Starving Review: Procythian Reign (Proceena Trilogy Book 1) by T. Allen Diaz

Procythian Reign (Proceena Trilogy Book 1) by T. Allen Diaz (Amazon, Goodreads)

Good morning, literary foodies! It’s time to open up the pantry and pull out a new recipe to sample. Today’s narrative treat is a military space opera from local Florida chef, T. Allen Diaz. Promising thrills, action, intrigue, and sci fi drama, Procythian Reign sounds like the perfect treat for a connoisseur of science fiction and fantasy as yours truly is … but will it fill me up or leave me wanting?

Before we find out, let’s speak the oaths of the Starving Reviewer:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Review: Scion of Conquered Earth (SCION Book 1) by Michael J. Allen

Scion of Conquered Earth (SCION Book 1) by Michael J. Allen (Amazon, Goodreads)

Good morning, my literary foodies! Today, I have another fresh review served up piping hot from the pantry, this time a dystopian YA space opera, Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen. Such a mix of ingredients should lead to a tasty genre fusions as long as everything is baked properly, but it could just as easily turn sour. Does Mr. Allen succeed in the kitchen?

Before we find out, let’s renew our pledge to the Starving Review principles:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Review: The Thieves of Nottica by Ash Gray

The Thieves of Nottica by Ash Gray (Amazon)

Good Friday, my literary foodies, it is time once again to throw open the pantries and pick up a (hopefully) delightful meal to read through! This week, I have an intriguing steampunk fantasy meal on my plate, distinctive at the very least for the unique cover. The Thieves of Nottica has a notable subtitle as ‘A Humorous Steampunk Adventure’, so without further ado, let’s grab our forks and knives to get started carving down to the truth!

Before we gather our tools, let us put our hands over our hearts and recite the Starving Review oath:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Review: AlterWorld (Play to Live Book 1) by D. Rus

AlterWorld (Play to Live Book 1) by D. Rus (Amazon, Goodreads)

The world of literary cuisine is constantly shifting, flowing, and adapting with new sub-genres popping up all the time. One of the newest in the science-fiction and fantasy recipe book is being called the LitRPG. Concerned with merging concepts of virtual reality, video game role-playing games, and other sci-fi concepts, it is a cuisine I’ve heard of and sampled in its ur-examples, such as Sword Art Online and Ready Player One, I have yet to take a bite out of the vast array of other meals that have spawned in their wake. Today, we’ll find out exactly how well one of the most prominent of those meals, AlterWorld by Russian chef D. Rus, matches up to those previous meals.

Before we log in and strap on our swords, let’s take a look at the Starving Review Wiki:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Review: The Planets All Shone by Nora Fleischer

The Planets All Shone by Nora Fleischer (Amazon, Goodreads)

It would seem, my literary foodies, that the main answer to genre fatigue I see in the modern menus of the world is genre fusion. Mixing the ingredients of multiple genres can be fun and flavorful, but it can also be boring and nasty. In today’s recipe, we’ll see how well our chef tosses together romance, science-fiction, and contemporary thrillers. Which will The Planets All Shone be, tasty or tasteless?

Before we cut to the heart of the matter, let’s recite the Starving Review creed:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Writing Is A Bad Habit: Talk to Me Like One of Your French Girls a.k.a. Foreign Languages in Writing

Writing in the sense that we talk about it here relies on the artistic use of language. We use words to inform, influence, and most importantly of all entertain. It’s understandable then that when we use foreign settings, fantasy universes, and alien worlds, we might want to use elements of foreign languages to match those settings.

Starving Review: A Spark Ignites (The Spark Superhero Series #1) by Michael Lachman

A Spark Ignites (The Spark Superhero Series #1) by Michael Lachman (Amazon, Goodreads)

After some big meals down the gullet, we pull up a light novella of a meal with A Spark Ignites.  A recipe spun up in a new contemporary superhero setting, it offers up a quick bite of superhero delight to enjoy.  Considering my own preferences and inclinations, this should be a great meal … or will my taste buds be biased by my own preconceptions?

Before we discover the truth, let’s flip over our ID cards and read the Starving Review bylaws:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Interview: Michael Lachman, Author of A Spark Ignites

Good morning, my literary foodies!  This fine Friday, we start the day by sitting down in the kitchen with Michael Lachman, the chef behind today’s meal, A Spark Ignites.  Let’s see what is what!

Starving Review: NANO Archive 1: The City of Fire by Jason Crutchfield

NANO Archive 1: The City of Fire by Jason Crutchfield (Amazon, Goodreads)

Welcome to another installment of the Local Author Smorgasbord, where we cut through the offerings of the Gulf Coast’s chefs!  Today, after a week’s delay, I finish off the gut-busting post apocalyptic science-fiction meal, NANO Archive 1: The City of Fire.  On the surface, it looks like a real treat for me, seeming to have some of my favorite ingredients served up in generous portions.  In reality …

Before we parse out that reality, let us proclaim the Starving Reviewer Creed:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible.

Starving Review: Double Life (Raiza Book 1) by S. Usher Evans

Double Life (Raiza Book 1) by S. Usher Evans (Amazon, Smashwords)

A good literary chef knows that it’s wise to sample the local cuisine, to learn the flavors of your home. Today, I’ll be dipping into that local cuisine as we tuck into Double Life, the start of a space opera feast that promises exploration, space pirates, and bounty hunting galore.  Throwing off the strict measurements of a hard sci-fi recipe is usually a treat.  So does does Double Life do the local foodies’ proud or is it not up to snuff?

We’ll find out!  First, however, let’s bring up the logs of the U.S.S. Starving Review for our mission parameters:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible