The Brothers by Robert Derry
[Book Review]

Print length: 433 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2023
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

“When I entered the city, I entered it with an undaunted spirit, determined that no labour should make me shrink, no danger nor even persecution deter me from my pursuit.”

Thomas Clarkson was the ‘moral steam engine’ behind the abolitionist movement of the late eighteenth century, without whom The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade would have been bereft of its champion. The Brothers tells the story of the early years of their struggle and the tale of a slave ship, The Brothers, as it departs from the port of Bristol en route to the Guinea Coast, under the vicious Captain Howlett. It traces the arduous journey of Clarkson, as he gathers evidence against The Trade from the slaving ports of England and the political efforts of Granville Sharp who, with the help of the Society, brings their first bill before a reluctant parliament. A disillusioned Doctor Gardiner, the ship’s surgeon aboard The Brothers, agrees to keep a journal as evidence for the investigation, to record first-hand in all its horrors the maltreatment of slaves and crew at the hands of the sadistic officers, for whom the venture is all about one thing and one thing alone – profit. A young boy escapes from the clutches of the Bristol mob to find himself in service in Sharp’s plush London residence, as four thousand miles away in the Caribbean, The Brothers sails away from its crime against humanity. But another force is rising from the very timbers of the ship’s blood-infused frame – a nightmare that will push the troubled doctor to the very edge of insanity and threaten to bring a timely judgement upon them all.

My Review

Such a harrowing and heart-breaking story and whilst some is fiction, the whole book is rooted in history. Whilst history is a passion of mine, I’m embarrassed to admit how little I actually knew on ‘The Slave Trade’ and it is fair to say that Robert has truly opened my eyes to the true horrors that all the victims truly faced.

Unlike many other books based on the slave trade, it was incredibly interesting to hear how not only the slaves were mistreated, but also the cruel treatment of the slavers who worked on board the slaving ships.

This is an impressive book and it’s obvious that Robert is very passionate and well informed on ‘The Slave Trade’ and the historical events that took place during this time. Whilst many parts of it is a horrifying read especially due to its truthfulness, there are many great acts of courage and love.

Robert has done a superb job with intertwining factual historical events with fiction, written so beautifully and breathtakingly sad that this book will stay with me for a very long time.

I believe that everyone should read this sobering story on the slave-trade to remember that humans without compassion can lead to such unimaginable and cruel acts. 

A solid five star for this incredible but haunting story!

About The Author 

Rob Derry is a HR Consultant living in Somerset, England. His debut Novel, The Waterman, is set in and around the Old London Bridge which spanned The Thames for almost 800 years. His second novel, The Burning, is set in the south of England during the Covid19 pandemic and follows the fortunes of the Mountford family as they decide to see out the lockdown in their haunted holiday home. His third novel released in July 2023 is The Brothers which tells the story of the early years of the movement to abolish the slave trade, and traces the journey of the slave ship The Brothers from its home port of Bristol on a troubled voyage.

Buy your copy here:

Amazon: click here

Follow Robert Derry on Twitter: @RGD48649604

 The Burning by Robert Derry - [Review]

Print Length: 420 pages
Publication Date: 3rd June 2023
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

To the Mountford family, it was their very own chocolate-box cottage, set deep in the folds of the English countryside. Their sumptuous second home, a nest egg for retirement, a secluded bolthole for times of trouble. In March 2020, as London fell silent under the threat of Covid19, Tony Mountford made the snap decision to see out lockdown in the close confines of their charming country retreat, unconcerned that one mischievous ghost would be waiting for them. But something had changed as fear gripped the nation, and the very bones of their much-loved timber-framed holiday home now creaked to the footfall of more sinister steps. A new tenant has taken up residence within its thick stone walls, drawn from a time when the innocent had paid the price for ignorance as a Royal edict fanned the flames of fear across the shires of England.

Take care as you travel with them, for a chill wind is turning northward, and the embers are still burning.

My Review

A global pandemic, a demonic entity and a haunted house, what more could you ask for?

