#381 ~ Curse of the Kingsmans

Curse of the Kingsmans by Ethan Somerville

My rating: 3 of 5 stars







Storm Publishing (20 October 2010)
Age Range:  Adult
Genre:  Fiction, Historical, Romance


Having read the Time Crystal by Ethan, I was really looking forward to this one.

However, whilst it was an okay read, it wasn't as interesting and well paced as his other offering. Obviously, it's purely an historical novel, no time travel. Then again, it could have probably done with a bit to pep it up!

I would read others in the series, but just to see if the writing in any way lives up to the enjoyment of the Time Crystal.

From me, a disappointed 3 stars due to the lack lustre performance, but read it yourself and give it a fair hearing.


Product Details:

This was one of my DSOA from March 2013, and at the time of writing it's available HERE, still as a free Kindle Download.

This is Book 1 of the Curse of the Kingsmans' Series.  You will find details of the Series on the "Review by Series" page at the top of the Blog.


Errors/Bug Bears:

As with the other book by Ethan, there are quite a few errors, which I have detailed below.  As I've been doing recently, they are listed by the nearest appropriate location details (given or take the beginning or end of a page).

Loc 31:  She believed that most that modern men were selfish ......

Correct to:  She believed that most that modern men were selfish ......

Loc 54:  In a vain attempt to make themselves look taller, the male Darneys wore high heels and tall black wigs.

Bug bear:  I am not sure I've ever heard the phrase 'Darney', but am presuming it is a dandy.  Does anybody have any details about the use of that word?

Loc 357:  ....and after our marriage he promised to take me into around the country and show me some sights.

It has to be either/or with that one, but my personal preference would be:

....and after our marriage he promised to take me into around the country and show me some sights.

Loc 400:  "You Cow!" Gregory shouted at her.

Bug bear:  would that have been period appropriate?

Loc 435:  I would have known if someone had tried to grab hold it.

Correct to:  I would have known if someone had tried to grab hold of it.

Loc 578:  But instead of being a gaze of desire it seemed more like a sneer dislike.

Correct to:  But instead of being a gaze of desire it seemed more like a sneer of dislike.

Loc 801:  Beth reddened, and the goddess in the mirror did she same.

Correct to:  Beth reddened, and the goddess in the mirror did she the same.

Loc 1357:  As soon as King Charles saw Henry and Beth he smiled, remembering the nervous young woman who had nervously curtseyed before him several weeks earlier.

Bug bear:  nervous and nervously used in the same sentence.  I would be inclined to re-work the sentence.

Loc 1365:  The earl tried to introduce Beth

Requires a initial capital letter, i.e. Earl.

Loc 1698:  Henry snorted again.  "If you think insults are going disturb me...

Correct to:  Henry snorted again.  "If you think insults are going to disturb me...

Loc 3267:  She must not have seen it in al long time.

Correct to:  She must not have seen it in al long time.

Loc 3792:  Is this right? she mouthed. Im comin' with us?

Missing apostrophe, correct to:  Is this right? she mouthed. 'im comin' with us?

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#379 ~ Time Crystal 1 - The Convergence

Time Crystal 1 - The Convergence by Ethan Somerville

My rating: 4 of 5 stars








Storm Publishing, 10th August 209
461 Pages
Reading Age:  Adult
Genre:  Fiction > Fantasy > Time Travel


This was one of my DSOA (Daily Selection for free Kindle Download on Amazon) on my Blog in March. At the time of writing this Review' (September 2013) its still available on Amazon for free HERE to pick up a copy (although I'm not sure how much longer it will be available as a free download. Having said that, it would be well worthing paying for).

It's actually the first Ethan Somerville title that I've read, and am happy to advise that I found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Without wishing too many spoilers: an effeminate-looking Alien collects together the oddest assortment of people from various time periods to help him seek out and capture a Crystal that could effect his entire planet, and stave off a power hungry Warrior from another planet.

How much use will a bi-sexual pirate, Victorian harlot, illiterate Scottish maiden, a Viking's sex slave nun and a modern teenager actually be to him, and how much trouble can they actually get into?Well, you'll just have to read it to find out, but suffice to say, I loved it.

All in all, 4 stars is highly appropriate, and I can't wait to read more in this series - I will add the details on the series on my "Review by Series" section on the blog).

EDITED TO ADD:  having sat and typed the Error/Bug Bear list (below) from my highlighted notes on Baby, I have just realised how many there were.  I was almost tempted to drop a star off the rating.  However, the overall piece was enjoyable, and the errors fairly minor, that I decided to be generous and leave the rating as it is.


Errors/Bug Bears:

With Kindle files I think it will be easier to quote the location for the start of the page (sometimes I will quote from the end of the previous page if appropriate as well) that the error/bug bear is on, rather than the percentage (as that covers 2 or 3 pages at the size of Font I use).

Loc 259:  The hira turned, looking back down alley.  Sure enough .....

