 If someone offered me a choice between having my eyeballs gouged out by a feral cat or reading a vampire novel I’d have to think hard about it. When I got into the book review business I promised myself I would stay clear of anything that sucked, especially anything that sucked blood. Therefore, I only grudgingly picked up Andy Gavin’s indie vampire novel The Darkening Dream after someone I trusted talked me into it. After the first ten pages I couldn’t put it down. I still hate vampire books, but I love The Darkening Dream. Perhaps the best way to describe The Darkening Dream is a Dusk Till Dawn meets Yentle with just a dash of Buffy and The Mummy thrown in to spice it up. While you’re trying to wrap your mind around that, I’ll just say this book is the most original novel I’ve read in years and has made me an instant Andy Gavin fan. The Darkening Dream tells the story of two teenagers in pre-World War I Salem, Massachusetts. Sarah is the daughter of a rabbi, who she comes to learn is a powerful wizard. Alex is a young Greek immigrant with a wizened grandfather harboring dark secrets of his own. Over the course of the book Sarah and Alex fall in love and stumble on a plot run by an evil sorcerer in league with an ancient vampire. We also meet a kinky blue demon, a painting with an attitude, and an Egyptian beetle-god. They’re all looking for a mystical artifact that holds the power of the universe and Sarah is the key to finding it. Unlike most horror novels, Darkening is character driven. Gavin’s characters draw you in because of the seamless way he changes point of view from character to character. This simultaneously gives Darkening depth and speed. The villains make this novel especially delicious. Gavin paints Nasir as a classic vampire while giving him a very human, yet twisted, practicality. But the vampire is not the best villain in this book. That honor belongs to the evil sorcerer and his sexually insatiable succubus girlfriend, who’s so bad she’s good. They steal the show and deserve their own sequel. Even though the protagonists are young, this book is clearly not YA (Gavin classifies Darkening as “dark historical fantasy.”) It’s chocked full with violence, gore, and wizard-on-blue-demon sex. It is suitable for ages 18 and up. My only minor critique of Darkening is Gavin didn’t fully develop the town of Salem itself. The period setting of early 1900’s Massachusetts never came alive and felt like a missed opportunity in what I otherwise found was a flawless story. I’m astonished The Darkening Dream could have been passed up by any agent or mainstream publisher. Andy Gavin unearths a tired genre I thought was long past its prime, injects it with a spurt of fresh blood and sends it into the night to with a blood-curdling 95 out of 99 cents. 99 cents of Andy Gavin links:
All things Andy Gavin The Darkening Dream, free sample chapters, Find it on Amazon. Andy's next novel, Untimed. Find Andy Gavin on Facebook and Twitter. If you enjoyed this review follow Underground Book Reviews on Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also follow Brian Braden on Facebook and Twitter and buy his book, Carson's Love.
 Like most of the books I review here on the Underground, I found Michelle Isenhoff’s The Quill Pen in Amazon’s discount slush pile. I didn’t look at the cover and I skipped the description. I just dove right into the sample and was immediately hooked. The Quill Pen is the story of Micah, a boy on the cusp of manhood living in an east coast harbor village in the early 1800s. He dreams of life on the western frontier but cannot escape the shadow of his stern merchant father. Life is a series of mundane drudgeries for Micah until he discovers a mysterious quill pen while cleaning an old widow’s attic. Not only can it write without ink, whatever one writes with it comes true. Micah eventually discovers the pen’s dark secret, but not before it exacts a terrible price. As I flew through the book, I kept thinking to myself how much my kids would love this. Then it dawned on me - this must be a middle grade or young adult novel. I usually don’t read MG, or even YA, but I didn’t care. I had to find out what happened next. The young protagonist and supporting characters clearly put this novel in the MG/YA category. However, The Quill Pen is one of those rare books that defy being pigeon-holed because it is so well written. Isenhoff’s quality prose, well-crafted dialogue, and richness of the historical setting make The Quill Pen entertaining for adults as well. She paints the characters with masterful strokes. Micah’s post-colonial village comes alive with detail older readers will appreciate while keeping the plot clipping forward for kids. Isenhoff’s prose is smooth, effortless, and sucks readers in immediately. Combined, these strengths give The Quill Pen a classic, almost Twain-like feel. This book is so well edited it could have come out of any major publishing house, a worthy feat for any indie author. Quill’s only fault is it slows slightly in the middle, which might lose some MG readers. For older readers, this won’t be an issue. It could also use a snappier cover worthy of the content inside. The Quill Pen is suitable for any age capable of understanding the subject matter. Nothing here should concern parents. The Quill Pen is delightful on every level. Isenhoff is an indie author worth keeping an eye on. This entertaining story of adventure, magic, and history is one of those gems of self-publishing that make this job so enjoyable. This magical pen writes itself into my Top Picks with a score of 94 out of 99 cents. Links: Michelle's websiteMichelle's blog
