, who has spent time living on the street, has been taken in by a cult t...

There are many vehicles one can ride in on the road of self-publishing. Some authors opt for the cheapest ride possible. They make the cover themselves and self-edit. While it might technically be a book, it's a ride that few readers want to go on. Some covers look like Bondo covered Pintos; the typos are potholes in the road. But many indie authors realize that readers want that literary ride to be all style and comfort. A slick cover grabs their attention. A polished manuscript makes sure the reader settles in and enjoys the author's story. But to get to this level of enjoyment, authors realize they need to pay someone to do this work for them. Alyssa Cooper is one of those authors. Now that I've blathered on long enough, here's Alyssa to tell her story. Hey everyone! My name is Alyssa Cooper, and I want to talk to you about my next book series novel, The Witches of Armour Hill . Margaret May Reis knows how strange she is; people have been telling her for years. At s...

Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis is a six-part illustrated series that is a throwback to pulp books. The first installment goes on sale this Halloween, but you can pre-order now . Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis takes place in an alternate universe where lizard men, fish-faced nightclub owners, and tentacled mobsters are everyday people. Derrick Diamond, a private eye, is tasked with delivering a mysterious artifact to the Fat Man. But there are others who are interested in the artifact, and their intentions appear to be just as malevolent as the titular Nazis. To put it succinctly, Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis is an illustrated short story, so I can't say anything more about the plot as that would spoil it for you. O'Brien has lovingly crafted his characters with familiar personalities. Derrick Diamond channels Bogart. Ava Harpy is the femme fatale nightclub singer. The Weasel lives up to his name. And the Fat Man is the successful mobster who wields power and conducts his b...

Amazon link Meet Hess and Elza. Like Nick and Nora, Harry and Sally, Pat and Tiffany, they're a memorable couple, trading wisecracks and getting out of difficult situations. The difference with Hess and Elza is that they're linked eternally, through countless Iterations of worlds. They are Observers, a handful of humanoids sent by a Creator to observe His/Her/Its world (though, if this Creator is so omnipotent, why does “He/She/It” need anybody to do the observing for “Him/Her/It”?). Other Observers go through their Iterations as different genders, but Hess and Elza are always a man and a woman. They constantly snipe at each other, each accusing the other of “participating” in the world too much. They seem to be the only Observers with empathy. Like other Observers, they can die, but are dead only temporarily. Every time one pops up in a different Iteration, they seek the other. It is much more difficult in preliterate and even pre-Internet worlds. Other Observers, who do much ...

Quinn Bolcan is a small-time ex-criminal who has the ability to drain energy from things, be they physical or magical. This talent proves to be beneficial (defusing bombs) and deadly (body heat loss can lead to frostbite). When the story opens, Quinn is unaware of his ability but, over the course of the novel, learns how to control it. Needing to get out of town (Vancouver) after a pot farm raid, he takes on the role of courier. His lawyer has a package that needs to be delivered to Montreal and it "isn't the kind you want to send by Fedex." While the story could've been about Quinn's cross-country trip (Canada is big and interesting enough), Stiles only details two stops: a bar in the Rockies where Quinn has a run-in with a supernatural biker gang and the delivery of the package in Montreal. They do factor into the novel later on though. The real action happens across the border in Vermont where Quinn accidentally defuses a nuke. The rest of the novel covers Qu...

Shaman, Friend, Enemy is the second book in the Olivia Lawson: Techno-Shaman series from M. Terry Green. As Shaman, Friend, Enemy opens, Olivia Lawson ("Livvy") has been rewarded for her heroic deeds in Shaman, Healer, Heretic . Shamans are no longer scorned, in fact, they are sought after. Livvy's client list now includes celebrities, who pay her handsomely for her healing powers. This new found prosperity has enabled her to move out of her rat trap and into a luxury apartment. She no longer has to buy her clothes from Goodwill. Her friend and fellow shaman, Min, drives her around in a Porsche. Life is good. Unfortunately, success has brought its share of trouble. The paparazzi hound Livvy whenever possible, particularly when she's visiting one of her celebrity clients. Worse still, her success has earned her the enmity of a dark shaman, Dominique. Green doesn't waste any time establishing the conflict between these two. Dominique is a well-crafted villain. An...