Correct to:

The hira turned, looking back down the alley.  Sure enough .....

Loc 392:  For some reason he was reminded Adelrid Merylon, the Chief Time-Controller.

Correct to:

For some reason he was reminded of Adelrid Merylon, the Chief Time-Controller.

Loc 460:  Heath felt a rough poke his mindveil .....

Correct to:

Heath felt a rough poke to his mindveil .....

Loc 539:  ....answered, still at a loss for wards.

Correct to:

....answered, still at a loss for words.

Loc 725:  Rhys Kelly, so ... I suppose we can call Rhys

Correct to:

Rhys Kelly, so ... I suppose we can call you Rhys

Loc 759:  ...enabled his body to on draw on external energies to speed up the processes.

Correct to:

...enabled his body to on draw on external energies to speed up the processes.

Loc 820:  She had tied her long blonde hair hack, ....

Correct to:

She had tied her long blonde hair back, ....

Loc 829:  She made a heroic grab him as he tumbled past ...

Correct to:

She made a heroic grab for him as he tumbled past ...

Loc 866:  .....faraway oceans she had never beard of.

Correct to:

.....faraway oceans she had never heard of.

Loc 940:  Something had always stopped her from come to the rescue the afflicted party.

Correct to:

Something had always stopped her from coming to the rescue of the afflicted party.

Loc 1746:  Put Heath's lattice-key on his base of his throat.

Correct to:

Put Heath's lattice-key on the base of his throat.

Loc 1828:  He could have bitten tongue.

Correct to:

He could have bitten his tongue.

Loc 1939:  I'm sorry Heath - I guess I shouldn't have roused on you as soon as you walked in.

Bug bear with this:

I take issue with the the use of "roused" in this context.  It would have been better to use "started on" on "confronted you".

Loc 1939 (further amendment):  I knew we would be come to this eventually.

Correct to:

I knew we would be come to this eventually.

Loc 1987:  ....some settlers gambling with dice and cards in one corner ....

Bug bear:

the plural of dice is die.


Loc 2039:  ...who drank themselves insensible on Bull, a formidable cataplasm concocted from fermented sugar.

Bug bear:

As far as I'm the definition of "cataplasm" is a poultice or plaster, so therefore was this the correct word to use?

Loc 2094:  The premier doesn't seem to be doin' a thing about them ...

Premier should be an initial upper case letter.

Loc 2777:  He tried to remember what hat transpired ...

Correct to:

He tried to remember what hat transpired ...

Loc 2830:  ...squeal had made the young man feel as like his very DNA was jarring apart.

Correct to:

...squeal had made the young man feel as like his very DNA was jarring apart.

Loc 2884:  ...clustered around the back truck but didn't spare them a second glance.

Correct to:

...clustered around the back of the truck but didn't spare them a second glance.

Loc 2925:  Rhys had allowed him take both her and Kirsty around Charlotte's strange world.

Correct to:

Rhys had allowed him to take both her and Kirsty around Charlotte's strange world.

Loc 3259:  ...but kept her mouth shut as she demolished her burger in five bits and licked her fingers.

Correct to:

...but kept her mouth shut as she demolished her burger in five bites and licked her fingers.

Loc 3485:  Well, it tells me when I'm about to a fit, and warns me to restrain myself.

Correct to:

Well, it tells me when I'm about to have a fit, and warns me to restrain myself.

Loc 3870:  This crate doesn't look a spaceship to me, Heah! More like a filthy old delivery van!

Correct to:

This crate doesn't look like a spaceship to me, Heah! More like a filthy old delivery van!

Loc 3998:  ....into their time, a massive time-bubble would ensure and pop!

Correct to:

....into their time, a massive time-bubble would ensue and pop!

Loc 4173:  ...and became permanently liked to it.

Correct to:

 ...and became permanently linked to it.

Loc 4343:  He's gotten off - now where's he going?

Bug bear:

It's well known by now just how much I dislike the use of "gotten", it smacks of imagination.  However in this case as it's somebody talking, I will have to reluctantly have to let it go!

Loc 5051:  Do you have you anything else to say to me, Kirsty?

Correct to:

Do you have you anything else to say to me, Kirsty?

Loc 5353:  Dawson - he's a mate of mime, he - well he played a joke on us.

Correct to:

Dawson - he's a mate of mine, he - well he played a joke on us.

Loc 5406:  The machine's voice sounded emerged slow and slurred ...

Correct to:

Use either "sounded" or "emerged".  Personally, I would be inclined to use sounded.

Loc 5410:  ....I only banished him into cell-clusters I can no longer use ... the clusters Aidan that corrupted.

Transposed, correct to:

....I only banished him into cell-clusters I can no longer use ... the clusters that Aidan corrupted.

Loc 5444:  A rip on the left side of his shirt showered where the gang-leader had stabbed him, but the white cloth was unstained.

