The Best Medicine by Jessica B Bell

Evening lovely readers 🙂

I’m sorry this post is coming out a few days after I promised it but due to certain health issues I am only coming back to my beloved laptop now 🙂 Just recently I have had the honour of being asked to review the exceptional Helena Hann Basquiat’s writing so every Friday I will post a review giving a thoroughly objective view of the book with a smidgens of personal opinion at the end… Oh who am I kidding? What follows is a passionate view of some amazing work that will keep your attention far longer than when you finish reading and will call you back time and again.

My first review is on the wonderful short story recently published in the above ‘All Hail the New Flesh’ by the epic Dagda Publishers. I can think of many words to describe the ‘The Best Medicine’ by Jessica B Bell; thought provoking, terrifying and heartbreaking to name a few. Could you survive the concequences of the mistakes you made in your life? Are you willing to lose those you love in the name of Science? Could you redeem yourself?

The story begins in such a poignant moment. You literally have no chance from the off set of the narrative; you are treat to such a sense of loss and heartbreak that you gasp and read on quicker to determine what had happened.The sentences ‘… The familiar loops and whirls of Helena’s bloody fingerprints on the glass as the World rushed by were something for Judy to focus on, but they were poor comfort – her daughter was gone. Left behind, and only twelve years old…’ Wait, wait, wait; what??? How fabulous is that language use? Within the first few lines you are given a narrative hook that you can’t tear away from and don’t even want to try. Sidenote; I also like that Jessica went on to kill quite a predominant aspect of her writer life Helena, or Helena Hann Basquiat. I found that an inspired twist 🙂

The story continues as Judy and Helena must escape their diseased dad/husband and try to survive escaping the diseased city to a place of sanctuary. Hang on, did I say diseased? Well it turns out Judy worked for a chemical company and the rest, as they say, is history. Imagine the guilt of knowing something your work contributed to created a race of diseased, zombie like beings. What was worse? The creation of the zombies or the deaths of the innocents they feed upon? The story is really jam packed full of vivid emotion. You feel their terror as they escape as if it were your own; you gasp as their desolation fills you; you cry at the lost soul lost so soon within the narrative. Such exceptional emotive language is used that you feel it within your very soul. Jessica uses description such as ‘mad chortle,’ ‘bloodcurdling laughter’ and ‘distended mask of pain and horror’ which gives you a sense of hopelessness and fear of the monsters that surround them.

One last thing I will mention is the ending; MY GOD the ending… At a first glance you may think ‘hang on, she told us the end at the beginning.’ You are, however, mistaken my friend. In a stroke of pure genius we are treat to a final twist in the narrative that leaves you gasping in fear and awe; it’s inspiring and terrifying and you’ll love it but I won’t tell you what that is here 🙂

I will leave you now by merely stating that you NEED this writer; her work is inspired and you won’t regret reading her. Search her out now.

Thank you 🙂

Helena

Evening lovely readers 🙂

This is just a quick post to say keep an eye on my blog. As of tomorrow I will begin to post reviews on the exceptional work of Helena Hann-Basquiat, or Jessica B Bell as some may know her as. She is without a doubt one of my favourite Lady authors and I was honoured she asked me to review her work 🙂 so keep tuned.

Thank you 🙂

I Can Be A Grown Up Too, But Sometimes My Passion Runs Away With Me

Afternoon lovely readers 🙂

This is just a small post to inform you I have rewritten my book review from yesterday. I let my passion for literature run away with me and perhaps didn’t put much thought into the description and order I wanted to use to describe the series. I now have so I apologise to those inflicted with my first draft and I hope you’ll read the second draft now to see the wonder and excitement of the book. I respect this author greatly and hope she can see that I tried to do justice to her work 🙂

Thank you 🙂

What The…? How The…? When…? Grrrrrrrrrr … A Frustrated Book Review

Morning lovely readers 🙂

Well, I have to say, like most people that discovered the wonderful World of Kindle I had been merely downloading the books I already knew I liked. Just recently however I began exploring different types of books (usually the ones suggested by the Kindle) and I have to say I’ve found some good ones. Now I don’t mean to sound like a broken record but I have to say the vast majority of them belonged to the Fantasy genre (what can I say, you like what you like lol) but even then they were books I would never have thought to pick for myself. These include The Soul’s Mark series by Ashley Stoyanoff (review to follow), the Eternal Guardian series by Elisabeth Naughton (again review to follow) but this particular review will be focusing on the Pinehurst series by Nicole Grane. Please don’t groan, I know it’s a young adult novel but as the story went along I found myself lost in it for a particular reason which I will later divulge.

