Ame's Unboxing & Reviews: Klearlook Monitor Riser

I was given the opportunity to look over and test a Klearlook monitor desk riser. Take a look at it with me and try it out.  If you like it you can find your own at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC8QPBY4. I do not get any affiliate pay, but the chance to try it is enough for me.

Also, you get a peek at one of the bunnies.

Review of "Grief," a graphic anthology by Frank Gogol

Grief by Frank Gogol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I bought this book for my son and I to share when we found the Source Point table at the local comic convention in 2019. I was hugely excited to get to have it signed as well. That is a rare treat for my son and I.

I finally got the chance to sit down and have a proper read through of the book instead of here and there as I could. I found it to be a very healing experience. My son has not gotten to take the time to read through yet, but I expect that he will enjoy it as much as I have and find things that he will identify with as well. We deal with grief over loved ones both human and furry that were taken from us too soon. Two of the deaths were natural causes (at least one cancer, the other we aren't sure of), one a horrible accident mere feet from our home, and one from poisoning. The past few years have been rough one could say. There have been other things to mourn such as lost friendship and the fact that my son has not had a "normal" childhood.

The last story, "Embrace," which apparently was the first written, hit particularly hard for me as I myself am a parent of an autistic young man that has had to overcome much. We have had to find our own way around obstacles. He's disclosed to me at times that he has felt like a monster, so I expect to have many discussions with him about "Monsters." Each of these tales contained a piece of things I needed reminding of. It has made me feel better and less alone to read it. I have another tool that will help my son as we navigate our most recent losses.

Thank you. I can't praise this highly enough.

View all my reviews

Book Tube Real Talk Tag and Musing about Publishers and Booktube

This video was Patreon Patron only for a day to give them a chance to see it first, but as I knew I wasn't going to have the time intended to record a story as planned this is also the Sunday posting. Technically this is a bit of a story.

Original Tag Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuIil5h-vKk
Emmmabooks video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPNYNlDt4WY

Publishers I work with in some fashion
THG StarDragon Publishing: http://www.thgstardragon.com
Pen It! Publications: http://www.penitpublications.com

Gaming sites and groups I work with in publishing/content
Dragon Hearts RPG: http://www.dragonheartsrpg.com
Dreaming Twilight (SL group)

=Interviews with illustrators, authors, and editors are intended to happen for those that wish to partake from Pen It! Publications, THG StarDragon Publishing, and Dragon Hearts. Once these are finished I may open up spots for others.

=booktube real talk tag=
- questions -
1. What's something nobody told you about booktube before you started your channel?
2. What is your opinion on “typical” booktube videos? (wrap-up’s, TBR’s, hauls, etc.)
3. What is an assumption you had about booktube before you joined? Was it proven to be correct, or not?
4. What is something you’ve done that has actually helped you grow your audience?
5. What is a common mistake you see new booktubers making, or one that you made?
6. What are your thoughts on working with publishers and sponsorships?
7. Do you think booktube is dying?
8. Tag your friends!


Tags
Illya Leonov: https://www.youtube.com/user/Melotah
Scribbler: https://www.youtube.com/user/ObabScribbler
Icarus Lunarguard: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOQH_cXGPvHmppHpbx13nGQ
PenIt! Publications: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaB_vnprv16-MJUWA3aLvZg

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Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana
Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana
DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com
Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org
Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia
Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.
Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/TeresaGarcia
Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com
Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935
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Podcast
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythical-minstrelsy-and-flash-fiction-fridays/id1461538463
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Iregmi7sag7o3fg6p3e32k5ghwq?t%3DMythical_Minstrelsy_and_Flash_Fiction_Fridays%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vLsYYcHOkDdasTFvqe9Ph
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34

Want to send me something to read on here or to review? Have a particular request?

Need to send something the old-fashioned way? Maybe you've got a hard copy of a book you want reviewed, or a copy of some of your own work for me to look over? Perhaps you have some of your work you'd like me to record?

THG StarDragon Publishing
Attn: Teresa Garcia
PO Box 249
McCloud, CA 96057
USA

Email necessary?  Send me a note at ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com but bear in mind that I have been having problems with it eating things sometimes from even verified senders.

Ame's Bookshelf Review: Berkley Street by Ron Ripley

Book Review

Title: Berkley Street: Supernatural Horror with Scary Ghosts & Haunted Houses (Berkley Street Series Book 1)

Author: Ron Ripley

Where to get: https://amzn.to/2Nxf1aW

Star Rating: 5

Age Rating (IMO): YA



This was a well done creepy story.  Parts of it did not hit me as hard as they should have. That may have to do with reading in bed with the heater going and surrounded by dogs though, so I was not given the solitude to fully appreciate all that had been intended to be scary. There were still several things that broke through though. Vivienne was one of those things that managed to get through the protection of doggie sentries. So did the explanation tale of how Carl came to become one of the ghosts.



Some are going to be confused and off-put by the way the story is arranged. There are times that flashbacks take place where we experience with the characters an important past event that would have made no sense if it were discovered in chronological order. They are clearly delineated though and the author does a good job of moving us back and forth as non jarringly as possible. I will certainly be reading more of this series.



---



Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana

Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana

DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com

Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org

Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia

Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.

Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/TeresaGarcia

Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com

Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935

https://www.instagram.com/amehanaarashi/



Want to send me something to read on here or to review? Have a particular request?



Need to send something the old-fashioned way? Maybe you've got a hard copy of a book you want reviewed, or a copy of some of your own work for me to look over? Perhaps you have some of your work you'd like me to record?



THG StarDragon Publishing

Attn: Teresa Garcia

PO Box 249

McCloud, CA 96057

USA



Email necessary?  Send me a note at ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com but bear in mind that I have been having problems with it eating things sometimes from even verified senders.

Bones Coffee's Carrot Cake Flavor: Is it good?

Review of The Story of Kao Yu

The Story of Kao Yu by Peter S. Beagle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this short story. The unicorns of Europe are mentioned as are the unicorn-like beings of the Middle East and both differentiated from the qilin (kirin). A Mandate coming to a just judge is a wonderful turn away from only Emperors getting them. The impossible and one sided romance was intriguing and well handled. The qilin though, he and the judge tie for my favorite character. A qilin not goring someone that lied in his presence because he was asked not to by a generous and previously just man that had his respect? Unheard of previously!

View all my reviews

This review will later be turned to an audio format for the Youtube channel.

Review: The first books of the Brotherband series by John Flanagan

Here is another well deserved book spotlight. This covers books one through three of John Flanagan's "Brotherband" series.

Check the Youtube channel on Friday for the first Flash Fiction Fridays reading.

Regarding Amazon and book reviewing

The link below is for an article that I found to be good regarding the dos and don'ts of book reviewing. With Amazon's policies changing often and being easy to miss it is important for authors and book fans to understand what their policies are. This said, please do remember to leave reviews for any book that you have read by anyone, no mater the author or publisher. Your reviews help the author to sell their books, and help other readers figure out if they are likely to enjoy the book beyond the sample pages.

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2018/10/the-definitive-guide-to-dos-and-donts-of-amazon-reviews/

I myself have several books I need to finish reading so that I can post my reviews. I have missed doing that with so much work I've been trying to keep up with.

Book Review: The Man Who Could Be King

Book Review

Title: The Man Who Could Be King

Author: John Ripin Miller

Where to get: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Could-Be-King-ebook/dp/B01N9KHCUF

Star Rating: 5

Age Rating (IMO): All ages

In school we heard about what George Washington did. Every year US History covered him and the other Founding Fathers, in more detail as our years went by. However we were never told about Newburgh and what he didn’t do, which is a real shame as after reading this book I think it should be covered in school. It would give more depth to the class. I can remember sometimes my classmates and I wondered why he didn’t just take over.

This is a book everyone should read. I find it to be a very well done historical novel.

Written from the perspective of Josiah, who is an amalgamation of the 32 aides that he had during the Revolutionary War, we go through the war with the pair. We experience the highs and the lows, the soldiers with no shoes or adequate clothing, and the shipments of spoiled meat. And yet, when the touchiest possible mutiny in the military ranks threatens the war effort General Washington does not answer the temptation to pursue a military takeover of Congress to install himself as head of the nation. He calms and turns aside the mutiny.

I also really appreciated the appendices and notes after the main body of the book. The level of research was extremely deep and I am enthralled by the supporting information.

Book Review: Designs On Her

Book Review: Naked

Book Review

Title: Naked

Author: Alexandra Christian

Where to get: https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Phoenix-Rising-Book-1-ebook/dp/B071CRSKV2

Star Rating: 5

Age Rating (IMO): Rated Rrrrr

Fair warning, Naked is an erotica. One would hope that one would deduce it to probably be an R rating just from the title itself. It is more than an erotica though. It is also adventure, spy, mystery, romance, and scifi. Our story takes place in a future, perhaps a not so distant one. We are also given explanation about some past disasters.