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 Book: RunningPages: 321 Author: Patrice Fitzgerald Publisher: eFitzgerald Publishing Genre: Fiction Summary: Move over James Patterson, Patrice Fitgerald has arrived! Step aside Clinton, Obama, and Newt -- it’s time to vote and the nominees for Presidency are Vice President Catherine MacGuire-Young and the beautiful southern bell Jersha Hutchins. A widow with two grown children, Vice President Catherine Young has worked herself up the ladder; from the school board, to the Maryland Legislature, to Congress to Vice President of the United States. Representing the right wing is socialite Jersha Hutchins, a former flight attendant and married to the devout Reverend Quigley Hutchins. The Hutchins have eight God-loving, squeaky clean children. When President Tom Drummond is taken to the hospital for an emergency operation, Vice President Catherine Young is sworn into office. And when she receives a note telling her to pay $250,000 or someone will tell her secret, all hell breaks loose in the White House. Catherine’s good looking, but cocaine addicted Campaign Manager Zane Zarillo is romantically involved with the sweet, naïve twenty-nine year old Brazilian beauty Maria Flores-Jenkins. Zane sees a golden opportunity to pay off the drug lords who threaten his life when he discovers Maria is the Vice President’s illegitimate daughter. Maria was conceived when Catherine was serving in the Peace Corp and fell in love with a married black man. Think of all the voters Catherine risks losing if her secret happens to slip out. The Vice President now faces a decision. Halfway through the novel, Running takes an even darker turn. Quote: President Tom Drummond talking to Vice President Young. “Because you're the first from our party, you will be remembered. And the next time the Democrats consider a woman for the top spot, they'll shake their heads and say, 'Don't forget what happened with Catherine Young. Let's not make that mistake again.'“ Drummond pointed his finger at her. “You don't deserve this burden, Catherine. To be the standard bearer for your gender. But that's the way it worked out. If you walk away from this – admitting that what you did was so wrong that you don't deserve to be president, the next female candidate will have to be a nun. I mean, where does it stop? Everyone is entitled to a life, a history...a youth. What was your mistake? That you had sex before marriage? Yes. You and nearly everybody. And most of them don't think it's such a terrible thing.” Reaction: Running is definitely one of the top two books I have reviewed so far. The cat-and-mouse twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat are well worth the ride. Ms. Fitzgerald’s words flow easily from word-to-word and sentence-to- sentence allowing the reader to read quickly -- which is what you have to do to find out what happens next. Take a little Hitchcock, mix in a some James Patterson, sprinkle a touch of Grisham, and then add a whole lot of Fitzgerald and Running is what you get. Recommendation: Make no mistake, this novel is NOT just for women. It is for the sophisticated reader who will be taken behind the scenes to feel the emotions and experience the struggles a candidate faces when running for the highest position in the country. Rating: Five and a half out of Five Stars – Top Pick. You can find Running and other eFitzgerald books here: Running on Amazon
Looking for Lance: Amazon eBook
How David Met Sara: Amazon eBook
Dreamboat: The Frisky Chronicles You can also follow Patrice Fitzgerald on Facebook. If you enjoyed this interview, you can subscribe to the Underground or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 Bryan R. Dennis, the author of The Uncanny Valley, describes his sci-fi, horror, and fantasy compendium as “old-fashioned.” I call it wonderful. This compilation of sixteen short stories harkens back to the days when giants like Bradbury, Asimov, and Anderson published exciting short stories kids like me devoured. Their tales lifted the reader beyond the fantastic and made us realize the humanity of sci-fi was as every bit as important as the technical wonder. I’m not saying Dennis is in the same league as these great writers (yet), only that he captures the same magic. Like those authors of yesteryear, he explores the impact of the improbable, and the impossible, upon the human spirit. The element of the common-meets-the-unfamiliar injects these stories with a distinct, unsettling feel. Cover-to-cover, each story thrusts the characters out of their familiar surroundings