The Pinehurst series follows the life of Evie Hollyander, a sixteen year old left at the Pinehurst school for mageia kids with magical talent. She is having abandonment issues as she believes her father left her there for no reason. She is surrounded by magical beings with typical teenage attitudes and an overabundance of confidence. The story begins where she’s experiencing usual teenage aspects of life; crushes, dances and boys; but she soon discovers things aren’t quite as they seem even in a World surrounded by fantasy and magic. Why does she feel so close to Antonio? All of a sudden she learns that her father has been taken to Hell and they embark on a journey that will test even her ‘exceptional’ potential.

One point that may confuse some is in the title of the series it mentions that it is a young Olympian novel. Within the first book it doesn’t really mention an Olympian link but we are treated to that in the second. Evie must now search for a way to cure her father of the disease which is killing him. Evie wants to focus solely on this but she gets constantly distracted by life; why won’t Antonio love her? Why is she still plagued by the kids at school? And how dare Satan be Hades (major spoiler) after she bargained her soul?? Would she find a way to have the ending she seeks?

My frustration comes into play with the aforementioned Hades. I picked this novel up as a distraction and had kept it light hearted until Hades was revealed. Within this series so far he seems to be the most well developed character, revealing a soft and sensual side beneath the undertones of evil. Could he fall in love? Did he want to? His relationship with Evie seems to present two different aspects; he needs her, as the child of light, to release a demon from Hell every night. He also seems to need her to soothe his damaged, maybe evil, soul. He seems so alone that it pulls on your heart and you almost find yourself wishing they could be together. I am now frustrated as dammit I need to know what happens between Evie and Hades next. Will she choose the bad boy over the angelic Antonio? Will she get a choice.

The books are well written in a good strong female voice and description can at points in the novels be used to its greatest advantage. The beginning of the first novel can be a little slow and scream of teenage angst at you but my suggestion is persevere through it. You are treat to intrigue, seduction, love, lust and a heck of a dose of fantasy if you do. You are eventually drawn into a universe where you have to know what happens next, as in my case. You won’t be disappointed if you read this series I promise 🙂

Thank you 🙂

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Dilettante!

A truly talented and wonderful Lady; a genius such as this should always be celebrated. One of my very favourite Ladies to be sure 🙂 Happy birthday Helena 🙂

1WriteWay

A little birdie (well, actually, a big birdie) told me that today is Helena Hann-Basquiat’s birthday!  And what better way to celebrate her birthday than by heading over to Amazon and picking up one or all of her recent publications:

Memoirs of a Dilettante Volume One, available in both ebook and paperback.  I highly recommend the paperback.  The printed format is candy for the eyes.  If you are a fan of Helena’s blog (and how can you not be), then you will love having the adventures of Penny dammit, Countess of Arcadia and Helena all in one beautifully designed place.

Three Cigarettes, available as an ebook and only 99 cents.  By the way, I’ve read and reviewed Three Cigarettes and found it to be both thrilling and chilling.  Although Three Cigarettes was written by Jessica B. Bell, Helena was the editor.  More importantly, she is Jessica’s keeper and…

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Reslogging the write … er… Rewriting the slog and a New #FlashForFriday

Good Evening lovely readers 🙂

I’m writing, I promise I’m writing. I just have a teething baby, several different musical mobiles going at once and a 6 foot 2 extremely sexy distraction to contend with but I AM writing lol 🙂 I have only two chapters left of my novel to rewrite and then I will just spend the rest of the time going over it and then going over it and then going over it again 🙂 Roll on the end of May and sending this baby off to my editor. I’m so excited so back to the novel I go but I leave you with a new flash fiction piece set in the Worlds of my novel. Please enjoy 🙂 (other flash fiction pieces can be read here)

The Price of Freedom

Lucian placed one foot on the cold hard marble of the temple floor. He knew she would never forgive him for leaving her chamber during the night but if he were to escape his father’s grasp it had to be tonight. His father was off planning his next attack on the Life bearers and thankfully he would not be near enough to sense the power surge of his spell. He could never understand why the War rooms were situated outside of the palace; for the Lady’s sake, they weren’t even situated within the city. It seemed a foolish and weak manouver to him, essentially leaving the palace unprotected despite the few guards milling around. He shook his head.