In this book we have shifters, some are were animals, some are dragon, and there are vampires. It reminded me in some ways of a story that one of my friends wrote as there was a creature called an “ultra” and she had once talked with me about ultras long before this particular book came in front of me. I can only assume that the ultras are also a shared thing in the shifter subgenre books, so now I am simply going to have to look for more shifter stories to find out if my thoughts are correct.

There is also a little bit of magic, but it is not gone into in detail as to how the ONE person that is encountered can do magic actually gets down to it. I would have liked to know more about that character due to my interest in magic.

I enjoyed the conspiracy theory in this and having to figure out who may or may not have been a double or perhaps triple agent. I enjoyed the genetic aspect to the shifting and how the characters grew. Since it was an erotic book I expected from the beginning that the lead man and woman would fall in love, or at least lust. I was glad to see them as complex characters though and not cookie cutter, which is all too easy to do. Derek Machine to me felt a little flat though, but it is super hard to make a good 3D villain. I wanted to know what made him so crazy, what drove him to such greed and disrespect. Was he simply a psychopathic narcissist or had something happened in his past?

I also have to point out that I greatly liked that Phoebe became a phoenix. I did have to groan though as I know someone that often gets called Phoebe, helps in a virtual library reading aloud, and has a rather fiery avatar in Second Life. I couldn’t help the chuckles. I very much doubt that Phoebe in the book had anything to do with this person, but I’m forever going to giggle about the coincidence.

It was a good book, I definitely enjoyed it, and I will be very likely to look for more. This book leaves an opening for another, so I am indeed curious about what happens with Cage and Phoebe next.

How To: Reviews

When writing a review there are some things you will want to consider and touch on. You don't have to do them all, but the more you do the more thorough the review. This is primarily for books but can be applied to other items.

Main Body

• Title and Author
• Book Summary
• Technical aspects, quality, accuracy
• Emotional Impact
• Age range intended vs. Age range you feel it appeals to
• Suggested Readers

Star Ratings

• Some places use star ratings for how much the book was enjoyed by the reader.
• Some places use star ratings for quality purposes
• Some places do a combined system.

When you have negative things...

• Point out what you like
• CONSTRUCTIVELY Point out what you do not like or did not work for you. some criticism is ok, but it has to be done in a fashion that is not harmful and that might help a writer (beginner or not) improve.
• ALWAYS be polite.
• ALWAYS be honest.
• If you feel better bringing up detracting things in direct conversation with the author then it is good to do so. This also helps conversation between author and audience, and you might get lucky enough for that author to talk with you about character motivation or get told about planned future developments or backstory that exists but can't be public knowledge yet.

Book Review: Dark Musings by David Boiani

Book Review

Title: Dark Musings

Author: David Boiani

Where to get: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/722258

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y3HB1PF

Star Rating: 5 stars for both enjoyability and structure

Age Rating (IMO): PG13 for most of the stories

This book is a collection of short stories ranging from somber, macabre, all the way through beautiful. Some of them are all of these things. It starts strong and stays strong through the entire book. Some of these stories are going to haunt my head for awhile, such as the child rescued by the teacher, the serial killer, the mother that lost touch with reality, and the one about the birth of Adolf Hitler and his parent’s expectations as examples. There are so many different viewpoints and scenarios, and no character is flat. They live, they breathe, some of them you wonder if you’ll meet walking down the street or getting your morning coffee. Some of them you pray you never will. Yet, it is likely that at some point you will meet someone that might have stepped from these pages.

These are tales that might happen, some that do happen. It is not a journey for the faint of heart. However I also feel it is one that most should read. Some of these are great cautionary tales, and I would consider this a very good addition to a collection of modern folklore. They remind me in a way of books that I grew up with, such as the Scary Stories collections by Alvin Schwartz, but aimed for an older crowd.

It is hard to find anything that I did not like. Some of the stories appalled me, but not because the author dared write them. They appalled me because I’ve read of things similar happening in news and some of the things addressed are real. It is not the author’s job to control his fellow man, and an author’s job is as much to shine light on the good as it is to expose the bad. Therefore I do not find anything to actually detract. It was very well done. I am going to be suggesting this book to several people that I know who will immensely enjoy it.

Personal note for Youtube: It took me a couple days to finish this book. I prefer to read in long uninterrupted sessions, but it just was not able to happen as I’d have liked. If I had nothing else on my plate I would have been able to finish in less than a day. You might prefer to read this one story a day and contemplate to let the full effect seep in, or you might read in spurts here and there and you can grab the time, both would work and if done would lengthen your reading time. If you are like me and like to carve out reading days then you still will be able to. This book fits any reading style due to the short story structure.

Book Review: The Eleventh Hour (The Prime Insurgency #11)

We have come to the end of my personal challenge, the Advance Review Copies, and the series. I greatly enjoyed the chance to read through these books. Having spoken with the author there will be two boxed sets for this series.

• Books 1-6
• Books 7-11

Book Review

Title: The Eleventh Hour (The Prime Insurgency #11)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

First off the end of this made me tear up. Even in winning there was defeat, as should be expected in a storyline such as this, as inevitably someone is going to lose. I don’t think any of the characters in this were truly evil. In this I am reminded a bit of Miyazaki’s works. It is very fast, but at the end, in that last chapter, it gets very somber very quickly.

Even though we have deity-like Primes, the truth of the gods of the various religions, there is no deus ex machina in this. Everything is explainable. Even down to the battle between two “father figures” and a colossal screw up that possibly could have been avoided if not for one thing. Pride. This is what I take from the story anyway.

The story is not ended, not with what the epilogue sets up. Once more Tony goes missing, leaving behind a note begging not to be sought or stopped. Of course Lauren and Lance are going to go looking. I hope to see another series following this storyline.

Once more the writing is good. The characters come alive in this and it is the interplay of character with plot that keeps the pages turning so fast. You get attached to them. You grimace when they get hit, feel bad when they die.

There were a few places that jarred me out of the flow but I was pulled along by the story so fast that by the time I realized I was already too far forward to go back and make note of it properly. This was a very enjoyable book and series, which I would recommend for anyone that likes contemporary sci fi, whether teen or older.

Book Review: Ten Great Beams (The Prime Insurgency #10)

Nearing the end of my personal challenge, the Advance Review Copies, and the series. There's only one more after this! Having spoken with the author there will be two boxed sets for this series.

• Books 1-6
• Books 7-11

Book Review

Title: Ten Great Beams (The Prime Insurgency #10)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

In this book we learn what happens with Tony and get more intimate with Sun Child, or Rathanos. We also discover that this Prime is a huge book worm. I have to compare him with Thoth and with Apollo. We are not brought in his viewpoint to where he met back up with Lance yet, I am assuming that this comes in the next book “Eleventh Hour.” We do however learn more about two plans, Rathanos’ plan, and that of the Zeus/Ivan. I cannot recall off the top of my head the actual name of the storm Prime that was given in one of the previous books. Thus I have to admit falling into the pantheon problem when these beings are more of what is at the root of them all.

So I wonder if this also makes Sun Child/Rathanos the seed for Amaterasu as well, given how some saw that deity is female and others male.

Again the writing is well done. I noticed less strange drop downs in dialogue. This time they really were at logical places such as paragraphs within speech. The characters are still rounded and believable, and growing, living, breathing. It is obvious how much thought each character was given. The story stays intriguing the further one goes. I also very much liked how Tony, the scholar, ends up standing up to Ivan, the host of the Zeus-like Prime, and displaying the bravery that others have commented on.

Book Review: Ninth Wonder (The Prime Insurgency #9)

I am back with another review based on an Advance Review Copy that I was given for feedback.

Book Review

Title: Ninth Wonder (The Prime Insurgency #9)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Page count:

Where to get:

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

This was another quick read. You really want to read the previous books in the series before reading this one in order to fully understand and appreciate what is going on. In this episode Lance and his new Prime body buddy have to learn to work together, which would be a lot easier if Lance was the sort of guy who could share. Lance has to make some more close calls, follow his instincts, and walk a bit in faith in order to meet back up with his battle buddies.

That plan, as one might expect in a war of Primes, does not go exactly as planned, but he does make some new allies and learns a shocking, or perhaps not so shocking, truth. Tony has been lost but now he is found, and Lance is not a happy man.