into bizarre, often terrifying, environments. Dennis even goes so far as to throw extraordinary characters into ordinary situations for which they are ill prepared. In worlds turned upside down, Dennis forces his protagonists to confront the essence of their humanity; to decide what is right and wrong and good and evil. Along the way, the reader must ask not only what it means to be human, but what it means to truly feel human. At worst, some stories in Uncanny are merely good. Eight Legs to Doomsday and One Good Joke are satisfying sci-fi fare. The book only has one true horror tale, Noah, about an emerging sociopath. Even the weakest story, Super Temps, will still put a smile on your face. At best, however, many of Bryan R. Dennis’s stories are simply brilliant. After reading Nox Noctis I promise you will never take light for granted again. I Am You, which vaguely echoes Spielberg’s A.I., strikes to the heart of the book’s central theme. Asian Food and Scents of Life are showcases for Dennis’s talent and will haunt you long after you put the book down. What makes this work truly modern is how Dennis masterfully blurs the line between sci-fi and fantasy. Stories like Isle of Stumps don’t neatly fit in one genre or another. It isn’t just the subjects or theme that makes this book so satisfying. Dennis is one of those rare authors who is both an adept story teller and an excellent wordsmith. From page one it’s obvious he knows what he’s doing. With warm, natural prose he quickly summons realistic characters and exciting plots. You don’t read his work as much as soak it in. The Uncanny Valley suffers from only a mild case of the bane of the self-published - mechanical and formatting errors. However, it wasn’t enough to detract from the book. This book is suitable for ages twelve and up, with only minor violence and some suggestive themes. Coming off the heels of my last review, I am reluctant to select back-to-back Top Picks, but the quality of this work leaves me no choice. Good short stories are hard to come by and these are exactly the kind I loved as a teenager. I thereby give THE UNCANNY VALLEY a rating of 90 out of 99 cents and add it to annals of the Underground’s Top Picks. 99 Cents worth of Bryan R. Dennis links: Bryan R. Dennis's Amazon Author Page
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 Written by: Rebecca Coleman Paper Back: 338 Pages Publisher: Mira Books Genre: Fiction
SUMMARY: The story begins in Sylvania, Maryland where Judy McFarland, wife and mother of two teenage children, teaches kindergarten. Unlike Ms. Coleman’s characters, the private Waldorf Schools where Judy is employed is not fictitious. Founded in l819 each child enrolled in a Waldorf school has their own unique lesson book created to inspire the individual gifts and talents of each student. One of the tenets of the school is to protect the child from any outside influence that would stifle personal creative growth from within. This, in itself, already sets the bar high for Judy McFarland. Set in l998, just after Mary Kay Letourneau was found guilty of having a sexual affair with a 13 year old student, and during the time Bill Clinton confessed to his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, 40 something year old Judy McFarland and l6 year old Zach Patterson begin a sexual liaison. Both have issues. Zach has just moved to Sylvania leaving familiar friends and surroundings behind. He is also aware that his mother, pregnant with her second child, had an affair with a much younger man. Judy is married to an overbearing husband addicted to prescription drugs rarely acknowledges her presence. Their daughter, in her first year of college, begins to rebel against every Waldorf principle she has ever been taught. And then there's Judy’s l6 year old son, who just happens to be friends with her new lover. The story weaves back and forth between both Judy’s present life and as a child growing up in Germany. As a young girl, soon after Judy's mentally ill mother was institutionalized, she discovers her father is having an affair with the young woman hired to be their housekeeper. We also learn that adolescent Judy feels a warm and sometimes lustful attraction towards a young German man named Rudi. As we read Zach's perspective, he seems well rooted in his knowledge of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ which creates recognizable, uneasy tension throughout the book. The conflict escalates when Judy tries to dominate Zach, wanting to be more of a girlfriend than a ‘Mrs. Robinson’ type of sexual escapade. Zach shows signs of sexual physical abuse as he wrestles inwardly with his lust for Judy physically, losing respect for her as a teacher and role model, as his desire grows be with a girl his own age. Long before Zach tells his mother’s mid-wife he is having an affair with Mrs. McFarland, the novel takes an even darker turn. By this time, however, it is much too late for Judy McFarland to redeem herself. Quote: “I picked up a thread tangled in the wool near the center of the hat and thought about what I had been in my mother’s life – a lumpy