HISTORICAL FICTION URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Devil's Bride - Mark Alder

Release Date: 10/04/20

Publisher:  Gollancz

SYNOPSIS:

The story of Julie D'Aubigny is well known. Her tumultuous childhood, her powerful lovers, her celebrated voice. Connected to most of the nobility of 17th century Paris, feted for her performance, unwilling to live by the rules of her society, she took female lovers, fought duels with noblemen and fled from city to country and back again. 

 

But now the real truth can be told. She also made a deal with the devil.  He gave her no powers or help, but he kept her alive for only one reason. To take revenge... 

 

REVIEW:

When history gives larger than life characters to the world, authors often turn their attention to them and whilst I know Julie D'Aubigny by historical reference, getting to meet the character in Marks book was not only an eye opener but presents a character that you really wish more was written about. She has some cracking traits that appeal to a modern audience which in her time were considered scandalous. Is figuratively and descriptively well rounded. Has a great sense of purpose with cracking dialogue that just trips off the page, almost as if the amalgamation was part D'Aubigny and part Mae West. 

 

The story is far ranging, really does bring this period of french history to the fore and with Marks wonderful sense of prose and pace, really gives you something that you will not only love but will have a place on your favourite shelf and is a cracker for anyone looking for something wonderful to distract them at this time.

SPIRITUAL REVIEW: Essential Oils for Beginners - Kac Young

Release Date: 08/02/20

Publisher:  Llewellyn Publications

SYNOPSIS:

This approachable guide shares the secrets to improving your health and wellness through the use of twenty essential oils specifically chosen for their versatility and practicality. Kac Young shows you how these oils can be made into cleaning products, massage oils, aromatics, aphrodisiacs, magical formulas, and more. Explore the many ways essential oils can be used for personal empowerment and well-being, such as peppermint for pain relief and rosemary for weight loss. Designed to help you enjoy essential oils throughout your life, this impressive book provides profiles for each oil, application and safety guidelines, diffusing and pairing insights, recipes, and more. A must-have resource for your bookshelf, Essential Oils for Beginners enhances spirituality, happiness, beauty, and fortitude. 

 

REVIEW:

Whilst i have used essential oils for a number of years, I've never really learned which one is meant to promote various health benefits and to aid in other area's such as your own magical practices, crafting massage oils and cleaning products. 

 

Its well crafted, explains which scents go with which and how to build on various notes on differing levels to create new scents for your own personal scents. In addition, its easy to reference, is something that is easy to thumb through and find the various sections you want and above all else is written in an easy to understand manner in order to help you learn as you go without wasting expensive materials. 

 

All round a very happy reader and one that will keep returning to this title time and again not only to check basics but in order to help build up other options for future use.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The Damned Emperor's 2: Commodus - Simon Turney

Release Date: 05/03/20

Publisher: Orion Books

SYNOPSIS:

Rome is enjoying a period of stability and prosperity. The Empire's borders are growing, and there are two sons in the imperial succession for the first time in Rome's history. But all is not as it appears. Cracks are beginning to show. Two decades of war have taken their toll, and there are whispers of a sickness in the East. The Empire stands on the brink of true disaster, an age of gold giving way to one of iron and rust, a time of reason and strength sliding into hunger and pain. The decline may yet be halted, though. One man tries to hold the fracturing empire together. To Rome, he is their emperor, their Hercules, their Commodus. But Commodus is breaking up himself, and when the darkness grips, only one woman can hold him together. To Rome she was nothing. The plaything of the emperor. To Commodus, she was everything. She was Marcia. 

 

REVIEW:

Apart from the big named emperors this is one that I do know a little about prior to reading and whilst most are familiar with the name due the gladiator film with Russell Crowe where Joaquin Phoenix played the aforementioned emperor many others draw a blank when asked as to whom he is. 

 

This title by Simon takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of a female acquaintance of Commodus through the years of growing up and one who has to learn to live in a dangerous time of Rome where one wrong word would have repercussions either through the point of a knife or more subtle means. 