I was pleased with how the characters continue to grow and develop, and with the way the new characters are introduced into the storyline. It reminds me a bit of folding the batter versus stirring it, to borrow from baking terminology. The books are feeling like they are getting a bit longer than the previous ones in the series. There is more meat in these later episodes. Perhaps it is because the stakes are so high, and there is so much more to take care of now that we are running at speed.

Book Review: The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing

Book Review

The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing

I borrowed a copy of this from the local library as I have been considering getting a copy of my own. Advice that writers often give each other is to always be reading, whether fiction, history, or books about writing.

I found it to be well worth the borrow and it will definitely be moving up in my mental list of books to procure for when I am stuck with a writing problem. I ended up renewing the book after the first two weeks so that I would have more time with it. I found a great deal of information in it that even though it is a review I found useful to be able to isolate and focus on elements concept by concept. Some of the concepts have more than one article about them and by more than one author to give various viewpoints and methods of address.

Book Review: Eightfold Way (The Prime Insurgency #8)

This book is not currently available to the public yet. I get the treat of reading the Advance Review Copy of this book and posting a pre-release review. I will be returning to update this post with the individual link once the book has been released to the public.

Book Review

Title: Eightfold Way (The Prime Insurgency #8)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Where to get:

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

I have to say that I really like how these title names not only work in the number within the series but also trace out a particular spiritual path.

In this book we get treated to memories of the Prime that now inhabits Lance. Two of the Primes that this Prime shares memories of remind me greatly of Zeus and Juno. It almost has me seeking a place to put “Amacaron” within the Greco-Roman pantheons, but I know that if I give in to this urge too much that I could miss a lot. However as I read further I am reminded more and more of Mercury. After Apollo’s appearance, however, I had to look up Amacaron.

The scene in this part of the story regarding the planet itself waging war against the alien invaders has me thinking about the stories of Atlantis and the lesser known Mu and Lemuria.

Overall I would say that a good portion of this episode of the series focuses on the story of how man came to be, what was the event that caused Pangaea to break and begin continental drift, and several other events set into motion in the distant past. It was absolutely fascinating to me.

And then it ended on the usual cliffhanger. Functionally, limiting each book to six chapters seems to be really good at doing that.

Reviews: The Prime Insurgency Books 2-7 (out of 11)

Let us start with the most recent of the books in the series that I have finished reading. This review has not gone to Amazon yet as I have been able to obtain an Advance Review copy of books 6 through 11. I am rather happy for this opportunity to read ahead. I really do not like waiting when it is so easy to get so caught up in other things as to forget a series when I am ready for it. I have written to this author and found out that he intends to do two boxed sets for this series, but as of this morning he did not have a set release date for them.

Book Review

Title: The Seventh Circle (#7 in The Prime Insurgency)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Where to get: I will place the link here when I see the book has gone to public.

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

This book took the series on a huge turn in my opinion. The one person that I did not really expect to become a Prime ended up a Prime, and we get close to seeing the transfer. I was glad to see the dynamic duo end up getting split up. Even though I like them greatly as a team it is about time for them to have some solo time. I look forward to seeing how that fares for them in the next book. I also really like how Lance is forced to make some tough calls.

As usual the writing style is very fast. There were a few places where paragraphs dropped down strangely, but I am unsure if that was intentional or if it was a result of the compilation that I was gifted.

Book Review

Title: Into the Hexagon

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Page count: 63 pages

Where to get: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERRNJY0

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

When this series was pointed out to me I did not expect how addicting it was to become. With this particular episode the plot of the series is advanced even further. We uncover a corporation conducting illegal and questionable experiments to go along with the Primes. The boys do not find Lauren, but rather she finds them. We meet three new Primes. The usual destruction occurs. Poor Tony and Lance seem to encounter violent explosions wherever they go. So much for being out of the military and any ideas of a peaceful life that Lance might have had. I quite sympathize with his momentary desire to go back to the desert! It would all be so much to take and I think that by this time the progressive forward movement they have to make simply to stay alive is what is preventing mental breakdowns. If you want action, this is a good place to get it. As usual detail is detailed, but fleeting. You do not have a great opportunity to luxuriate or bask. You get to rest now and then, but those are brief. As usual, this is a good read if you are looking for something light but engaging, and I do not mean light as in not requiring thought.

If you have not been watching the Youtube channel, here are the previous reviews.

Book 2:

Book 3:

Book 4 & 5:

Ame's Bookshelf:The One In Light (The Prime Insurgency Bk 1) Review