Can you imagine a mother telling her young child she hates him and he has ruined her life? How much pain must be inside that woman for it to boil out like that and why? James tried to be good, to not be a burden to his mother, but it never seemed to matter. He isn’t the best kid in the world and he isn’t the worst. He is average, like most of us. Join James as he enters anther world where the land of Average needs a new king and off he goes to take the throne. Accompanying him are a scapegoat, an optimist and a pessimist. Those he meets along the way will aid him in his journey to come to love himself just as he is, a special boy with value.

The King of Average by Gary Schwartz will bring you to tears as one lonely and sad little boy searches for somewhere to fit in, where he is wanted and loved. His journey is of self-discovery and learning to have self-worth and to believe he can do anything he wants, if he takes the time to work for it. Meet the quirky characters of this new land, and see the lessons James is taught, designed to empower him and gain self-respect.

Words and phrases we all know and use become living beings who teach James the meaning of who they are. What a wonderful way to add depth and understanding to a child’s vocabulary while gifting them with meeting a young boy who may just feel like them sometimes. Beautifully written, in a style perfect to ensure a young reader is hooked on books, the value in the lessons and understandings taught is priceless. If after reading this, one child learns to feel better about themself, then Gary Schwartz deserves the title Real Hero! Be a hero yourself, read this, give it to a young child to read or share it at bedtime together. Talk about it, get to know how a child interprets what they read, give them the gift of self-awareness and the ability to express what they feel without feeling threatened.

Middlegrade reading doesn’t get any better than this.

I received this ARC copy from Gary Schwartz in exchange for my honest review.

Does power always corrupt? Is the road of good intentions really a deadend street? A second sun had appeared ages before, but why? Was it a sign from a higher power, a sign of the apocalypse that came? The Second sun is worshipped, but is it deserved? One girl and her best friend are non-believers, Violina is ostracized, bullied and targeted, leaving her to hide out, disillusioned with the world, its powerful government and the believers in the power of the second sun saving the world. Along with her best friend, Lux, these teens are determined to find the truth behind the apocalypse, knowing it could never be what the world believed, and her journey is one of twisted events, supernatural beings, time travel and death. When their journey is over, will they discover the truth behind the state of their world?

Traveling back in time Violina finds that deceit and human cruelty is alive and well in all times. Are her dreams of a perfect world just that, dreams that can never come true? Will she never find a world where she is accepted for herself, where all are created equal? Is it true that changing the time line is impossible and that dabbling in trying to direct events could make things worse, no matter the intent?

Inevitable Ascension by V.K. Mc Allister is NOT just another YA dark fantasy written in a post-apocalyptic and dystopian world. It is the tale of one teen who dreamed of acceptance and a world filled with joy. With veiled references to religious names, events as well as science fiction elements, there is a depth to this entertaining read that will have you thinking long after the last page.

Ms. McAllister knows how to create intrigue, and hide the final outcome while giving the reader a chance to question the actions of Violina and Lux. Will you agree? Understand? Who knows? Not to worry, you are not entering a dry read, get ready for rapid fire action, battle and the friendship and bond between two girls that is laced with humor, charm and wit! Completely likable, a little quirky and filled with heart, Violina and Lux are a team to root for. Are they slightly misguided or brilliant beyond the sheep-like followers that follow blindly.

Evil rears its head, magical elements give immortality, and sometimes the lines between heroes and anti-heroes becomes completely smudged.
If you read for entertainment, this is an excellent choice, want to play the read-between- the-lines game, here you go! Looking for something fresh from a strong voice in the literary world whose imagination is sharp and active? Pick up Inevitable Ascension by V.K. McAllister, you will NOT be sorry!

I received this copy from V.K. McAllister in exchange for my honest review.

“They say I’m half a demon, but I like to think of myself as half human, especially as the demons want me dead.”

Charlie Henderson is living a lie. Her real name is Muse and her attempt at a normal life is about to go up in smoke.

When a half-demon assassin walks into her life, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, Muse must return to the one man she hoped never to see again and ask for help. The Prince of Greed isn’t known for his charity. The price is high and the cost could tear her apart.

Trapped between the malevolent intentions of a Prince of Hell, an assassin with ulterior motives and her bloodthirsty demon-kin, Muse must embrace the lure of chaos at her core; the demon inside her, in order to survive.

If your ex is the Prince of Greed, you’d better be ready to raise hell.

Beyond The Veil by Pippa DaCosta

Half demon, half human hybrid Charlie has lived her life as a slave to Demon kind. With a price on her head, her only benefactor has been the Demon Prince of Greed. She finds herself on a run with hell hounds hot on her trail. Rescued by another half breed, Charlie discovers lies and betrayal come at a devastating cost.

I was very excited to read this new Urban Fantasy, Beyond the Veil. Awesome cover, excellent synopsis, it had all the makings of an incredible read. Quite honestly, I was 100% on board for the first 50% of the book but then it started to take some unusual turns that just didn’t work. I’m all for twisty, turning plots but these changes gave it a scattered feeling which inevitably ripped my connection right out of the story.

Great premise, excellent start, but unsure of the plot direction, I’m willing to give book 2 a shot to see where it leads.

I received this copy of Beyond The Veil from Victory Editing in exchange for a honest review.