Correct to:

A rip on the left side of his shirt showed where the gang-leader had stabbed him, but the white cloth was unstained.

Loc 5553:  No, he told himself, I can't let myself to fall in love with this half-caste.

Correct to:

No, he told himself, I can't let myself to fall in love with this half-caste.

Loc 5785: C-come back when you've gotten rid of that bloody rock!

The good old "gotten" Bug bear:

It's well known by now just how much I dislike the use of "gotten", it smacks of imagination .... I do appreciate that I am probably banging my head against a wall with use of this word, but I will keep trying!

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#315 (#33 of 2013) - I Married an Alien ~ Emma Daniels and Ethan Somerville

I Married an Alien ~ Emma Daniels & Ethan Sommerville

Kindle > Fiction > Time Travel 

Description:

When Ruth Clarke volunteers for an experiment to see into the future, she thinks it's a bit of a joke. But when Professor Jackson ups the power, Ruth ends up catapulted three hundred years into the future, into the body of Anita DeBurgh, a beautiful woman half her age.

Anita is on her way to another planet called Terron to fulfill her tour of duty as per the requirements of The Treaty. So when Ruth arrives she very quickly finds herself married to Jordan Demantena, who claims she is his life-mate.

As Ruth struggles to acclimatise to marriage to a tall, handsome and incredibly sexy alien, there are intergalactic terrorists after Anita.

Ruth and Jordan are soon running for their lives, trying to discover just what Anita knew and how to stop a potential war between Earth and Terron that could cost millions of lives.

Product Details:

I picked this up as a freebie Kindle download, and at the time of writing this post it is still listed as free.  You can go straight to the Amazon page HERE.  Obviously, if you are reading this post retrospectively I cannot guarantee that it is still available for free.

Novella - 158 pages

Book 1 in the Treaty Series

* * * *

Summary:

With a title so full of cheese that it could easily pass for a Welsh Rarebit, and a Kitch Regency Cover image I was dubious to say the least for this offering.

It isn't something I would usually go for, but as I've got a two fold challenge for myself this year (to read as many freebie downloads and widen my book horizons) I decided to risk it.

What I got from my perception of title and cover combined, was in fact so very different, and a real treat in point of fact.

The Prologue was the weakest part, as it was claggy and a little confusingly written.  I would seriously suggest a some re-working should be undertaken to fix it, which would go a long way to ramping up the book's possible rating.

Whilst I loved Ruth/Anita characterisation, it was a little weak in places and a tiny bit of a pity fest.

I completely fell in love with Jordan.  My favourite scene is where he scents his mate.

There were minor typographical and grammatical errors, which it would be nice to see fixed.  There were additionally inconsistencies in names - this is a bug bear of mine - however the writing was overall well done and the problems mentioned didn't irritate me overly and put me off the book, or alter the ultimate rating.

This could easily run the distance as a full length piece of fiction if it could be tightened up and developed a little more.

Having gone into it expecting nothing in particular, I was very pleased to find that actually it was difficult to put down, so a 4 star rating (4.5 if I could) for this offering by joint authors.

I am looking forward to the next in the series, and will be downloading that very shortly.  I can't wait to find out what happens to the smelly and stained Professor.

As a footnote, I notice that neither of the authors have "About me" pages on Amazon.  It would be very nice to find out a bit more about them.

Hugs

Kay

Daily Selection for Kindle Freebie Download at Amazon

Time Crystal Convergence ~ Ethan Somerville & Max Kenny

Kindle > Fiction > Science Fiction > Hi Tech

Okay, today/s selection is based actually on the current book that I'm reading co-authored by Ethan Somerville (I Married an Alien), which is coincidentally also available for free download at the current time.

The subject choice is not something that I would usually go for, but as I've challenged myself to see how many freebie Kindle downloads I can pick up this year to try and force a wider horizon for my reading, I thought I would give the first one a go ..... and hence the second choice for today.  Can you get a feel that I'm enjoying 'I Married an Alien'?

The 'Time Crystal' is co-authored by Max Kenny, and I want to try and get a feel for whether it was the combination of Ethan Somerville with Emma Daniels that proved such a great combination in the first book, or if Ethan Somerville is the catalyst.

By the by, there is also another freebie download available by Ethan and Emma entitled 'Curse of the Kingsmans'.  Thinking about it I'm probably going to download it now, even though I have a very long list already to get through, just so that I know I have it for comparison, just in case it goes back to a list price.  Ahh, the beauty of a Kindle, it never ceases to amaze me that I happily tote around 100's of books at a time!  To think I remember uttering the words "..... noooo, not for me I like a REAL book" .... stupid girl.


This morning I am a very happy camper as my Amazon Reviewer status has whooshed to 18,587, thank you to anyone that has taken the time to leave positive feedback over there for me, it is very much appreciated..

I would love to improve upon this .... I would love to get to the top 1,000 .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay