 In a time when self-published can be synonymous with low quality, Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn is a diamond in the rough. This YA Sci Fi manages to shine amongst the myriad of Divergent wannabes and, frankly, knocked my socks off.
Open Minds is about a future America where the general population has the ability to read minds. Teens know each other’s inner thoughts and emotions, high school lectures are delivered mentally and you can mentally link in to technology. Kira, a zero, is left out of everything. Since she can’t read minds, her peers treat her like Carrie at the prom and society sees her as a lower-class citizen. Kira has little hope until she discovers a strange new mental power when she accidentally knocks out her best friend. Suddenly Kira is no longer worried she’s a zero; she’s worried she’s a mutant freak. When she meets Simon, a fellow jacker as he puts it, she learns that there are others who can control minds. Simon introduces her to an underground society-- one she’s not sure she’s ready to join. Things go awry when the FBI shows up and arrests all the jackers. Now Kira must decide: Is she with the jackers or against them? And what price will she pay?
Open Minds is rock solid from beginning to end. The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking, “This is as good as any book on the shelf at your local book store. Hell, its better than some.” Quinn creates sympathetic characters that live and breathe, her world-building skills are adept and she has mastered the art of keeping tension on every page. Even the ending was nothing I saw coming, yet everything I wanted. She tied up all the ends nicely and left some questions yet to be solved. A sequel will be out at the end of this month. I am sure it will not disappoint.
Normally this is the part of the review were I make some suggestions about what areas dragged or what needed to be shored up. Instead I will say that if you buy a traditionally published title for $12.99 when you could get Open Minds, you’re a fool and I have some Rolex watches in my trench coat I want to sell you.
 Rex Rising is the story of Elei, a young man tormented by the parasites inside him. Elei, a sympathetic character if one has ever been written, arrives on the scene after fleeing the murder of his employer and mentor. He has one thought as he loses time and blood: get to Aerica, the last thing his mentor was able to tell him. Once on Aerica he finds Kalaes and Maera, a young couple who take him in and patch him up. Little does the group know the Gultur, the violent female rulers, are after him. They will stop at nothing to get the secret Elei carries inside. The fantastic world that Thoma creates in the Elei Chronicles will not leave fantasy readers disappointed. The seven islands are home to a race of infected humans. The parasites that inhabit the humans change and enhance their bodies, but can also kill them. I found myself fascinated by the seemingly in-depth research that went into creating these complex parasites and their effects. Don’t get me wrong, this book is not a boring analysis on parasitic life. The story is jam-packed with action from beginning to end. Teens will be turning pages to the end. Rex is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are well-built and realistic; the world is creative and unique without being too foreign to leave us lost. Thoma’s pacing and structure kept tension on every page. The cover itself is stunning and I was pleased to note that Thoma designed it herself. My one critique would be I longed for a broader look at the life and culture of this new planet. Since Elei spent most of his time on the run or in hiding, we missed out on the broad landscape that might have really enriched this world for me. One can only hope that we see more of that in the sequel, Rex Cresting, now available on Amazon. My recommendation is this book will please anyone who likes a good adventure into a new world. It is well worth the $2.99 price tag and while you’re at it you can pick up the sequel as well. You can find Chrystalla Thoma on her blog, twitter, facebook or her Amazon page. You can find Rex Rising here.
 Every once and a while a young adult book comes along that surprises me. The Domino Effect falls into this category, both thoughtful-- yet humorous, moralistic-- yet light-hearted. Cotto's coming-of-age story left me invigorated, and thinking to myself, “Now, that's how you tell a story.” Though The Domino Effect has not seen the rampant readership like current fantasy and sci-fi novels, it should. The story chronicles the high school career, particularly the senior year, of Danny “Domino” Rorro. After a violent attack at his old school, Danny's parents enroll him in Hamden Academy, a prestigious boarding school far different than life at home. Danny manages to maintain his comical out-look on life in this new setting, though he carries scars from the past. Things begin to change for Danny when he is assigned a roommate, Terance King, the only African American at Hamden Academy. This event propels both boys into a conflict of race that tests them to the core and changes them forever. Though the novel takes a while to warm up, the depth of Danny's character will draw you in and keep you captive. Danny's wise-cracking, street-wise Italian voice will keep you chuckling. Cotto is a master at the adolescent banter and the descriptions of Hamden, told through Danny, were pitch perfect. The tender romance between Danny and Brenda Devine is touching and heartfelt. My one complaint would be that Cotto opens with pages of exposition on the previous three years, much of which could have been dealt out later or cut completely. I fear that readers may get bogged down in the first few pages and miss the gold lurking beyond. Overall, The Domino Effect, does not disappoint. You'll find yourself cheering for Danny through the end. But more importantly, you'll find yourself reflecting on deep issues, something that is often lacking in teen literature of today. You can find The Domino Effect here. You can find Andrew Cotto's website here, his Facebook here and his twitter here.
