Literarily Speaking

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

First Chapter Review: BANEWIND by M.B. Chapman @mbchapman90 #YA #firstchapterreview

thewriterslife March 31, 2021 0 Comments

Thanks for visiting Literarily Speaking! Today's post is a first chapter review of BANEWIND by M.B. Chapman. First, a little about the book....

Title: BANEWIND
Author: M.B. Chapman
Publisher: Light Messages / Torchflame Books
Pages: 268
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Fiction

Almost two weeks ago I was just a normal girl getting ready to start my senior year of high school, deciding where I wanted my life to go. And now?

I’ve kissed a boy. I’ve been to another world. I’ve seen death.

And I don’t know what my life’s become.

Banewind tells the spellbinding story of 18-year-old Genevieve DeWinter, a typical high school girl who finds herself entangled in the throes of adventure, romance, and survival after discovering the existence of a group of magical beings known as Formulists and their co-existing world, Banewind.

With the arrival of several mages in her hometown of Parma, Ohio, Genevieve soon learns that these extraordinary secrets are rooted deep within her family’s history when it is revealed her deceased mother was a heroic warrior in a long lineage of female protectors called the Holy Guardian. Now, a vengeful group of Formulists known as the Voidweavers have returned and set their sights on Genevieve, believing she might be the next Holy Guardian and the key to awakening their fallen leader, the Void King, who had been destroyed by Genevieve’s mother when she sacrificed herself a decade earlier to save Banewind and all of humanity from an unthinkable evil.

With the help of new allies, Genevieve must fight to stay alive as she unravels the mystery and danger that have shattered the stability of the life she once knew before the Voidweavers succeed in shadowing the world in chaos and darkness once again.

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM FIRST CHAPTER:

The evening sky above the forest is splotched with stars, reawakening to blanket the world in their beauty once again. The faint breeze in the midsummer night’s air carries with it the woodland’s melody—a cacophony of chirping crickets and singing nighthawks. In the trees’ hollows, the majestic owls arise from their slumber, ready to cast their watchful gaze over the land. And there, in the center of the forest, stands Blaine.

BOOK COVER:

Truly interesting and somewhat spooky and menacing!

FIRST CHAPTER REVIEW:

Interesting read to say the least! It's something about bird skulls I don't know what it is but anything involving bird skulls watch out. The story starts off with a group of people having a conversation about a makeshift portal - one woman is wearing a bird skull hat very creepy. I'm trying to find out if these are the good guys or bad guys. They want to save a woman before someone else gets her - that's my take. But it's something involving this makeshift portal. A portal to where? The story breaks to a different scene. Ahhh I'm getting it now! Blaine, one of the people in the laboratory I just spoke of, has arrived in the middle of a forest. It was Blaine who was transported through the portal! Okay now I'm figuring Blaine is a good guy; not so sure about the people with him in the earlier scene. Guess I'll figure that out as the story goes along. I'm thinking they are good people; it's that bird skull hat that makes me think otherwise. Creepy. So Blaine treks down the hill from which he landed and starts walking toward the city. However, on his way, he stops at an abandoned church. He grips the padlock and an orange glow surrounds his hands until fire erupts which in turn melts the padlock so Blaine can get inside. Okay so he removes his orange pointed hat. Not sure what to think about that - he has to be from another world or something. Who wears orange pointed hats? So he then pulls out his cell phone and dials a number in which a man named Scythe answers. He asks him if he has the girl. The church bell goes off and a bunch of crows soar into the night sky. And that's where the first chapter ends.

KEEP READING?

Well I have to say this book is really good! I would definitely keep reading. Reminds me a bit of Harry Potter for some odd reason. So I want to find out about so many things - who is the girl, why do they have a need to save her or does she need saving? Is Blaine there to bring her back through the portal? And for what reason? Definitely a great story so far!

Pick up your copy!

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3quD4tz

Meet The Author

Kraig Dafoe was born in New York. Kraig went back to college at the age of 42 earning his BA in English writing, and graduating cum laude from Washburn University in 2017. Deciding to continue his education, Kraig received his Master of Liberal Studies degree in 2019. Kraig is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society and The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Visit his website at http://www.kwdafoe.com.

Other Books by Kraig Dafoe

The Rise of the Reaper: Duty Calls

Search for the Lost Realm

Skorch the Bounty Hunter

A Collection of Twisted Tales

# First Chapter Reviews

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Review Corner: HOW TO OVERCOME INSOMNIA ALL BY YOURSELF by Antoinetta Vogels @healthysos #review #insomnia #bookreview

thewriterslife March 30, 2021 0 Comments

Title: HOW TO OVERCOME INSOMNIA ALL BY YOURSELF
Author: Antoinetta Vogels
Publisher: Balboa Press
Pages: 163
Genre: Self-Help

BOOK BLURB:

It’s time for bed. You’re tired, but you know you’ll be tossing and turning for hours to come. At dawn, you fall into a deep sleep, but it’s short-lived. Long before you’re ready, your alarm clock mercilessly informs you that it’s time to get up.