 

 Its well written, really takes you into the world of ancient Rome and above all else allows you to get to know the players with in the tale so much so that you care about their fates. Back this up with solid prose, dialogue that leaps off the page and of course a story that really does draw you in all round makes this second title in Simon's Damned Emperor series a hard title to put down. I can't wait to see what Simon hits back with next, especially as at the end of this period we're about to hit the year of the five emperors, a really twisted time where no one knows where they stood and ideal fertile historical fiction material.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Camelot - Giles Kristian

Release Date:  14/05/20

Publisher: Bantam Press

SYNOPSIS:

'So beautiful, so haunting . . . bitingly real . . . Giles has given us a vital, glorious story: rich, rewarding, and utterly revealing of our times' Manda Scott 

 

Following his acclaimed Sunday Times bestseller, Lancelot, Giles Kristian's new novel returns us to the realms of Arthurian legend . . . 

 

Britain is a land riven by anarchy, slaughter, famine, filth and darkness. Its armies are destroyed, its heroes dead, or missing. Arthur and Lancelot fell in the last great battle and Merlin has not been seen these past ten years. Now, the Saxons are gathering again, their warbands stalk the land, their king seeks dominion. As for the lords and kings of Britain, they look only to their own survival and will not unite as they once did under Arthur and his legendary sword Excalibur. 

 

But in an isolated monastery in the marshes of Avalon, a novice of the order is preparing to take his vows when the life he has known is suddenly turned upside down in a welter of blood. Two strangers - the wild-spirited, Saxon-killing Iselle and the ageing warrior Gawain - will pluck the young man from the wreckage of his simple existence. Together, they will seek the last druid and the cauldron of a god. And the young man must come to terms with his legacy and fate as the son of the most celebrated yet most infamous of Arthur's warriors: Lancelot. 

 

For this is the story of Galahad, Lancelot’s son – the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive . . . 

 

REVIEW:

Im a huge fan of anything to do with the Arthurian period as well as a tale that takes me into a world that is rich in imagination and gives me top notch action alongside characters I care about. Whilst in some respects this is a revamped version of Gallahad's story, what Giles has done is present the reader with a tale that whilst keeping a lot of the elements of the original has not only a new spin but something thats brought up for the modern reader. 

 

Its dark, has some good twists and when added to Giles' writing style affords the reader cracking prose alongside top notch action which when backed with characters that you feel like you understand not only their motives but their hope and dreams thanks to the slower build up, all round generates a book that is hard to put down.

SPIRITUAL REVIEW: Llewellyn Complete Book of Reiki - Melissa Tipton

Release Date: 29/02/20

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications

SYNOPSIS:

TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH REIKI Discover the deep healing benefits of reiki and learn how to begin or advance your own practice. Llewellyn's Complete Book of Reiki shares the many ways reiki can uplift your spirit and restore your well-being. With dozens of exercises and more than 100 illustrations showing hand positions, symbols, and more, this thorough reference book is ideal for students and practitioners of every level. Within these pages, you will find helpful information and practical tips on the most important topics in reiki, including: 

 

• Vibrational Healing • Sensing Energy • Hand Positions • Symbols • Mantras • Traditional and Non-Traditional Techniques • Reiki Self-Practice • Professional Practice • Conducting Sessions • Teaching Reiki • Reiki Attunements • Reiki for Children and Pets • And More 

 

Reiki has the power to change your life from the inside out, and the more you interact with this energy, the more profound and far reaching the changes will be. This book shares insights into the many branches of reiki, helping you unlock your inner gifts for improved physical health, emotional balance, and spiritual vitality. 

 

REVIEW:

As a person who has utilised Reiki for a number of years, I love to find ways to improve my own practice and to enhance the experience not only for the recipient but also for myself as the practisioner.   This title has a great many exercises for the reader to follow, explains clearly the origin of reiki as well as how to utilise your full potential. 

 

Its written from a point of view of one who understands the practice, has a great deal of advice and is easy to follow and refer back to.    All in, as usual, from Llewellyn a title that will be used to as a reference guide time and again and is worth its weight in gold.  Cracking.