 In the past five years, the paranormal romance genre has exploded on the literary scene following the heels of Twilight. Vampires, werewolves and other mythical creatures have been brushed off, spruced up and given the sparkle treatment. Though some say paranormal romance is on the decline, Coral Moore’s Broods of Fenrir dashes boldly into well-charted territory and carves its own path.
The novel revolves around Brand Geirson, a werewolf living in modern times. Brand is the rightful king of a vicious brood of werewolves that he has shunned for their brutal ways. A lone wolf (pun intended), Brand lives a secluded life away from most of his brood-mates. Brand makes one exception in Alice, a runt of the litter, who was brutalized by another male some years back. Brand rescues her and takes her in. It is here, through his protection of Alice, that we see the kind of man and wolf Brand can be. He is as selfless as he is courageous. Throughout he puts himself on the line to save his weaker brethren from the violent tactics werewolf leaders use to keep their underlings in check. The story heats up when he meets Dagny, the sexy, yet damaged daughter of his former advisor. Their steamy romance complicates Brand’s life dramatically, but he will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means his life. This story cannot be classified as strictly young adult fiction because the characters are adults and the sexual content gets R rated. However, older teens and adults will find themselves drawn in by the sympathy they feel toward Brand and his predicament. He is a true hero to his core. The sex scenes are gratuitous, but I have to admit kept me riveted. This story is a quick, light read, somewhere around 260 pages. Brand is likable. The conflict is engaging. There were times when the tension dwindled and the setting lost some of its luster, but those issues did not detract from my enjoyment of the story Moore tells. Overall, I’d say for the cost of a cup of coffee, this book is definitely worth the price and will likely keep you satisfied longer than your grande mocha frapachino. To check out Broods of Fenrir follow this link. You can find Coral Moore at her webpage.If you enjoyed this review, you can subscribe to the Underground or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 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
The Quill Pen on Amazon.com If you enjoyed this review, you can subscribe to the Underground or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 As the Underground's first Middle Grade novel review, I am pleased to present Letters to Juniper. Peggy Tibbetts' gripping novel introduces us to twelve year old Sarah, raised in a secluded Idaho farm with extreme fundamentalist parents. Sarah’s letters paint a vivid picture of a world all too real for thousands of children throughout American history. Set in rural Idaho, Sarah introduces us to her isolated world. At twelve, her circumstances couldn’t be more different than that of her peers. Sarah's mother is dead. Her father and step-mother now raise Sarah and her siblings on a farm straight out of the 1800s. There’s no electricity, no running water. Sarah’s father lives and breathes by the supreme law of Yashua. Strict adherence to these laws are required. The reader feels instant sympathy for Sarah who must write secret letters by candlelight, cook meals for her three younger brothers and, worst of all, spend days in the birthing shed during her menstrual cycle. Then her father is arrested by Federal Agents for dealing in illegal firearms. The Feds want Sarah's father as an informant on a group of Neo-Nazis. When her father refuses, their world begins to unravel. The story is told through a series of heart-felt, emotional letters from Sarah to her long lost friend Juniper who she vaguely remembers from her life in Florida. Though I sometime found myself longing for more depth of setting description than a letter could provide, the letters themselves touched me. We are drawn in to Sarah's world by the sympathy we feel for her plight and we are hooked through the end to find out what becomes of her. Tibbetts does a thorough and thought-provoking job of taking us into the perilous life of a girl similar to those that were trapped at Waco or under Warren Jeff's tyrannical reign. Anyone who was drawn to those children's stories (who watched with baited breath as they surrounded the Branch Davidians or took the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints children into custody) will sympathize with Sarah. After all, she's just a twelve year old girl who glows after her first kiss and nearly dies of embarrassment when her period is mentioned in front of her boyfriend. Yet, she finds herself caught up in very adult situations that lead to very adult consequences. The ending is unexpected and masterfully done, as well. My only critique would be that there were moments where I found some of the dialog hollow and some of the law enforcement procedures lacking depth. Those things fall to the wayside as you flip pages, longing to uncover what will become of Sarah and her family. Suitable for mature middle-school and above for some tactful but violent scenes, I would recommend this book for inquisitive young minds and older minds as well. Though it is not necessarily historical, it helps us better understand parts of our history that have baffled many of us for decades. You can find Letters to Juniper here