A picturesque cottage in a beautiful village where the Mountford family had plans to live out their retirement. This all turned horribly wrong when they decided to leave London to escape the rising intensity of the global pandemic Covid-19 to hide away in their lovely cottage until the whole world returned to normal, except for the Mountford's nothing would ever be normal again.

Toby and Charlotte Mountford had never shied away from the fact that their cottage was haunted, but if anything this had always added to the charm of the cottage, the friendly ghost had never caused them or their tenants harm when they had rented their cottage out during the holiday months, however, Tony and Charlotte noticed almost immediately that something had changed. It all began with mysterious cold spots in the house, physical attacks and their children seeing a creepy man in their room. When they find an Ouija board in the children's toybox it all gets too much, Tony demands that his wife and children leave the cottage in fear for their safety, however, it is Tony who is now at the very heart of danger. 

Tony starts digging into the local history of the cottage and finds evidence of witches, witch trials and witch hunters, Tony knows that something very dark has taken place in this cottage which they were hoping to call their retirement home, but was it too late for Tony to resolve whatever evil is lurking in the corners.

The second half of the book is based on Gavin and Simon, both of whom bring their dark humour to the forefront of the story and I thoroughly enjoyed their sarcastic comments on the events transpiring in the cottage. Gavin and Simon are determined to make this cottage their own, they decided to renovate the whole cottage, mixing the old with new, however, in the process of their renovations, they discovered a cell at the very heart of their new home. Gavin and Simon become targets for paranormal activity with frequent banging and humming, seeing figures out of the corners of their eyes and coming face to face with entities, some of whom are trying to help, whilst the other is trying to cause grave harm.

Gavin and Simon spend their time researching the property and it's history where they find some damning evidence of a man who hunted and persecuted those who were deemed witches. Simon and Gavin felt responsible for setting these poor women free from their torturous cell and in doing so, they placed themselves at the centre of harm. Gavin and Simon call on a friend who has always been sensitive to paranormal activity and together, they face death in the hope of bringing the man who caused many women harm in that cottage to justice, but they cannot do it alone. They turn to the very women who were hunted and murdered for just being vulnerable women to help them to rid their home of this evil entity. 

I loved the factual history of Witchcraft and the persecution of "witches" that Robert Derry relied on, the knowledge that he shares throughout the story is incredible, Robert does a fantastic job of magically weaving historical fiction with non-fiction. 

Robert's writing is very poetic and sets the scene brilliantly, you could picture the cottage and its land perfectly, and the characters whilst flawed all proved to be realistic and only added to the very real feel of the story. 

Robert is a master of creating a historical piece of work that strikes to the very core, I found myself so deeply entrenched in the story that I couldn't foresee the future twists that were littered throughout the book. It was an easy story to follow, considering the depths of historical facts that were included throughout, the main downfall for me was that some of the research was very repetitive, and at parts, I did find myself skimming through some passages.. 

At a solid four stars, this is an essential horror story for those who love a good haunted house story that will give you the chills and have you leaving one eye open while trying to sleep. 

As always, thank you to the author for providing me with a copy in return for an honest and independent review. 

Get your copy here!

Purchase from Amazon here

About The Author

Rob Derry is a HR Consultant living in Somerset, England. His debut Novel, The Waterman, is set in and around the Old London Bridge which spanned The Thames for almost 800 years. His second novel, The Burning, is set in the south of England during the Covid19 pandemic and follows the fortunes of the Mountford family as they decide to see out the lockdown in their haunted holiday home. His third novel released in July 2023 is The Brothers which tells the story of the early years of the movement to abolish the slave trade, and traces the journey of the slave ship The Brothers from its home port of Bristol on a troubled voyage.

The God Song by J.O Slocombe - [Review]

 The God Song By Jack Slocombe
[Review]

                                                                Pages: 508 

                                                                Publication Date: 30 May 2023

                                                                My star review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis

A fractal flower of universes blooming in the endless night, the oldest flickering in its death throes. The Raphaim, denizens of this dying universe. Refugees wandering ever diminishing corridors of warmth and light as they survive the great contraction. All hear tell of the savior, Enki. A philosopher, messiah and some say madman. Enki, he who seeks to halt and reverse this most final unconquerable of deaths. The end of a universe.

Aboard a vast listening array Enki finally hears the birth pangs of a new universe roaring into existence. The sound of creation itself, the Deiwos Etumn, the God Song. A divine vibration of nothingness, creation itself. Until, abruptly it falls silent. The secrets of its nature denied to Enki, he commits his finest minds to pursue it to its source, its origins beyond the veil of his own universe.

A universe away, a young world and its inhabitants are unaware of the forces that have sought them out. An immortal ruler and his celestial descended allies, the Elohim. A tyrannical sorcerer and the legions of Djinn bidden and bound to the will of his ring. Disenchanted conscripts and grizzled publicans. Priestesses of esoteric religions. Ghul clothed in the borrowed flesh of their victims. The greatest mind of the age scorned by his lover. Secret cults, lost loves and civilizations passed from memory and beyond legend.

All have their part to play in this grand drama, across time, across the stars, across reality itself.

Review

The God Song takes you on an incredible journey to a whole different universe, with it's own complex characteristics and diverse races. There is so much contained within the scripture of this book and I must admit, at times I did find it overwhelming, however, the story and the characters dragged me back to the main story within. 

Imagine accidently coming across an ancient artefact, one which was never meant to be found, one in which holds the secrets of the universe, what would you do with this power? Well, that is what you strive to find out within The God Song. A young man aims to seek out the source and power of this artefact, however, there are entities that will sacrifice everything to ensure nobody but themselves get their hands on the secrets of the universe.

The book has everything from romance, sci-fi, drama and plenty of theatrics, but for me all of that combined polished off a truly perfect ending, my only question now is, when is the sequel being published?

The main reason that this is a four star and not a five star is that it can be quite complex to follow and at times, I truly had to re-read parts to ensure that I wasn't confusing myself. I think it's a vast amount of information to take in and whilst this isn't a negative thing, it can be quite daunting. The story, the characters and the writing is beautiful, very poetic and haunting at times, Jack has created more than just a new world, but multiple universes and that takes a lot of skill which Jack clearly possesses.

Many thanks to Jack for letting me take part in the book review, it has been an interesting journey and I hope to see a sequel soon! 

Buy your copy here: Amazon

About The Author

Jack has been fascinated by ancient civilisation since childhood. Follwoing an archaeology degree he began writing the first of three books in the God Song saga. He resides in the UK with his partner and horde of children.

Follow Jack on Twitter: @joslocombe

The Rains Came Down - by Julian Shaw [Review]

 The Rains Came Down 
by Julian Shaw

Pages: 447

Publication date: 11th July 2023

   My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5) 

Buy your copy:

Amazon: click here

Synopsis

A world where nature has claimed the streets of London… where ageless people are perilously addicted to sucking marbles… and where the deaths of three men from another world threatens the order of the universe… In this, his debut novel, Julian Shaw has created a life-affirming and enchanting parallel universe, remarkable for its torrential bursts of action and overwhelming floods of emotion.

                                                                                                                                     

When Gareth Edwards dies in a train crash, he emerges in The Meadow, a realm existing somewhere between life and death. Hunted and on the run, he finds refuge with a travelling circus and journeys with them across the splendour of this strange world, where pubs organise rebellions, cave dwellers archive Earth’s disasters – and where a network of monasteries are commissioning expeditions into the Welsh mountains that are too dangerous to speak of.

Gareth joins one of these expeditions, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for him – something with origins that reach beyond this world and into the trauma of his past.

Review

It is not very often that a book comes along and renders me speechless with it's beauty, and even more, this book offers much more than beauty, the story line is incredibly immersive and I don't think I have ever ready anything quite like this. The raw talent that Julian possesses flows from each and every page, not at one point did I feel stuck or bored, it truly gripped my soul.

The main character is Gareth Edwards, Gareth is a typical teenage boy going through the passage of becoming an adult with all it's anxiety inducing flaws, however, this all changes when Gareth is in a terrible accident and is sucked into a world very much like our own, except very much different all at the same time. Gareth arrives at The Meadow, where he is punished for having the typical mortal sins each of us have, Gareth is forced to painfully witness his own guilty sins in order for him to survive this new place he has ended up in. Following Gareth on his journey is incredible, you witness Gareth grow into an impressive young man whilst simultaneously physically he hasn't aged a day, however, The Meadow, just like Earth is plagued with traitors and a government with a hidden agenda. Gareth soon finds himself on the run as he has stumbled across someone who is incredibly powerful which The Distillery cannot let loose. On his journey, Gareth meets many wonderful characters, each of whom play an important role in his treacherous task to find a way back to Earth, if that is even at all possible.

Whilst all of this is going on, Gareth realised that his sister Cerys is also in The Meadow, where she has faced unspeakable horrors that the darkest part of society have in Earth and seemingly in the afterlife too. Gareth is eager to meet up with his sister, to re-join his earthly body side by side with his sister, but it is a merciless adventure which he needs to seek in order to find his sister again. 

I absolutely loved the uniqueness of the marbles included in this storyline, it's an incredible part of the story which I have grown to treasure, I must admit, I wouldn't mind trying a sailors mist marble myself! Each little part of the story was very thought out and executed superbly, there are many twists to meander which play a vital part of the ending of the story. I found all the different theories of the afterlife that The Meadows have very interesting, some of which were extremely parallel to the ones we have today, this story really gets you thinking about what the afterlife could hold for any of us. 

If you love a story about adventure, companionship and secrets I would highly recommend this one to you. It's by far the best book I have read this year and I would be very surprised if anything is able to beat it. This book had me laughing in parts and then in tears in other chapters, it really is a whirlwind of emotions and I'm so glad to say that I still have my marbles intact after the journey. 

About The Author

Julian Shaw, PhD., is a British author whose work spans Speculative Fiction and Science Fiction.

His writing brings together his passion for the vastness of nature, the dirty complexity of society’s edges, and the beauty of everyday interpersonal relationships.

Julian carries with him his experiences as a frontline firefighter, a university lecturer in Politics and Urban Geography, and a post-graduate researcher of extremist politics.

Click here to go to Julian Shaw's website.

Thank you for reading my review, it is very much appreciated :)

 The Chanteuse From Cape Town 
by John Constable
[Book Tour]

Synopsis 

When Sol Nemo, a rich but mentally-troubled private investigator, learns of the kidnap of the wife of the man who’s been like a father to him, he responds instinctively to the call for help. But, unfortunately, Sol’s bargained without the betrayal of his trust and the life-threatening consequences that follow. 

So begins this intriguing tale of murder and revenge set against the backdrop of South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes and the vibrant cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Step by step, as the story unfolds, Sol has to confront a web of deceit and corruption with which he must wrestle; just as he must wrestle with the crippling anxiety that periodically overwhelms him. And, as if this wasn’t enough, Sol must also decide his response to his on-off lover’s recent overtures. Is her sudden rekindled interest no more than the lure of his vast inheritance or does she really wish to cement a long-term future together?  

From all this, Sol emerges as a protagonist with many of the doubts and weaknesses that afflict us all but, in the final reckoning, he too must answer the question:  How far will I go to take revenge?  

Review

I was kindly offered by LiterallyPR to partake in this wonderful book tour and I am so glad that I took up this opportunity because Sol Nemo had a lot in store for me. I have read quite a few crime novels in my 26 years, but this one was like peeling the layers of an onion. The deeper I dived, the more immersed I found myself. 

The story begins like most other crime novels, a troubled private detective called in to help with a personal crisis but that is where the comparison to other novels stops as this has a perfectly complex storyline that deliciously keeps on giving. Sol is a retired South African Police officer, but following their ongoing corruption, he decided to tackle crimes by himself. The story is set in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, John does a fantastic job of setting the landscape, so much so that I felt like I have been living there this past week whilst reading this novel. The main character Sol Nemo, finds himself tangled up in the kidnapping of a loved one's wife and despite Sol Nemo's thoughts on the wife Mira, he feels he owes this favour to the man who saved Sol Nemo and got him on the right track. 

Sol Nemo is entangled in a web of lies and deceit, he has to trust no one, not even the police force that is there to protect him. He is willing to lay down his life to figure out the mystery of this kidnapping as the motive first appears to be very unclear. Unfortunately for Sol, things take a downward spiral, he finds himself in a whole different world of crime and murder and with no one to watch his back, he is treading on very thin ice. There were many moments whilst reading this that I could feel my body tense up and not wanting to know what happens next in fear of the worst, but the need to know was too intense.

If you enjoy books about crime, corruption and mystery where the plot is very different to other books of this genre, then you are going to love this one!. 

I am very much looking forward to reading more about Sol Nemo in the hopefully near future. 

Purchase links below:

Paperback version: click here

Ebook version: click here

About the author

I've been writing for a while. In fact, it’s been a long while as I completed my first novel when I was around 20 years of age. I don’t remember much about it now except that it was set in the UK and concerned a plot to extort money from the Government. Some of my research for it though evidently caused a chilly breeze to blow in establishment circles which resulted, one sunny afternoon, in police officers paying me a courtesy visit. Having let them have sight of my partially completed manuscript they quickly departed, satisfied I wasn’t a reincarnation of Guy Fawkes or whoever was trending on the terrorist watch lists in those days.

Since those early times, I have written on and off over the years. In truth, there have been long gaps between books because I was doing other things. The one that occupied me most was as a serial entrepreneur in the recruitment industry. If you know anything about the sector, you don’t need me to tell you about long hours and hard work, particularly in times of recession. I survived two of them before quitting for good; after all you can have too much of a good thing.

Along the way, there have been other novels including one about a plot to assassinate Hitler at his headquarters on the Eastern Front; I seem to remember doing a lot of research for that one!

Regrettably, none of these efforts saw the light of day, though there is a crime thriller which I could think about publishing as a stand-alone in due course. By contemporary standards, it’s a trifle on the short side and it would need editing again.

The character of Sol Nemo grew out of my various trips to South Africa in recent years. My wife hails from Port Elizabeth, where Sol is based, and gradually as I absorbed something of the place and its people, my creative brain began to distil a character and a plot. Not much in the way of crime fiction is set in the RSA so it was my feeling that the market was about ready for something different. I can only hope you agree.

My interests include voluntary work with a particular focus on housing and money issues; collecting modern first editions; reading anything and everything, the welfare of Gerry the gerbil; and occasional golf which I play with an embarrassing level of ineptitude despite years of patient coaching.

To find out more about John Constable, visit his website: Introduction (john-constable-author.com)

Follow John Constable: @jvconstable

To find out more about LiterallyPR, visit: LitPR: Book PR | Author PR | Publisher PR | info@literallypr.com

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The Sapling Method by Huw Langridge - [REVIEW]

 The Sapling Method by Huw Langridge   [Review]

Print Length: 127 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022

Genre: Sci-fi/Supernatural

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Synopsis

What would you ask your future self if you had the chance?

Young James Lewis find a way to do it and builds something in his garden shed to make it happen.

But messing around with the constructs of time usually has unintended consequences. Information is only ever meant to flow forwards. When paradoxes appear, there are forces in nature that seek to redress the balance, by whatever means necessary. 

Review

I will start this off by saying that I am a very picky sci-fi reader, there are many that I just cannot get to grips with and it's always a very hit-or-miss situation for me, but in this case, I was pulled in to the story from the get-go.

