Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Science Fiction, supernatural, Thriller

The Barkuu: Dawn of a species by Lauren Wright | Book review

A mysterious cloud appears in space and then envelopes the planet for a day; to avoid cataclysm, humanity digs in. When they emerge, they find the air scrubbed clean, and massive metallic objects strategically placed throughout the world.

A new society forms from the ashes, will humankind survive?

Title: The Barkuu: Dawn of a species

Author: Lauren Wright

Pages: 377

My review

What makes the sci-fi thrillers exceptional in the world of literature is its height of creativity. It is an expression of ones own imagination through words. When we are reading them, we are floating inside their creativity. The Barkuu: Dawn of a species is one of its kind story, that not only keeps you at the edge of the seat all the time but also keeps you thinking about the story over and over.

Many sci-fi thrillers are written on the concept of human invasion on other planets. They are very interesting to read because we love the feeling of exploration and expanding to unknown planets. But what if the roles are reversed. What if a superior species came to Earth and started to wipe out our population in billions? This is a horrific thought even to imagine. Through this story, we can experience this fear, competition for survival, and gradual vanishing of humanity. The aliens are so powerful and advanced which leaves you only one choice-RUN. Is this the apocalypse? Will humanity can survive this unforeseen catastrophe?

Overall, the plot is an excellent creation. There are too many characters in the story. Each of them is created to play a specific part. Initially, it was too difficult for me to connect the characters with the storyline. But this will ease when the story progresses. Throughout the story, the author reminds us of the destruction we have done to this planet, our very own home. There will be a payback time. This story is a reminder for it.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, supernatural

Masqueraded: Act One by Alexis Dees| Book review

Being haunted by a sinister circus, ghosts and scary clowns wasn’t unusual for the spunky 18-year-old girl, Estela Nannette Sinclair. Neither was the physical and emotional abuse that she faced from her adoptive parents.
But, one was just a dream and the other would resolve itself in two weeks upon her eighteenth birthday… or so she mistakenly presumed. Her life was a complex façade of lies that hid how deeply she was entangled with three powerhouses of dark magic. Had she been that ignorant of the masquerade before her? An ignorance that wasn’t bliss. And an ignorance that meant her corpse would likely decorate an amusement attraction in a mere two weeks’ time.
Masqueraded is a suspenseful and deliciously dark psychological thriller and the first chapter of an emotionally-charged YA paranormal series that features a strong female lead character, who is looking for answers to her troubled past, while discovering new depths of deviant dark magic lurking underneath the surface in the carnival where she escaped the domestic abuse of her youth. Join Estela, as she explores a hidden magical world of teleportation, scrying, and telekinesis.

Title: Masqueraded: Act One

Author: Alexis Dees

Pages: 144

My review

A story like none other!

Masqueraded: Act One is simply redefining everything we know of the magical world. When I read the blurb, I mistakenly assumed that this will be a story like the Harry Potter series. But I was wrong. Masqueraded presents another level of story. More human and more realistic. Dark magic exists among us. Immortality and superpowers are real but they all come with a price. The price they have to pay to create a bond with it is their soul.

Estela is a soon to be 18-year-old girl, who is craving for her freedom like none other of her age. She is merely surviving with her abusive adoptive parents and dealing with constant nightmares every day. She has been associated with a traveling carnival for three years from now. This is the only place of freedom she has got. But what she doesn’t know is the dark truth behind her friends and associates from the carnival. Finally, she uncovered the truth behind their inhuman tricks and it is not what she imagined at all.

The author has developed Estela’s character very well throughout the story. Her transformation from a naive, innocent girl to a confident, fearless woman was smooth and convincing. She is vulnerable and fearless at the same time. Ignorance brings fear. The more she gained knowledge, the more fearless she become.

I really loved the climax of this story. The cunning and manipulative characters are unconventional heroes in the mainstream. But here they are justified and backed by situations.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Science Fiction, supernatural, Thriller

Diary of a Time Travelling Alien by Yaakov C Lui-Hyden | Book review

Written with a lively pace, plenty of action without being bogged down. A deliciously fun read of adventure, insights into the human condition, full of sarcasm and wit. Have a look inside and come on this journey with a reluctant alien time traveller, imprisoned on Earth.

Title:Diary of a Time Travelling Alien

Author: Yaakov C Lui-Hyden

Pages: 132

My review

This is a hilarious unique story of an Alien who is trapped in Earth. As the title suggests, the story is told through the several diary entries of this Alien. The uniqueness of this story lies in its perspective about mankind. It presents an outsider’s view on all the things in the Earth. His sarcastic approach extends beyond subjects such as our religions, customs, and the whole way of life. He presents an alternative lifestyle that he practiced back in his homeland. This lifestyle has everything that we lack. He compares both lives throughout the story. But the one thing that drives his life is his unending curiosity. He likes to explore and experience. What will happen if he decides to take things forward by taking over an actual human body?

What I liked most about this story is this gave me an alternative perspective about love and soulmate. The alien’s hatred towards wars and meat is quite hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time. I really liked the storytelling technique. Because it is one-sided and it is enough to bring sarcasm from beginning to end. The story is indeed gripping and enthralling.

Rating: 5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, supernatural, Thriller, Young-Adult

Deceptions: Book 7 (Whispering Willows) by Diana Dawn|Book review

517xca+l0fL

Lily is now hiding a secret that she is terrified that Thomas will discover. But with these recent ‘ghost sightings’, will she decide to choose Nate over Thomas? Are the villagers really seeing ghosts from their past, or could it be the witch simply wreaking havoc upon the Willows? And what about the disappearance of their dwarf friend, Ben? ‘Deceptions’ is the seventh book in the Whispering Willows series

Title: Deceptions: Book 7 (Whispering Willows)

Author: Diana Dawn

Pages: 103

My review

Deceptions is the seventh installment of the Whispering Willows series. The sixth book of this series Barn Tales ended in a cliffhanger and this one starts by explaining that ending. I was quite shocked by the climax of Barn Tales and were looking forward to read this book to know the answers. But I must say this is the best book in this series so far. Because the whole storyline is changed from now on. The author has given many clues on mysteries happening in and around Willows in previous books. All these mysteries were solved through this book. The plot is drastically changed in this one.