SPIRITUAL REVIEW: The Reiki Teachers Manual - Tina M Zion

Release Date: 20/01/20

Publisher: WriteLife Publishing

SYNOPSIS:

This standard-setting book is designed for students, practitioners, and teachers of Reiki--newly enhanced to enrich classes for current teachers, give new teachers confidence, and offer practitioners a greater understanding of what is actually happening during a session. This manual includes a quick reference to answer student questions, consecutive steps with time approximations, ideas for structuring hands-on practice sessions, methods to increase the power of your attunement, ways to teach attunement to others, detailed descriptions and uses for the symbols, fifteen concise and informative handouts, a list of supplies for each class, and more. 

 

REVIEW:

Whilst I'm not quite a beginner in Reiki, I've never known how to expand things so that I can help pass on what I've learned to others and that's what this title does for the reader, walking through everything from setting up being able to teach it to others but also helps you build your reputation through word of mouth and practices as a professional service. 

 

It has good business practices within, helps you hone your own skills and also allows the reader access to teaching materials that will help you in your goal. Its professional and spoken to the reader with the authority of someone who has walked this walk and come out the other side. 

 

Each reader will take various lessons away from each reading and with an easily accessible help section within alongside idea's on how to put together good handouts for your clients all round makes this a title that will be read quite a few times.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Ghost of Tsushima - Sucker Punch

Release Date:  17/07/20

Publisher: Sucker Punch

SYNOPSIS:

In the late 13th century, the mongol empire has laid waste to entire nations along their campaign to conquer the East. Tsushima island is all that stands between mainland Japan and a massive mongol invasion fleet led by the ruthless and cunning General, Khotun Khan. As the island burns in the wake of the first wave of the mongol assault, Samurai Warrior Jin Sakai stands as one of the last surviving members of his clan. He is resolved do whatever it takes, at any cost, to protect his people and reclaim his home. He must set aside the traditions that have shaped him as a Warrior to forge a new path, the path of the Ghost, and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. 

 

REVIEW:

I loved the look of this game from its very first teaser trailer that I saw and couldn't wait to give this title a go especially as it had a great studio behind it (Sucker Punch) whose other previous titles I'd had a lot of fun with.

So what does this title offer?

Well firstly and perhaps most importantly its a game that is a huge open world setting during the time of the Mongol invasion of the Japanese island of Tsushima in 1274. It has beautiful scenery, is idyllically coloured and brings a realism to the landscape that just captures your imagination.

The protagonist has flaws who in the opening sequence sees his beliefs and way of life devastated and has to find his own way in a new world that challenges him to the core in order to save his people. There are multiple twists and turns to his arc, each of which allows you to change your tactics as well as re-evaluating what you will and won't do to save your world which is then also given additional believability with a huge supporting cast of characters who each have their own back stories as well as goals throughout the game.

Each aspect adds multiple layers to draw you in as well as giving the player the chance to see how each section develops the various arcs with numerous options on tactics and combat styles and whilst I loved getting new additions the key thing I found was you could quickly be overwhelmed and hit area's of the story that you weren't quite ready for earlier than expected.

I would say to have multiple saves in case you need to go back because you hit an area too soon and encourage gamer's to fully explore the section of the world that they're in, in order to get the most of finding things such as charms, shrines and hot springs. Its worth doing as not only do you get to fully explore the beauty that this world has to offer but also affords you many opportunities to try out the unique photo mode that will have you taking multiple snaps throughout.

All in I had a lot of hours put into this and whilst I haven't fully picked up every trophy yet, I'm working on it even after the main story and the only two complaints that I had at the end of it was that I wasn't ready to finish and that I would have liked the options of other main weapons not just a katana. Don't get me wrong it was extremely well done especially when fighting duels, becoming cinematic but as a fan of pole arms I would have liked to be able to use one or even a chain weapon or two. That said, it is a really a minor gripe and for the final AA title for the PS4 its one hell of a swan song although I do wonder if they might have been better saving this for the release of the PS5.