Another distraction for us paranormal booklovers by Juniper Grove book solutions!
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Title: Dysus Dreamer
Author: J.A. Garland
Published: July 1st, 2013
Publisher: Burst Books
Word Count: 70,000
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content Warning: Contains violence and minor adult language.
Recommended Age: 18+
Synopsis: Demon warrior, Slade Aesus, is determined to destroy the werewolves controlling his cousin. But a beautiful elf, consumed by her own vengeance, finds the wolves first. Botching her assassination attempt, Annwyn has the most powerful Packs in the world biting at her heels. Both fiercely independent, can the two join forces long enough to fulfill their missions and stay alive?
About the Author:
Writing under the pen name, J.A. Garland, Jennifer is a full time firefighter in the state of California
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog
Excerpt from Dysus Dreamer by J.A. Garland:
A solid assassination operation takes one part opportunity, two parts discipline, and three parts disposition. Having two out of three this chilly Seattle
Parked in front of a solitary office building, in the zone clearly marked “No Parking,” Slade cleared his mind of distractions consisting of the little here and there that could creep in and throw him off, just a hair, but enough to jeopardize his mission. Satisfied, he slid out of the rental car and re-tucked a stylish black golf shirt monogrammed with “Constantine Vineyards” into a pair of crisp, steel gray slacks. In this particular scenario, image was crucial.
Tonight, the element discipline presented itself by his waiting for the precise moment to strike. He made a living analyzing people and their habits, so he knew his targets relaxed around the holidays and were less likely to see the danger lurking behind his smiling façade. The current festivity du jour was Christmas, and coupled with his gift, destined Slade a popular man. I'm counting on it.
He moved around to the trunk, where he heaved free a slatted, wooden case. It smelled of musky oak. The peaceful scent hinted at candlelit dinners shared with a long time lover. His jaw clenched. Not in my past and not in my future.
Slade lugged his precious cargo toward the sprawling metal office building. Immense, the structure stabbed farther into the heavens than any other in the area, yet fell short. Just like my target. Outwardly, Joe Larsen appeared a dedicated family man, a real pillar of the community whose flourishing internet and telecommunications business, ProCom, employed hundreds. In reality, the werewolf belonged to the Dirty Dozen, a group of the twelve most ruthless wolf Packs roaming the earth.
How ironic. I was once your target. A year ago, the Dozen kidnapped his cousin Amber, a half-demon, half-human. Able to keep a shifter from shifting, Amber's ability proved irresistible, since more times than not, the Dozen's meetings devolved into an unproductive, fur-flying brawl. We saved Amber, but left behind some unfinished business. Starting with Larsen, the wolves would learn a lesson...a demon’s memory rivals the most scorned woman, and paybacks were indeed a bitch.
Parked in front of a solitary office building, in the zone clearly marked “No Parking,” Slade cleared his mind of distractions consisting of the little here and there that could creep in and throw him off, just a hair, but enough to jeopardize his mission. Satisfied, he slid out of the rental car and re-tucked a stylish black golf shirt monogrammed with “Constantine Vineyards” into a pair of crisp, steel gray slacks. In this particular scenario, image was crucial.
Tonight, the element discipline presented itself by his waiting for the precise moment to strike. He made a living analyzing people and their habits, so he knew his targets relaxed around the holidays and were less likely to see the danger lurking behind his smiling façade. The current festivity du jour was Christmas, and coupled with his gift, destined Slade a popular man. I'm counting on it.
He moved around to the trunk, where he heaved free a slatted, wooden case. It smelled of musky oak. The peaceful scent hinted at candlelit dinners shared with a long time lover. His jaw clenched. Not in my past and not in my future.
Slade lugged his precious cargo toward the sprawling metal office building. Immense, the structure stabbed farther into the heavens than any other in the area, yet fell short. Just like my target. Outwardly, Joe Larsen appeared a dedicated family man, a real pillar of the community whose flourishing internet and telecommunications business, ProCom, employed hundreds. In reality, the werewolf belonged to the Dirty Dozen, a group of the twelve most ruthless wolf Packs roaming the earth.
How ironic. I was once your target. A year ago, the Dozen kidnapped his cousin Amber, a half-demon, half-human. Able to keep a shifter from shifting, Amber's ability proved irresistible, since more times than not, the Dozen's meetings devolved into an unproductive, fur-flying brawl. We saved Amber, but left behind some unfinished business. Starting with Larsen, the wolves would learn a lesson...a demon’s memory rivals the most scorned woman, and paybacks were indeed a bitch.
Book Review
As a
Juniper Grove Books host, I was asked to submit an honest review of Dysus
Dreamer and was sent a copy of J. A. Garland’s story in mobi format. For those
of you who have read the About me
page of this blog, you know I have decided not to submit a review for a book I
do not like; I prefer to contact the author and let them know how I feel about
their story and why, maybe making one or two suggestions and always stating
that the fact that I’m not the right person to review their story does not
really mean anything.
Thankfully,
this was not a problem with Dysus Dreamer. Even from the first page, I realized
I was going to enjoy reading it.
But let me
explain this:
What I liked about the book:
-Definitely
the beginning. You know me; the first pages of the book really matter! And with
J. A. Garland’s story, you can’t put the book away once you start reading it.
-The way
she blended the two different worlds in her story: the plot unravels in two
different levels that eventually meet and... sorry! I can’t reveal more about
this if I am to submit a spoiler-free review.
-The action
scenes. I have only one word to describe them: breathtaking! It was like I was
watching them on screen!
-The
unpredictable turn of events in the end and in the way some of the characters
evolved... I would love to write more about it but you’re going to have to read
the story.
-Last but
not least: Slade...
What I would change:
-This one
has nothing to do with the book. It’s about me: next time I decide to submit a
review I should keep in mind never to
skip reading book one of the series. It is not fair to the story. Dysus Dreamer
can be a standalone but I really had to read certain pages twice and really
carefully to keep up with the events and the background of the plot.
-The
paragraphs that reveal the characters’ inner thoughts to the reader could also
include Anwyn, one of the main characters whose role is crucial throughout the
story. As a reader, I really wondered how she felt about Slade and if she felt
the same for him.
- The
villains’ inner thoughts confused me at some points: they sounded too good,
their actions too justified. Was it the writer’s intention to show that
sometimes there is a rationale behind evil? That no one is really evil but
simply has no option? I wonder... (If this is so, please consider this
paragraph as the last one of the What I
liked part. Maybe the writer can enlighten us about it!)
My rating:
4/5 hearts!
Giveaway Details:
There is an international tour wide giveaway. Up for grabs is a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
Keep being distracted by reading,
Urania
Thank you for reading Dysus Dreamer, I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. As to your question about good and evil, well, I think it's human nature to deep down believe you are doing the right thing, for you. It doesn't matter if your motive is good or bad, the stronger your conviction, the stronger and more relatable your character. My bad guys all feel justified in being evil, they have a reason, no matter how selfish or unfounded. I believe this gives them validity, makes them a stronger antagonist, because they rationalize they are right. If they were evil, just to be evil, I don't think they'd be as realistic. Everyone has a shred of justification for their actions, no matter how horrendous, or twisted.
ReplyDeleteHi J.A.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining my distractions and for taking the time to explain what the rationale behind the "villain's" character and actions is.
The best of luck to Dysus Dreamer and to all your projects.