T.D. Edwards's Blog

Snakes and Stones by Lisa Fowler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The instant I opened this book and read the first page, 12-year-old Chestnut Hill was there to greet me with a voice so distinct, I could hear it plain-as-day throughout the entirety of the book. With her humorous voice, the self-proclaimed "country-bumpkin" engages readers in a tale about her unusual family. Chestnut is the oldest of 4 children, her younger siblings being 7-year-old triplets, and they are out on the road with their father, regularly putting on shows to sell magical elixir to anyone gullible enough to buy it. While the gig is barely enough to keep clothes on their backs and food in their bellies, it is how they scrape together a living.

But things are not well with Chestnut, for it is clear that she harbors strong resentment towards her daddy. As far as Chestnut is concerned, he is nothing but a crook, guilty of stealing her and her siblings away from the beloved mother she idolizes to no end, and wants nothing more than to get back to.

Although it is somewhat predictable that Chestnut's blind adoration of her mother is probably unwarranted for reasons Chestnut will not discover until the end, the easy-to-read and colorful language of this story is enough to make it a page-turner for the young and old alike.



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House of Transformation by Astrea Taylor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


"House of Transformation" was a look about a fictionalized pop-star, Ananda Dawn, and all the ups and downs of her fame as she prepares to recollect herself before she is set to perform at The Grammys. Constantly hounded by the paparazzi for her gossip-worthy antics, Ananda suddenly reemerges in the life of struggling psychologist and former best friend, Mag Woods, who has written something of a tell-all book about her prior relationship with the troubled starlet. What ensues next is a detailed look at the history between these two women--from their turbulent friendship over the years as they attempted to make a living as young artists, to the drugs and addiction that would ultimately ruin so many lives and relationships between them.

Author Astrea Taylor expertly navigates between the past and present throughout this novel, and even includes a couple intriguing excerpts of Mag's tell-all book, "Analyzing Ananda." With excellent writing, this novel reads like literary fiction that focuses on very contemporary issues, which is something I personally haven't read much of. Society has a preoccupation with watching the biggest stars fall from grace. With "House of Transformation", Taylor gives us a peek at what such a downfall looks like from behind the eyes of the star going through it. Although I felt this book occasionally had a meandering plot, and the story lost steam in the end for me--becoming a bit cliché in moments--I still appreciated the story Taylor set out to tell, and character-driven nature of it.

Furthermore, not only did Taylor set out to create a dialogue on how society treats troubled celebrities, but the profits of this book are being used to support a shelter for homeless youth and runaways called Daybreak. So kudos to Astrea Taylor!



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Insanity by Cameron Jace

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've been fascinated with "Alice in Wonderland" ever since I wrote a paper based on it in my Child and Adolescent Psychology class as a graduate student, in which I analyzed how Alice's unusual adventures were an allegory to the strange phenomenon we all go through called "growing up." Hence, this series has been on my "To-Read" list for quite some time now, so I'm happy to have finally gotten around to reading the first book of it.

Cameron Jace's story is just as whimsical as Lewis Carroll's, and it is clear that Carroll's style of writing inspired this story. However, "Insanity" has a mysterious storyline that is reminiscent of works like "The Davinci Code" by Dan Brown, mixed with the sci-fi/fantasy vibe of "The Matrix." The protagonist, a girl who may or may not be "The Alice" of Carroll's tale, is faced with the challenge of processing not only her own insanity as an asylum patient with a shady past, but also with the insanity of the outside world around her, in which a serial killer known as Cheshire has been killing young women around London. Mentored by Pillar, Alice embarks on an unusual journey, analyzing clues left behind by Lewis Carroll, that can help shed light on the madness and danger spread by Cheshire. She might also have to save the world, if she can find solid proof that these things around her are truly happening (and just aren't signs of her madness, like those at the asylum would have her believe). On top of that, she must also dive deep into her own psyche to determine who she truly is, and what really happened in her past before she wound up at the asylum.

If you're a fan of Lewis Carroll's whimsical work, and you enjoy a creepy mystery, this might be just the kind of story you're looking for.



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The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Lis Wiehl's "The Newsmakers" is an intriguing read that feels like getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the inner-workings of our top news networks and what it takes to get a "star" reporter and a hit-story. Protagonist Ericka Sparks is a young woman down on her luck who suddenly gets a chance at redemption when she begins working for news network "GNN." At whirlwind speed, Erica finds herself at the right place at the right time--or is it the wrong place at the right time? Or maybe it's the right place at the wrong time, depending on how you look at it. Whatever the case, her location at the precise time of shocking incidents that will become top-stories nationwide sends her spiraling into superstardom and she rubbing elbows with some of the most prominent names in show-business and politics. Unfortunately for her, fame comes with not only a cost, but quite a bit of scandal--some of it life-threatening. And with Ericka's inquisitive nature and determination to find out the truth, she digs herself into a deep hole that she may not be able to resurface from.

The name-dropping of popular celebrities and political figures gives "The Newsmakers" a sense of realism. While its present-tense narration felt distracting to me at times, it helped create the illusion of urgency right from page 1. Even though the conclusion ultimately felt a bit cliché and predictable, this was an overall interesting read, and it's clear that Ericka Sparks will grow into a noteworthy heroine as the series progresses.



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I will be releasing a new book on November 24, 2015! It is currently available for Kindle pre-order here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lunacys-Core-T-...

Also, a sample of the first 6 chapters can be read here:

https://writeon.amazon.com/read/story...

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I honestly think this is one of the most unsettling, disturbing, baffling, yet intriguing books I have ever read.
Written as a series of letters offering a creepy sense of realism, this book stirs strong and complicated feelings. It does not feel right to call this book enjoyable, but it is certainly a page turner for the feelings of bewilderment it causes. In my reading, the profound disklike I felt for Kevin and his parents constantly wavered back and forth. Having just completed it, I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. It raises lots of questions about the "good" and "evil" in humanity, but provides no answers. Why did Kevin turn out the way he did? Who is to blame? Was he born that way? Is it his mother's fault? Is it his father's fault? Is it both of his parents' faults even though they both tried to do everything "right"? Or is there no one to blame but Kevin, a kid who needs to take responsibility for his own actions? Or was it the societal influences all around him? Though this book is a decade old, its relevance for today's society is startling, particularly when we are plagued with so many troubled youth. We all want to know why? Yet, that's an impossible question with no clear answer.

In some ways, this book reminds me of "The Virgin Suicides" for its eeriness and "Gone Girl" for its unlikeable characters. I found it a bit slow in the beginning, but it picked up speed, creating a feeling of impending doom as it went along, making it impossible to turn away from the disaster you know is about to strike...
It's not for anyone looking for an easy and fun read. But if you are looking for something mysterious, creepy, and thought-provoking, this one will definitely give you something to talk about.



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Allegiant by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After speeding through the first two books in the Divergent series, I was excited to read the final book. Yet, as I briefly glimpsed through reviews, I could see that for whatever reason, this book was more controversial and seemed to genuinely upset a lot of readers. Being no stranger to reading book series only to find the last book a disappointment (hello, Breaking Dawn), I grew nervous. I wondered how Veronica Roth, after writing two incredible, difficult-to-put-down books, full of interesting characters, plot twists, and a unique premise, could possibly drop the ball so bad that some readers could swear it was "the worst book they've ever read" and plead fans of the series to not read it...

While there are some books that I do wish I could unread, this was NOT one of them. I read through the beginning and was instantly drawn in and pleasantly surprised at the dual-narration switching between Tris and Tobias. I continued reading through the beginning and into the middle, pleasantly surprised, shocked, and stunned at the revelations provided. I did not find it a disappointment, but rather an unexpected twist and I was willing to go along for the ride as characters I had grown familiar with had their worlds turned upside down. I understood the fuss from those who are not as enthusiastic about the book--perhaps this third installment had taken too big of a departure for them, right when they had gotten comfortable with the world of "Divergent", it was ripped from under their feet, echoing what the characters themselves were feeling. While some found this a disappointment, I found it fascinating. I kept on going...

And when I reached the end, I saw yet another major factor in why so many people were upset with this book. I, on the other hand, applaud Veronica Roth for her bravery in telling the story she wanted to tell. What she did with this conclusion is unexpected and upsetting, but for those who can handle that sometimes things do not go according to plan, even in fictional settings, this finale is not one to be missed.

As a whole, I found Allegiant to be a serious roller-coaster ride. Some people firmly believe that authors should "give readers what they want", while others believe it is of the utmost importance for the author to tell the story they want to tell. If you are of the latter school of thought, you will appreciate the risks Roth takes with this book. Be prepared to have everything you know about the series flipped upside down, be prepared to feel skeptical and suspicious, be prepared to feel panicked and on the edge of your seat, be prepared to laugh and scream, be prepared to reach for your box of tissue, and then be prepared to somehow smile through your tears...

I found the writing in this book to be exciting, heartbreaking, and beautiful. In the words of Tobias, “Be brave” and just keep an open mind when you are ready to discover how the series concludes.



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Across the Blood Red River by Jennifer R. McDonald

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


McDonald did three incredible things with her Veilwalker trilogy.
1). She created a new world with fresh and interesting mythology, as well as characters, 2). She kept the momentum going with a sequel, and 3). She wrote a conclusion that managed to be unpredictable, yet satisfying without falling into the territory of cheesy.

It was a pleasure to read Lyric's and Lincoln's journey with all the twists, turns, surprise revelations and confessions that ensued. Without giving too much away, some of my favorite aspects of this book were the fleshing out of sidekick ghost Gemma and her relationship with the twins, as well as shedding light on the backstory of the twins’ parents.

