Starving Review: Yesterday’s Tomorrow (Tomorrow’s War Book 1) by G.W. Pomichter and William DuPree

Yesterday’s Tomorrow (Tomorrow’s War Book 1) by G.W. Pomichter and William DuPree (Amazon, Goodreads)

Ah, alternate history recipes! What can’t you do? From Nazis with spaceships to Ben Franklin summoning dragons, alternate history meals can present all sorts of bizarre scenarios … and quite a few starkly realistic ones. That is the intent of today’s meal, to show an alternate contemporary environment, diverging only a short time before the present day and trying to stay fiercely grounded in the real and natural. Does Yesterday’s Tomorrow capture the essence of realism and push forward this alternate history?

Before we find out, let us take 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: 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

Starving Interview: Kimberly Amato, author of Steele Resolve

Happy Thursday!  Today, we catch up with a Starving Review alumni who is finally getting a chance to visit the kitchen for a sit-down.  Say hello to Kimberly Amato, author of Steele Resolve!

Starving Review: Savagery and Saviors by Ken Hollern

Savagery and Saviors by Ken Hollern (Amazon, Goodreads)

You have to respect chefs who have the tenacity to focus on real-world problems with their literary cuisine.  Savagery loads up this recipe, though, with the genocide in Darfur combined with child kidnapping, sex slavery, and human trafficking from the United States.  Are these spices too heavy and too far apart to mix well or do they blend together nicely?

Before we find out, let us cry out the Starving Review creed from the highest mountain:

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: Don Westenhaver, Author of Alexander’s Lighthouse

It’s been a while since we had a chef visit our kitchen, but I’m proud to have Don Westenhaver, the mind behind the latest Starving Review book, Alexander’s Lighthouse, here to answer our usual, intense battery of questions!  Let’s see what he has to say.

Starving Review: Alexander’s Lighthouse by Don Westenhaver

Alexander’s Lighthouse by Don Westenhaver (Amazon, Goodreads)

Historical fiction has always been a cuisine of some consternation for yours truly.  You see, I am something of a history buff (I had early dreams of being a history teacher, even) and, obviously, I’m also a big fiction fan.  Yet, while I love both foods separately, I often find the mixing of the two to fall short of the sum of the parts.  The war between historical fact and fiction interpretation often leads to a clash of flavors, leaving one side of the taste equation unbalanced, spoiling the mix.  Still, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done well.  The question, then, is whether today’s chef pulls out a winning recipe from that struggle or it simply sours.

Before we figure that out, 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

Starving Review: The Living Image by P. M. Richter

The Living Image by P. M. Richter (Amazon, Goodreads)

With my pantry set fit to explode despite my best efforts, the missive has come down from Starving Review LLC to get to eating double-time!  The first thing to pop out onto my plate is a trifecta of fusion, promising a pleasing blend of science fiction, mystery, and spy thriller.  Can The Living Image mirror the flavorful spices of its various genres or will it simply point out the flaws in the image?

Before we find out, let us read the Starving Review by-laws:

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: Infringement by Benjamin Westbrook

Infringement by Benjamin Westbrook (Amazon, Goodreads)

Another Friday has come, so it’s time to crack open the pantry and see what we find. This week’s review is actually something of a difficulty for me, but not for the traditional reasons. You see, foodies, Infringement is a religious thriller, one that deals strongly with matters not just of faith, but a very specific real-world religion. These sorts of meals tend not to sit well in my stomach with their tendency for overspiced arguments and heavily-indulgent themes, alongside a narrow-focus of flavors focusing on that one religious theme. Still, there are religious meals out there that have beaten out those problems, so let’s see if this souffle will rise without collapsing!

Before we do, let’s unfurl the scroll to proclaim 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

Starving Interview: Benjamin Westbrook, Author of Infringement

Good morning, foodies, and welcome to another freshly-baked Starving Interview!  This week, we sit down with Benjamin Westbrook, the chef behind this week’s review treat, Infringement, and see what makes this baker do what he does!

Starving Review: Apocalypse Disrupted: time shift strategy by Timothy A. Freriks

Apocalypse Disrupted: time shift strategy by Timothy A. Freriks (Amazon, Goodreads)

One of the high points of my work for Starving Reviews LLC is that I always get a new variety of meals out of the pantry.  While I’ve dined at the table of political thrillers in the past, this one adds a swirl of alternate histories and time travel to spice the mix up.  Of course, we all know that adding new spices to any recipe is there’s always a chance that the new ingredients screw up the meal.  Is Apocalypse Disrupted an example of that or does it pull off the blending to make a better whole?

Before we answer that question, let’s review the Starving Review rules:

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