In all the six books the author has followed the same pattern of narration like, starts with an explanation to the climax of the previous book, a happy middle, and again some shocking revelations towards the end. But this edition has dedicated to reveal all the mysteries. Because of that, the life of people in Willows especially, Snow, Mitch, and Lily’s are so terrible. They are hit by tragedies one after another. They all are trembling by these revelations. Also, the emotional turmoil of these characters is at a peak. They are confused about their own emotions added by the horrors of Margurite and Phillipe. I was really shocked to know who was Philippe all this time.

Lily is caught in between a love triangle with Nate and Thomas. She is now unable to choose one. This love triangle is getting interesting day by day. I’m looking forward to know how things are ended up for Lily.

The author has beautifully captured all the emotional moments in the story through words. All the hurt is felt so real through the words. I really liked this part of the Willows series. This installment is crucial and a true turning point considering the whole plot.

Rating:5/5

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Fantacy, Fiction, supernatural

KROVS: Into Darkness by M. Lee Woe| Book review

54772378._SY475_

Title: Krovs: Into Darkness

Author: M. Lee Woe

Pages: 309

There are not so many books out there which felt to me as unputdownable while reading. Krovs: Into darkness is one of its kind. Everything about this story fascinates me when I read through. The story is set in a world that is divided into two, dark, and light sectors. The light sector has strict rules and laws made to oppress its inhabitants. Whereas the dark sector which is also known as the free sector has no rules to follow which eventually drips into a city of crime. Tristan is a beautiful charismatic businessman who is drifting into depression at the beginning of the story. He is used by a group of superhuman women known as Krovs for pleasures. In fact, he is secretly recruited and trained for solely this purpose. He didn’t have any friends from his own kind.

But one day he met Serene, a young naive girl from the light sector unexpectedly. He is quickly drawn into her mysteriously. But both are coming from two largely contradictory circumstances and the thing that attracts them to each other is their curiosity. This curiosity turns into deep mutual love in no time. But what will happen if Tristen’s ex-girlfriend Kamilla, who treats him as personal possession finds out his newly found interest in humans, that may threaten to expose their secrets?

The story is quite mind-blowing. The plot is constructed perfectly. Every small detail about this paranormal world is perfectly explained. This makes the readers get engaged in the storyline until the end. All the main characters are developed really good. Their emotions and mannerisms are accurately included. This helps the readers to judge their decisions on various circumstances. I really liked the character of Serene in the story. She has a multilayered personality. Her decisions and character changes throughout the story. It was a great experience to feel this character’s transformation from a shy innocent nature to a bold and strong personality.

I really liked the way the author has ended this first book of the trilogy. Because it was a real cliffhanger. The revelations in the epilogue are the best twist in the plot.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help, supernatural

Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr.| Book review

48724057._SY475_

Title: Deceptive Gods: Confronting the Divine and Demonic: Exploring a Revolutionary New Approach to Angels, Demons, and The Unseen Spiritual World That Guides Us 

Author: Lorne J. Therrien Sr.

Pages:347

Blurb

Lorne J. Therrien’s Deceptive Gods is among the best books on spiritual warfare. On his path to win God’s heart, Lorne J. Therrien experienced angels that appeared as bright as the sun, the comforting embrace of the Holy Spirit that would come and go leaving him in a euphoric state, and darker-than-night hooded shadows that lingered on the sidelines, watching. It is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God’. But when his empathic ability recognizes a similarity in the energy of the angels, demonic hooded shadows, and the Holy Spirit, a red flag is raised. Does he accept what has been written, or trust his intuition and test the God he loves? Making no assumptions, Therrien lets empathy, intuition, and thorough research guide the way, arriving at a clear understanding of both human and non-human nature. The opportunity presents itself with an unexpected visitation at a former monastery, and the game begins. Therrien invites a student curious about spiritual communication to join him as he confronts and converses with the divine and demonic to learn the true identity of the invisible presence. Deceptive Gods is one of the best books on angels and demons and will be of great value to readers interested in Christian mysticism practices and spiritual communication.

My review

The world that we live in is deluded with misinformation that inadvertently leads us to misery. Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr. is an attempt to defog and demystify these beliefs. Faith and supernaturalism are connected together to obtain monetary advantages. We can’t find many books which talk about truth like this. Because creating deception about supernaturals is a part of the selfishness in humans. I was always skeptical about the books written in this genre. Because either they are misleading or filled with unrealistic explanations. But I found an entirely new approach in this book. The author never tries to hide anything. He immersed himself in this. He narrated clearly of his experience. This is a close to real-life experience ever you came across in these genres.

Due to this unreserved nature in the narration, all of my doubts are cleared as I read through. The author starts with basics and he takes time to explain and clear all misbeliefs. This helps me to approach the content through an open mind. The author used a conversation style between him and one of his students throughout the book. This way he teaches and answers every doubt we may encounter on the way. The world of paranormal and supernatural are tempting for certain people to delve right in. But the author clearly explains what we may face if we made that decision.

I really liked his explanation about why these supernatural beings are trying to connect with us. This reasonable explanation is enough to demystify popular beliefs. How he has approached this subject from a reader’s point of view is absolutely great. This is the most believable explanation on this subject you can ever have.

Rating:5/5