The story begins with Jim receiving a mysterious letter with strange dates and times but the story gets weirder when you find out exactly who sent this letter. Jim has always had a fascination with time and space, but he the remarkable James Lewis manages to find a way to travel time and distance right from his garden shed. 

The structure and pacing of the tale is impressive, it perfectly weaves sci-fi with the supernatural leaving you with the delicious taste of terror. As with most time travel tales, the butterfly effect plays an important part in this story which Jim is incredibly aware of and does his very best to ensure not to mess up the past or the future, however, there is one thing he does have the power to change but at what expense? Well, you yourself must find that one out!

I would have loved to know a little more about those pesky sinister creatures that tore their way through the pages and left you looking over your shoulder. I feel like this part of the story could have been a little more filled out with a fleshier back story, however, I know I am a person who loves a lengthy bit of story and sometimes that just isn't the right fit for the plot. 

Seriously, if you are a sci-fi or supernatural lover, this story will be a hit. It has a little bit of everything to keep you entirely entertained throughout. It's very different to most of the sci-fi novels I have read and it's refreshing to read something so unique but entirely plausible. 

I just hope you don't have a time travelling machine in the back of your garden!

About the author

Huw was born in London and lived and worked there until his late thirties, which is when he started a family and moved to Prestatyn, North Wales. Huw has worked in the fields of IT in the oil industry and in conference and event management. Huw's career has given him many opportunities to travel globally. Those experiences have really helped him find inspiration and tone for his stories. Huw is a huge fan of horror and science fiction, but regardless of genre he always loves stories with propulsive plots, or just good tales that you can fall into and get immersed in. Huw has been writing stories since high school, so writing has been a part of his whole life. Huw now has two children and although family and work commitments make it hard to find time to write, he always finds huge enjoyment in creating worlds and constructing plots when time permits.

Click here to visit Huw Langridge 

Follow Huw Langridge on Twitter: @huwlangridge

 Hell Followed With Us 
By Andrew Joseph White
[Review]

Print Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Teen

Release date: June 7th, 2022

Purchase link here: Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph : 9781682633243 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

Synopsis

Prepare to die. His kingdom is near.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.

Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.

My Review 

The very first thing I am going to write about this novel is how hard it is to write a review on a book as good as this, I am rightly afraid of not being able to do the story justice.

I'm going to put this out there, this is the BEST book I have read so far this year, in just 398 pages, Andrew has managed to build a whole dystopian earth filled with deeply thought-out characters with motives you can only guess at. This story has plenty of gore and violence but still manages to be brilliantly beautiful in its description. Right anyway, I'll get to the main part of the review.

The story is told from two different perspectives: Benjamin and Nicholas.

Benjamin and her father are running away from the religious cult that absolutely dominated the world. The Flood destroyed the past civilisation and now people are running towards whatever or whoever can save them. The very cult that Benji is running from is desperate to get him back, Benji is their ultimate weapon, and they will destroy anything or anyone to get Benji into their possession again.

This story whilst filled with blood, guts, monster and hate which is spread across these wonderful pages, also leaves you with a great sense of hope and Queer pride which poured into my very soul. You cannot deny the talent that Andrew possesses, he draws fantastic and terrifying parallels between this dystopian horror-filled world with the very one that we are currently living in.

This book provokes you to really think about what it is that makes a good person. It's not enough for a person to have done good things but it's also about imperfect people embracing the darkness that lurks within and using that very darkness for good. I have never read a book as gruesome as it is beautiful like this one and I cannot wait for Andrew's next book.

This is more than just an LGBTQ+ horror story, it's a story about humanity and all the horrors that are born and spread through us.

About The Author

Andrew Joseph White  is a queer, trans author from Virginia, where he grew up falling in love with monsters and wishing he could be one too. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University in 2022 and has a habit of cuddling random street cats. Andrew writes about trans kids with claws and fangs, and what happens when they bite back.

Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AJWhiteAuthor

Find out more about Andrew: www.andrewjosephwhite.com