It was also a pleasure to see McDonald's growth as an author throughout the series, as her writing visibly got better and better. Her seamless blend of strong imagery, humor, peril, action, love, and heartache within the tale shows that she can easily compete with the best of YA literature out today. I sincerely hope more readers discover this excellent series in the years to come.



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Night Chill by Jeff Gunhus

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I started reading the opening pages of this book, I was hooked right from the start. The opening chapters pave way to a moment so creepy and page-turning that I was hooked for the rest of the book. It is easy to tell that Gunhus is a father and what he has created here is certainly a parent's worst nightmare. I can only imagine the horror of seeing and witnessing with your own eyes a mysterious stranger with eyes of ill intent set upon your child. That is what the protagonist of this novel, Jack, deals with for the duration of the whole novel. Strange cult-like forces are determined to get his youngest daughter for reasons Jack cannot fathom. And to top it all off, how does one warn about the impending endanger--a supernatural one at that--in a world where science and rational explanations rule?
Part horror, part mystery, part fantasy, part science-fiction, "Night Chill", Gunhus definitely created something worth a read with this one.



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I woke up this morning feeling kind of strange.
There was a chill in the air and coldness in my veins.
I climbed out of bed, yawning very loudly.
That’s when I noticed that my vision was a little cloudy,
Partially because it was so bright inside the room—
It seemed like the sun had risen much too soon.
I looked out the window, saw children walking to school--
One was dressed like a witch, the other—like a ghoul.
It occurred to me that today was actually Halloween--
Maybe I just felt jumpy from the scary movies I’d seen.
Time dragged by slowly—I had nowhere to go.
No work at my job because things were too slow.
I couldn’t seem to wake up, even after about an hour.
I decided I’d better make some coffee and take a nice warm shower.
Strolling to the kitchen, I turned on the coffee pot;
How I loved the smell of coffee when it was fresh and hot.
I then headed to the bathroom and shed off my clothes,
I turned on the water—and lo and behold…
The water hit my skin, and it seriously burned like mad!
I nearly slipped out the tub because it hurt so bad.
In my confusion, I tripped over the clothes I shed--
And then I wondered who put a cross above my shower head?
I knew I didn’t do it; someone else had been in my home…
I looked around paranoid, knowing that I lived alone—
I quickly got dressed and turned on every single light.
Deep down I knew that something here just wasn’t right.

Sometime in the evening, the doorbell started ringing.
I put my hand over mouth to keep myself from screaming.
“It’s just trick-or-treaters,” I said, remembering it was Halloween.
I put on a brave face, not wanting my paranoia to be seen.
I opened the door and heard someone say, “It’s really her! Get a torch!”
There were about a dozen adults standing on my porch.
“We’re here on the suspicions of my daughter Mandy.
“Don’t you dare try anything. We’ve got holy water handy.”
The woman who spoke--she was holding a wooden stick.
I said, “I don’t know what you’re up to. Is this some kind of trick?”
“Mandy said a man by the graveyard called you a crazy killer.
He said you bit him in the neck and then you started singing ‘Thriller’.”
I took a step back and slammed the door right in front of their faces.
Why was I cursed to live in a town with a bunch of mental cases?
Bunch of lunatics—on my door they started to bang.
Frustrated, I let out a growl, and then out popped my fangs!
I cried out in surprise and then I hurried to a mirror--
My house was dark, my eyes glowed red, and my vision was suddenly clearer.
I couldn’t believe this was happening—and I don’t frighten often—
But I couldn’t fathom how I hadn’t realized my bed was really a coffin.
Never in my life had I experienced something so scary--
As looking on the floor and seeing my own obituary.
“I know it is a shock,” someone whispered in my ear.
I gave a start and out the shadows, a mysterious man appeared.
He had long fangs of his own, and his smile was haunting and wild.
“I knew I would get you sooner or later, one of these days, my child.
I am the man that Mandy saw, and it is I who actually bit you.
Your memory has not yet returned, but eventually you’ll remember the truth.
Everyone in town knows what you are; you can no longer stay here.
So take my hand, and come with me. A new life awaits you, my dear.”

Still in shock, I couldn’t believe that this all was really true.
The man grinned and then said to me, “Just watch and do what I do.”
He raised his head to the ceiling and wings spread from his back—
Right then and there, I watched him transform into a giant bat.
I froze as I watched him—around my body, he flew--
And then before I knew it, I was a big bat too.
We soared through the house and out of a window with a loud crash.
The people on my porch screamed and ran away in a flash.
The vampire and I continued to fly, each second going faster.
“Happy Halloween,” we screeched, through high-pitched fits of laughter.


Copyright © T.D. Edwards 2013