The Book: Creating Fate

The Author: Rachel Firasek

The Story: She gave away her heart.

Giving her heart to a mortal wasn’t something the First Fate planned. Losing him nearly shattered her soul. Upon his death, Clotho swore never to love—or weave life—again. Hoping she’ll change her mind before it’s too late, Zeus commands the spinner of life to take a much needed vacation from her immortal responsibilities.

He had to hide his.

Dane is close to cracking the drug ring he’s spent the last two years infiltrating, but needs to perform one last heist to meet the head man and prevent an impending war. An undercover agent, he’s now on the run from drug lords, thieves and with the very woman whose tears make him forget his purpose.
Together they’ll find a way back from the dark.

Chloe will have to put her trust a man she believes is like the ones that killed her fiance, or face an eternity on Earth. Without the desire for life, hope could slip through the cracks of time if he doesn’t love away her sorrow.

Review by Ria Boulay: I’m always on the lookout for great short reads, which can be hard to find. It’s not easy to pack a full size story into a novella and make it all work, but Creating Fate masters that effortlessly. A classic novella, combining tight writing with an interesting twist on the Greek Fates mythology, it’s the perfect read for when you don’t have time for a 300 page novel, and it’s a re-read keeper for the Kindle book shelf.

The story flows and keeps your attention, teasing just enough of the other Fates’ stories in the mix to grab your interest in the next two books in the Unspun series, Chasing Fate (Elle Rossi) and Stealing Fate (Berinn Rae).

Character development was well done, you have an excellent sense of who Chloe and Dane are. I’ve read so many Greek mythology stories that I’m a bit burned out on the era, and frankly hesitated with this one only because I thought the genre is overdone. As “Fate” would have it, I was completely wrong, which just goes to show you that a talented author can take over worked material and make magic with it.

Review by Wendy Cartmell: Giving her heart to a mortal wasn’t something the First Fate planned. Losing him nearly shattered her soul. Upon his death, Clotho swore never to love–or weave life–again. Hoping she’ll change her mind before it’s too late, Zeus commands the spinner of life to take a much needed vacation from her immortal responsibilities.
Dane is close to cracking the drug ring he’s spent the last two years infiltrating, but needs to perform one last heist to meet the head man and prevent an impending war. An undercover agent, he’s now on the run from drug lords, thieves and with the very woman whose tears make him forget his purpose. (Author description)

Creating Fate is a light, easy, enjoyable read. I loved Chloe and the man she stumbles into, Dane. Their relationship plays out under the tension of being pursued by criminals. At first Chloe thinks Dane is no better than those perusing them, but he is not all he seems to be on the surface.

The criminal element is secondary to the relationship, which is the way it should be, I believe, with the emphasis being on the conflict between Chloe and Dane and Chloe and her father and stepmother. The author makes it easy to be transported into the world of the Greek Gods and the whole story is viable and interesting.

I read this in a couple of very enjoyable sittings, the author does a great job of creating and maintaining the two worlds. I’m hooked and look forward to the remaining two parts and reading more by Rachael Firasek.

The Book: Death Sight

The Author: David Bain

The Story: Hospitalized after drowning during a rescue attempt, newly graduated U.S. Marshal Will Castleton is besieged by visions of a hulking executioner torturing a bound man. A perilous race against time leaves Will broken, unsure if he even wants to join the marshals.

Escaping to his Michigan hometown, Will finds his father dying, a young woman’s ghost desperate to communicate with him, and a biker kingpin out to make a statement by taking out local law enforcement’s golden boy.

DEATH SIGHT is the first novel in the Will Castleton series, mixing crime and the supernatural. For a glimpse of Will’s future, check out THE CASTLETON FILES, featuring five adventures from diverse points throughout Will’s career.

Review by Horror Nerd: Mr. Bain’s ‘Slightly Psychic’ detective Will Castleton is back in Death Sight. The first Will Castleton novel serves as an origin tale that shed’s light on the enigmatic lead character from ‘Island Ghosts: A Will Castleton Adventure’ and ‘The Castleton Files’.

Mr. Bain brings the goods once again in this dark gritty tale of a damaged man coming to terms with the changes in his life and within himself. Fans of the previous Castleton stories will feel right at home here and like me quickly sink into Castleton’s world of loss, murder, and the supernatural.

It’s great to see the author get a chance to expand the title character and give the reader insight into his past. Mr. Bain’s writing is crisp and detailed throughout. Castleton’s visions are twisted and nightmarish and the author brings them to life with ease.

If you enjoyed the author’s previous works, I recommend ‘Death Sight’ as a must read.