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 Self-published novels are often wrought with sloppy editing, dry characters and clichéd plot lines. Tom Kelper’s The Stone Dragon luckily has none of these. Though lacking in page-turning conflict, I appreciated his poetic style and world-building depth. Set in a magical world, where dragons fly and gnomes supply a quality cup of tea, The Stone Dragon introduces us to Glimmer, the apprentice to Alma-Ata, a mage who brews more cider than spells. In the beginning Glimmer laments that he has “not a glimmer of magic,” hence his name. And, as in any great hero’s story, he longs to be more than an orphan, servant and all around disappointment. Then he sneaks a book on dream magic and everything changes. After reading the book, Glimmer dreams of a powerful dragon who seems more real than imagined. Before the animal can wreak havoc, Glimmer encases him in stone. Waking and disoriented, he comes to realize that he has imprisoned the dragon inside the stone of the inn where he resides. After a series of mental talks with the dragon, who answers in ways our young apprentice has trouble understanding, Glimmer goes on a quest with his friend the Cabbage gnome. He explores the countryside and comes across marauding thieves, healing sisters and a wise sage, all the while learning life lessons and trying to perfect the dream magic within him. Kelper is a poet and it shows through his eloquent language and beautiful descriptions. He also describes himself as a consciousness-based writer. Though I found his style though-provoking and insightful, the technique seems to overshadow the plot, which meandered. With no real antagonist to speak of, there wasn’t enough conflict to hold my attention. With Glimmer going in and out of dream, I found myself unsure of what reality was and what was in his head. That being said, I’d love to see Kelper’s sequel. With a little more practice under his belt, this author could turn into a real powerhouse. Overall, those interested in world-building fantasy and scaly, flying friends should give Kelper a try. As an ebook, the price is right. Want to buy it? Get it on Amazon
Barnes and NobleAlso, as a blogger, Kelper is making waves, winning the Versitile Blogger award twice in one week. Check out his blog here. If you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to the Underground or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 Fans of world-building fantasy have new worlds to explore in The Moon Coin by Richard Due. This young adult self-published novel boldly goes where no man or novelist has gone before. In the prologue we meet the children Lily and Jasper Winter, two exuberant children enthralled by stories told by their adventurous and eccentric uncle. Uncle Ebb brings curious toys that sail through the air as if by magic, pockets that put Mary Poppin’s carpet bag to shame and stories of dragons, merfolk and giants that are so stunningly real that Lily and Jasper can't help but wonder at their truth. Then Uncle Ebb goes missing and the real adventure begins. Lily and Jasper, along with their parents, search Uncle Ebb's home for clues to his whereabouts. His house is a veritable castle of wonders. The children visit Mr.-Fix-it, a machine with a set of arms, dozens of drawers and a program to fix whatever you set before it. They are greeted in the hallways by a group of electrimals, both fish and fowl, which flit around the house. Then Lily and Jasper find the moon coin. Lily insists on taking it home, despite Jasper’s protests. That night the moon coin magically whisks Lily away to the land of Ebb’s stories where she finds his tales all too real. She encounters giant cat-like creatures called Rinn and dragons that do prowl the night. She learns these fantastic worlds are in trouble. Can Lily and Jasper find their uncle and help save the moons he's brought to life for them? Audiences who enjoyed exploring new worlds in stories like The Chronicles of Narnia or Brian Jacque’s Redwall series will connect with Due's vivid imagination and lush new scenery. I did find myself, at times, overwhelmed by too many characters or action that was not deftly described, but I feel Due's imagination makes up for some of those short-comings. His impressive creativity brings new characters and settings to life. The beautiful artistry of Carolyn Arcabascio is a wonderful addition. Even on my black and white Nook I could tell that the illustrations are top notch and masterfully done. For $2.99 it's worth checking out Due and Arcabascio's debut. Young adults may just find themselves lost in a new and exciting world. You can find The Moon Coin on Amazon hereYou can find Richard Due here
 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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