He moved to leave the bed itself and felt a strange pull on his cursed emotions. Occasionally he wished he were heartless as his father was. He looked back at the prone form shrouded in black lace and silver trim. He did not truly love Illaria; she was a crass shrew of a woman with too much insight and belief in her own power. She may be the high priestess of the Seers but she had not a shade of his mothers power.

Thinking of his mother always brought a black sadness to his heart. She had died far before her time and despite his fathers official declaration of her Death at the hands of assassins, he knew the truth. He knew his father had murdered her because of her attempts to protect Lucian. She did not want him to become like his father and she had paid the ultimate price. Well he would fulfil her wishes tonight, of that he was certain.

He caressed Illaria’s cheek once more. They had shared many years of passion and in a way he would miss her but he would not let that stop him; in truth it would not plague him for long. He placed his other foot on the floor, stood and quickly dressed in his armour. He reached for his silver sword and gun, the gun given to him by his wonderful grandfather, and took one last look around the room. He felt a sense of homesickness already but he knew what had to be done. He could not let his loneliness stop him this time. As he was leaving he came across the portrait of him and his mother. He had to smile at that. She always had worn such a happy temperament in life even though she balked at her destiny. He caressed the name plate underneath and ran his finger along the letters; Queen Aria and Prince Lucian. A tear slid down his cheek,

“Goodbye Mother.”

Lucian left the temple in the cloak of darkness. It was only a short walk to the palace and Lucian raced to perform one last feat for his people before he left. The streets were empty apart from the Nightstalkers and the guard at each intersection. He walked with confidence and grace as was expected of someone of his station. He was the Crown Prince for all intents and purposes and no one had any reason to suspect his plans just yet. Each guard nodded at him, each Nightstalker saluted and even the rare Lady smiled his way. He loathed all of them. He hurried on to the gates of the palace hiding his disgust from view.

His passage to the throne room was simple; the Crown Prince was merely going to check the state of affairs within the kingdom. He projected the air of authority even if he did not feel it. He had one thing to do before he left forever; one thing to ensure that his father’s state of power was broken. He pushed through the great doors and approached the throne quickly. He knew his father was miles away but part of him still feared him knowing. Hanging from one arm of the throne was the royal pendant. He could not understand why his father left it here but he would not moan on such fortune. He grabbed it quickly and placed it around his own neck. Not only would it enhance his own power but he felt that he HAD to take it, he would need it he was sure. Not only that but his father was near invincible with his own power, the power of the throne, the power of the crown AND the power of the pendant. At least this way he would be weakened.

Lucian turned quickly to ensure that no one had noticed him. He took one last longing look around the room; he had grown up here, this was all he knew. He smiled sadly and took the idonbark from his pocket. He would use this as the catalyst for his spell, it did not work as well as tearcrystal but he was in a rush.

“Spirits of the realms above,

on waning wind and searing flame.”

Lucian was stopped mid spell. A heat had started to gather on his chest where the crystal of the pendant fell. A bright black light began to shine and he merely thought of the portal he needed. He was a little taken aback; he hadn’t expected the pendant to work so well so soon. As he had begun to chant he had waved the idonbark much as the conductors of mortal orchestras do. He had felt silly so he was extremely glad his power had taken over. A doorway of black flame swiftly opened in front of him. He took one last look at the throne room, took a deep breath and stepped through the portal. His surroundings went from silver tinged marble to murky towering constructs of metal. He seemed to be in some sort of alley with smoke and puddles adorning most surfaces. There were loud waling noises and bright lights and Death everywhere. He truly was in the mortal realm now. He turned to the portal and moved to wipe it from existence before his father found hm. He would never see his home again…

 

It’s a bit rushed and not very full of action but I hope you enjoyed. It sets the scene for one of the characters from my novel and the hardships he has already gone through. I will be improving this post as time goes on (and when I’m not so tired to own the truth.) Thank you 🙂