little defect in the middle of a regimentally ordered pattern -- and that my children would never be made to feel that way. They were the center. They were the pattern.” This is the quote in the book where I began to feel sorry for Judy McFarland – then later realize she wasn’t being honest with herself -- or anyone else. REACTION: Rebecca Coleman’s debut book is seamlessly written taking the reader on an unforgettable journey into a taboo subject. As much as I wanted to be open to the topic of a middle-aged woman lusting after an l6 year old boy, I found myself judging Judy. The writing pulled me back in as I took breaks from reading and thought of the addicts who are told that if they continue to use, they will die, yet the urge to use overpowers any reality of death; about those addicted to gambling who lose every dime over and over again, in spite of the fact the mortgage is due and they have lost their children’s lunch money. At every turn of the page, I tried to find something to respect about Judy McFarland, but couldn’t. She irritated me. She made me angry. I wanted to confront her face-to-face. And that’s what good writing is all about, bringing out emotions. On the other hand, Zach was likeable and had a sense of decency that made him question himself more than the morals of a lover who is older than his own mother. Although the entire novel was well written, my opinion is that Coleman’s best writing is right smack dab in the middle of the book, where she creates the tension that makes readers more than just a little uncomfortable. Rating: The Kingdom of Childhood is a Top Pick with 4.5 out of 5 stars. RECOMMENDATION: I recommend The Kingdom of Childhood for those over l8 years old who enjoy reading a ‘gutsy’ debut novel by a writer I believe will soon be a best-selling novelist. If you enjoyed this review subscribe to Underground Book Reviews and follow us on Facebook.
 Review of: The TakerBy: Alma Katsu Hardcover: 448 pages Publisher: Gallery Books Summary: Late one night, Dr. Luke Findley is summoned to the emergency room in the quaint town of St. Andrews, Maine. Findley is a divorced, lonely, middle-aged physician stuck practicing in the small town where he was born. But, when the local sheriff brings Lanore (Lanny) McIlvrae, a suspect in a murder case, into the hospital to be evaluated, Luke’s life takes a drastic turn. Luke is strangely taken by the young, mysterious woman. She tells him she was born and raised St. Andrews . . . in the early l800’s. After proving signs of immortality, the physician agrees to help her escape. This is when Lanny’s dark story begins to unfold. Lanny McIlvea’s account begins as a teenager with her obsessive desire for Jonathan, the son of the St. Andrews founder. When she becomes pregnant with his child, Lanny’s is sent to Boston where she is to give birth, give the child up for adoption, and then return to her Pilgrimage home. A strange twist of fate, however, leads her to the home of Adair, a wealthy European. When she is forced to take a potion stolen from a physic some 200 years ago, she becomes eternally bound to the destructive, twisted and depraved Adair. The well-crafted story interweaves historical fiction with the supernatural. THE TAKER explores an age-old question. At what price is someone willing to not only pay for eternal life, but to covet another person . . . . forever. Quote from The Taker:“We sleep and wake, eat and drink, go through our day like anyone else. The only difference is that another person might ponder, from time to time, which day will be his last. But you and I, our days, will never end.” Reaction:I will say I was a bit apprehensive when I chose to review this book. I am pragmatic. I want to know how something happens and why. However, Katsu took me by surprise when I found myself totally captivated. Her free and easy writing style captured every moment and brought each character to life. Katsu doesn’t just take us there, we are there. The scenes move easily and fluently from present day back to the l800’s and then to Romania in the l600’s. It is not only Katzu’s vivid descriptions that hooked me, but the story line. The story was so believable that I found myself shaking my head to remind myself I was reading fiction. Recommendation:Top pick! This is a captivating read for anyone open who wants to read a great book. A reader needs to be open-minded, however, about the dark side of our human nature. If you are absolutely opposed to reading about sex, abuse, or witchcraft, this is not your book. However, I wasn't that interested in stories with such overtones, but couldn’t put the book down. Just as The Scarlet Letter became a classic, I predict Katsu’s trilogy will also live on to become classics. **Not recommended for anyone under l8 years old. Stay tuned for THE RECKONING, the second book in Katsu’s trilogy is due to be released in June of 2012. Star Rating: 5 out of 5 www.almakatsu.comalmakatsu.blogspot.com'Alma Katsu, author' on Facebook @almakatsu on Twitter
