A phenomenal first work.
597019
This tale has more twists than a mountain road, and is almost impossible to put down once you get into it.
2312703
Neil Connelly's debut novel is a work of great strength and power. Although the protagonist is a young adult, the narrative speaks across generations to readers of all ages. First-rate storytelling coupled with an important message make for an instant classic. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
3363748
This is a great first book carefully crafted with an engaging non-linear narrative. It's got all the tropes of a weird Tim Burton corpse extravaganza, but it's also got surprisingly well fleshed out (heh) characters in a charmingly dark setting where the supernatural laws of the world have been exploited to their full potential. Whether Stone will continue writing touchingly dark and deeply personal stories, or if he tackles an entirely different spectrum of themes, I'll be keen to get my hands on a copy.
4125308
A terrific debut for a detective series that continues to grow stronger and deserves to be better known (it is not hard to imagine DC Smith on Masterpiece Theater). I have now read from this first book through to Luck and Judgement, and agree with other reviewers that Grainger has an exceptional story-telling ability. His handling of dialogue is superb and his light touch with the narrative moves the story forward with just the right amount of author-supplied detail, leaving the reader to imagine the rest.

I particularly enjoyed the relative lack of gore and the focus on procedure, notably the interviews, formal and informal, where DC's skills come through in subtle ways. DC is not a flash character, nor is he a loud-mouthed maverick riding on his exceptional prowess as an investigator. Grainger gradually builds our affection for a man who many of us would not notice in a crowd and does so without the all-too-common domestic melodrama used to round out law enforcement characters. And then there is the wit, sharp and on target, and rarely gratuitous.

Frankly, there have been many British detective series writers debuting in recent years, some of whom I really like (e.g. Sharon Bolton, Jane Casey, and Elly Griffiths). But there have also been some not-so-good efforts, that I won't name, debuting on Kindle and possibly bypassing editorial oversight (as an author I would not put a book-length work out there without some form of editorial review).

I don't know exactly how Graigner is doing it, but he's produced three delightful novels in a row and I'm eagerly awaiting the next.
4972445
It's hard to believe that this book is a first novel; it's so aesthetically sophisticated that one can hardly believe it's the work of such a young author. An insightful, evocative window into the uncomfortable truths of love and hardship, written with superb style and a master's sense of restraint. A very fine showing from a novelist we are sure to hear much more from.
652752
I rarely read contemporary fiction, because it's almost always dissapointing.  At [a store] last week I picked up this slim hardcover volume from a stack on the floor, attracted by the bright cover I suppose.  I began reading and couldn't stop.  It was as if I had stepped inside a world created by a female Raymond Carver -- a world of women of different ages and backgrounds and occupations, each of whom feels absolutely real, each of whom has her motivations stripped bare in a few phrases.  Rebecca Miller's style is so direct and unsentimental that it's disorienting at first, but if one sticks with it and gets used to the cadences of her sentences, the result is very powerful.  The unflattering, almost Swiftian descriptions of her characters' bodies may be hard to take for some readers, but I think they contribute to a deliberately naturalistic account  of contemporary women's lives.  My favorite story is that of Bryna, a wife who fantasizes about being profiled in Redbook Magazine.  It's a deft little satire on the way in which glossy magazine accounts of celebrity infect the imaginations of  American women.  This understated collection is like an antidote to the ostentatiously sensitive prose of so many current trade writers.
Yesterday I recommended _Personal Velocity_ to one of my undergraduate students.  She had already started reading it and informed  me that the author is Arthur Miller's daughter.  Perhaps literary talent does run in the blood, because this is an impressive debut.
19432
I finally read Acts this summer, after years of vaguely assuming that John's work was too dark for my taste. I don't know what my problem was. Dark it is, ultimately, but it's an intricately constructed marvel of a first novel. Characters who in another author's hands would be cardboard cutouts come alive on the page. You care what happens to them. I worked in the Mill in Maynard for Digital Equipment Corp. a couple of decades before this book is set, but the Mill in Acts was very recognizable and John knows about lots of corners of it I never explored. (Disclosure: John is a friend of mine.)
1350779
Aaron's first ever book is an impressive start. Any good fantasy novel has a rich history before the story even starts and it's the reader's pleasure to start to learn that history as the story unfolds. And a good fantasy author gives the reader only bits and pieces at a time, leaving them wanting for more. Aaron does a nice job of that with The Hand of Andulain. He's created a land that is complex and characters that, while not quite at the depth of a Robert Jordan epic fantasy, are still detailed enough to catch your interest.

An enjoyable read.
2879582
I'd say this is a compelling debut from a vibrant artist. It's saturated with description and does an effective job of painting all the visual details needed to transport yourself there as a reader. Set in the epic surroundings of Big Sur, a fairly ordinary tale takes on a cinematic feel. With fresh and sarcastic dialogue, theres a realistic youthfulness to the characters. The plot line definitely veers to the surreal after a strangely eerie twist (no spoilers!). Yet, a more basic theme is that of womanhood and the complexity of self awareness. The leading female, Ivy, is both vulnerable and empoweredfearful and resolute. Its like a coming-of-age story wrapped up in a thoughtful thriller. The graphic illustrations are a nice, moody interruption to reinforce the contemporary vibe. I look forward to seeing how this writer grows with her next work. Beautiful imagination!
3778508
This is an impressive first effort. The characters are engaging and the story line captures the imagination. The authors background in philosophy and  meditation shines through. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
3144708
Starlight is an incredibly accomplished first novel. I had an open mind when I downloaded it and I was so pleasantly surprised at how polished, professional and gripping it was.

The book is the first in the Dark Elf War series. Cassie has been expelled from university and returns to her home in the north of Canada to her elder sister and her guilty memories of the death of her parents. But there have been strange happenings in the area - a combined US and Canadian military task force has discovered and has been using a portal to another world, the world of the fae, and soon after Cassie arrives home the portal is breached and deadly fae enter the human world. At the same time, Cassie and several others are suddenly struck with the ability to manipulate 'mana' or magic. They are then brought on board to try and stop the creatures and halt the damage that the breach has caused.

I think the most impressive thing about this book is the depth of the characters. Each one is drawn so well, especially Cassie. Like others who have read this book, I found myself permanently irritated with both Buck, the racist, bigoted, chauvinistic Major who is one of the leaders of the task force, and with Elizabeth, another woman granted the ability to manipulate magic. Elizabeth is a religious zealot and somewhat arrogant perfectionist who never fails to offer her opinions of what is going on, even (and especially) when they are not wanted. She's not the worst religious zealot I have come across in fiction, but she's pretty grating. But it works - her presence, and the presence of characters like Buck make the main character, Cassie, all the more real and the situation all the more frightening.

I have to admit, I found myself cheering at times for the fae invader, Maelhrandia. There's a part of me that wanted her to succeed against the humans which just demonstrates how well the book is written. When you're not sure if you are rooting for the good guys or the bad guys or both at the same time, it means that the author has created a really good balance. I will most definitely be eager to read on with the series because I felt so invested in the characters that it was sad to let them go.

Perhaps my only comment was that there were times I felt the military detail was a little over the top. The author has a military background and that shows in the clarity and obvious knowledge of military equipment, personnel and culture. I definitely appreciated the detail, but there were times my eyes skipped quickly over paragraphs because it wasn't of interest to me. But that's OK, because it means that people who want the detail have it, whereas those like me can skim and still thoroughly enjoy the book.

Overall, I thought it was a great book and I was glad to get the opportunity to read it.

I received a free copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for and honest review.
4240616
Author Brian Duren's debut novel Whiteout is a remarkable first work. I'll admit I had minor hesitations when starting it, as I am always wary of new writers. But I always try to keep an open mind, and was not disappointed.

The story revolves around Paul Bauer, who is a freelance journalist who fled to Paris several years prior, to escape his family. His estranged older sister, Christine, keeps calling him to return home to Minnesota, as their mother is on her deathbed. Simultaneously, Paul is plagued by a dream in which a little boy is walking in huge snow drifts. When the boy reaches the peak, he lifts off and soars....and Paul wakes up. Adding to the confusion is a Christmas card, sent to Paul by his mother the previous year, including his parents wedding announcement from 49 years ago.

When Paul's mother finally passes, he obligingly returns stateside, sans girlfriend Claire, to attend her funeral and reacquaint himself with his family. In addition to Christine, he has an older brother, Fran, whose infamous mood swings can erupt into unpredictable rages. And then there is Stone, whose actual relationship with the family remains fuzzy in Paul's mind.

All Paul has ever known about his father was that he was lost in a snowstorm whiteout thirty-five years ago. He has little to no memories of the man, yet is curious about him. A cryptic conversation with his mother's long-time friend, Ruth, and stumbling upon ripped-up photographs in his mother's closet, propel Paul to search for the truth about his family, no matter what he may discover.

The novel is full of long descriptions of Paul's surroundings. At first one questions the necessity of such descriptions, but then the purpose is revealed. As Paul takes in every detail around him, he is also processing any new information he may receive via provoked memories or conversations with others. Many of us also become hyper-aware of small details in our environment when we are entrenched in deep thought.

Much of the story is also told through dialogue between the characters, which reveals their personalities without an omniscient narrator being responsible for doing so. This makes them a little more believable.

The story is fluid and a desire to keep up on Paul's discoveries keeps the pages turning. The inevitable twist toward the end of the book is slightly predictable, yet the change of voice and mood is jarring enough to be entertaining.

I look forward to hearing Brian Duren's fictional voice in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review, which was originally published at Andi's Book Reviews.
1528504
A great first work. Relatable characters with very difficult real life situations to face. A heartfelt and some times naturally frustrating story of love, life, and death.
741652
I can't believe this was a first work. I loved it from the outset. And you'll love the way the chapters alternate between Maggie and Shane. Feel the tension as Maggie wrestles with something inside. There's no way it could ever work with Shane...is there? Just the perfect amount of development of the supporting cast of characters to make us want to know more.
4468447
A remarkable debut from a gifted writer. G.P. Guarente's prose captures the teenaged soul as well as anyone working today. Bravo.
3659335
VAL-MAR Gifted and Cursed 1 is an example of a confident writer and artist taking a chance and deviating from the typical comic format. It works. The panel layout is clear and easy to follow with beautiful artwork. The writing and dialogue is minimal making every word more weighted. What the artists have done with this book is world building at its best. The foreign terrain jumps out at you. The costumes are at once exotic and fearsome. And the fight scenes. The fight scenes have a gravity and savagery to them that are breathtaking. There is a realness in the efficiency of motion by the combatants hinting at a real understanding of combat sports. I couldn't get enough. The story telling might be considered disjointed at first take with the narrator not physically in the world or the action scenes but a more critical eye will appreciate the nuance of this as it gives a layered and mysterious backstory that wets the appetite. The comic introduces a protagonist in one world and hero in another. I'm looking forward to their paths crossing.
1799930
This is a rock solid first effort from someone we will be seeing more from for many years to come.

Interesting concept, great characters and nice pacing.

I look forward to what comes next from this author and will be eagerly snapping it up for a good read.

Jim