After decades of nights like this, Antoinetta Vogels unraveled the enigma of her sleeping problem and restored her ability to get a good night’s sleep.

In her newest book, How to Overcome Insomnia All by Yourself, Antoinetta reveals how to become a healthy sleeper through self-knowledge and her own self-healing method.

Taking examples from her own life and firsthand experience with this sleep disorder, Antoinetta explores the childhood circumstances that can lead to unhealthy motivation, approval-seeking behavior, and chronic insomnia in adulthood. She offers practical advice, tools, and techniques for healing the wounds of the past so you can enjoy a future full of joy, healthy relationships, and restful sleep.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3oN9WfC

Author’s Website → https://bit.ly/3oRUFKp

This book was so up my alley. I have a horrible case of insomnia and HOW TO OVERCOME INSOMNIA ALL BY YOURSELF by Antoinetta Vogels was so enlightening and helpful and such an eye opener, pardon the pun!

Yeah yeah I take sleeping pills and hope in the long run they don't create a bigger problem and that's what this book is all about - dissing the pills that the doctors love to prescribe because they have no other methods to suggest and finding ways to help you sleep by looking inside yourself.

I was able to heal myself because I finally came to understand what lay at the root of my insomnia, which ultimately showed me the reasons why I did pretty much everything in my life. It was all about getting acknowledgment. I needed to feel like I mattered, to feel that I was of value instead of a source of problems, instability, and worries. I hope my story releases something inside you that empowers you to reclaim your own life too. I hope that through understanding how things worked for me, you will be motivated to work toward getting to know yourself better. Eventually, it will lead you to going to bed with peace of mind, secure in the knowledge that you will sleep well.

In Vogels' book, she says "Sleeping issues can, therefore, be seen as a symptom of self-sabotage..." When I first started reading the book, I couldn't figure out how this related to insomnia. Surely everyone has issues, right? Did anyone come from a fantastic stressfree childhood? How could I come to grips with the stressors of my past to be able to go to sleep in my adulthood without having to resort to sleeping pills?

So basically it's a mind over matter thing and that's what this book is all about.

I never believed a book could get me off sleeping pills. I read it, then applied the principles and voila. Not that I don't have a few nights here and there where I can't go to sleep as fast as I want to, but HOW TO OVERCOME INSOMNIA ALL BY YOURSELF definitely set me on the right path.

I give it five gold stars!

# Review Corner

First Chapter Review: THE MYSTERY AT TURKELTON MANOR by Kraig Dafoe #MGLit #firstchapterreview

thewriterslife March 30, 2021 0 Comments

Thanks for visiting Literarily Speaking! Today's post is a first chapter review of THE MYSTERY AT TURKELTON MANOR. First, a little about the book....

Twelve-year-old Nathaniel Jones wants to be a detective. Though his imagination tends to run wild, Nate knows something strange is going on and he is determined to figure it out. Hearing noises at night, the young detective sees a strange figure lurking about. The Turkeltons are rich and Nate’s grandfather is their groundskeeper. As a result, Nate gets to spend the summer on the manor grounds. With priceless art and expensive jewelry in the mix, and someone creeping around at night, Nate becomes determined to catch a thief. There’s just one problem; nothing seems to be missing.

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM FIRST CHAPTER:

Nate returned to the basement of the home, using the outside door on the side of the property that gave him direct access to the basement. It wouldn’t take the boy long to drift off to sleep, when the time came. He read a little more of his book and instead of drifting off in his chair, he opted for the comfort of his bed, not knowing that he wouldn’t be asleep for long.

*I chose that excerpt because as great as the rest of the first chapter was, this ending made me want to read more!

BOOK COVER:

Okay I have a haunted house fetish so I'm perfectly happy they decided to feature a haunted house on the cover. Beautiful cover!

FIRST CHAPTER REVIEW:

The book opens when a package is delivered to Turkelton Manor when Nate happens to be riding by on his bicycle. The delivery man asks Nate where Turkelton Manor is and the boy points in the direction up the driveway. Instead of going on his way, Nate can't resist by following the driver. He knows something's up and wants to learn more. The boy's curiosity was getting the better of him and he crept closer toward the delivery truck to see what was inside. He watched as the delivery men hauled out precious art pieces presuming to be worth quite a pretty penny. We learn that Nate is familiar with Turkelton Manor because his grandfather is the groundskeeper and Nate helps him. We also learn that Nate is a few months shy of being a teenager.

KEEP READING?

Definitely. After that line I just posted above, something is getting ready to happen. I love these kinds of stories. Reminds me of a series that I believe was published in the fifties. Along with Nancy Drew series, these books were awesome. Love middle grade lit and yes I would definitely keep reading. I have a funny feeling Nate is going to get into a lot of trouble he may not be able to get out of, but that's my guess.

Pick up your copy!