 In East Wind Returns, William Peter Grasso accelerates down the runway and into the stratosphere. You don’t read this book as much as you experience it. Strap in and hang on as Grasso flies you into his version of World War II and sets the bar amazingly high for both a debut and self-published novel. In this alternate-history novel, the Japanese acquire the atomic bomb first. The Americans desperately try to locate the bomb before the enemy can employ it against an impending US invasion of Japan. This tale primarily centers on Captain John Worth, a veteran photo-reconnaissance pilot. It’s Worth’s mission to find the bomb before it’s too late. East Wind Returns never stops long enough for the reader to catch their breath. One minute you’re with Captain Worth in his aircraft as he tries to dodge Japanese fighters. The next minute, you’re in a high-level meeting with President Truman as he agonizes over whether or not to drop the atomic bomb. You’re with the Japanese as they prepare their atomic bomb for detonation. Interwoven throughout the action and political intrigue, John Worth manages to fall in love with Major Marge Braden, a beautiful nurse stationed with him on Okinawa. With this book, Grasso firmly establishes credibility as an alternative-history and action-adventure writer. East Wind Returns vaguely echoes Harry Turtledove’s alternative fiction novels, but unlike Turtledove, Grasso never slows down and never bores the reader. While his research and technicals are impeccable, Grasso doesn’t bog you down in excessive detail. It’s this pacing that gives East Wind Returns its breakneck speed. Not only does this book move quickly, but it has a high degree of quality in its characters and plot presentation. Unlike many action writers, Grasso spends time creating believable characters. They are more than just useful props to tell an exciting story. From the main characters to the fictional representations of historic characters, they are vivid but not overdone. One more thing about this book - Grasso doesn’t glorify war. He isn’t overly gratuitous with blood and gore. Grasso highlights the human costs of war without being preachy or slowing down the story. Grasso boldly tells this story in present tense, but a few times he slips into past tense. Given the nature of this historic subject matter, I can’t believe he didn’t do it more. However, his few tense slips are minor and do not detract from the overall story. This book has a smattering of situational-appropriate adult language, some mild sexual content, and war-related violence. It is suitable for older teens and up. This book could have been released by a leading publishing house. It feels professional, from its slick cover art to its almost error-free pages. East Wind Returns surges to a strong 92 cents out of 99 and is my first “Top Pick” here in the Underground. 99 Cents worth of William Peter Grasso links: William Peter Grasso's Facebook Page
East Wind Returns Amazon Page
 In the era of Young Adult dystopian literature, ushered in by Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games trilogy, Divergent, by Veronica Roth does not disappoint. In fact, she provides readers with an exciting, fresh narrative that any teen, and even some older, will gobble up. Divergent, set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, gives us the story of Beatrice Prior, a sixteen year old on the cusp of adulthood. In the world she lives in there are five factions, Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. Each faction focuses on the qualities they feel will lead mankind to prosperity. Beatrice has grown up in Abnegation, a faction known for its selfless service of others. And Beatrice feels anything but selfless. In order to help teens decide which faction to join, the school offers aptitude tests. During this test Beatrice learns she is divergent, an extremely dangerous label. Unsure what divergent means and unable to share this news with anyone, Beatrice struggles with which faction to join. In a last minute decision, she leaves her family and faction behind and joins Dauntless, the group that jumps off trains, pierces their noses and values fearlessness above all. Thrust into a completely new life and challenges, Tris, as she renames herself, embarks on a journey to find her place in a society that is not yet her own. Divergent is an excellent mix of action, suspense, romance and intrigue. The world Roth builds is unique, lush and alive. Readers will be drawn in by Tris’s first person narration and find her hard to leave. Even though Divergent follows many of the rules of current young adult fiction, it does an excellent job at avoiding cliché. The romance is expected, but executed lightly without bogging down the story in too much teen groping. The friends are quirky, interesting and realistic. And the ending does not disappoint. Overall, this is a fantastic breakout novel for Roth. I am dubbing it my first Top Pick and this reader, though usually picky with teen lit, will definitely scoop up the sequel. You can find Veronica Roth at veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com and order the book through any book seller.
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