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on December 7, 2016
Ash and her big brother, Clay, (older by a year) watched their parents starve while they refused to allow the teens to become Reapers. Now the two live in the underground Shelter because Ash signed on as a Reaper who goes out to the Shadowlands to scavenge for food, medicines or anything else that might help the survivors who live in Shelter. Scavenging is becoming scarce and the resources are being used up – even if the leadership is hiding that secret. Ash is prepared to go beyond the Horizon into the Beyond to find a solution to save her brother and her new ‘family’.
Ash gets another strong Reaper, Bernadette, to help her on her suicide quest. They do find food but they also find major trouble. As the Shadows begin to swallow them something strange occurs. They survive to struggle to a haven in the Shadowlands. The place is a refuge for all sorts of creatures, including humans although the humans are little more than slaves in this bizarre facility. There are god-like leaders -- aka controllers-- who recognize that there is something special and unique about Ash. They are willing to protect her while they figure out who or what she is but meanwhile her friend has been sold to the Traders.
Ash isn’t about to help anyone until she gets help rescuing her friend. There is another being who can help her, but he is part beast who may, or may not, be able to control himself. Despite the extreme danger he will face, Daemon agrees to take Ash to another realm where Bernadette has been taken. Daemon is soon captured and Ash must find a way to rescue him next.
I did have trouble with the beginning which is liberally peppered with the “f” word. I almost stopped at about 15% in but I am glad that I pushed through because I did enjoy the story once I managed to ignore the language. There are also liberal sexual orientations shared in the story. They are nicely and respectfully handled so I wasn’t bothered by them but their presence should be noted for those who don’t want to read about homosexual and bisexual characters.
I enjoyed the fast-pace of this story with its diverse and interesting characters. I liked all of the diverse creatures and strong characters. The world building is very good and the danger and action kept me engaged, skimming past the bad language, as I wanted to know what would happen next.
This is another title I received for free through a multi-author promotion; no obligation for review. My rating 4.25.
Ash gets another strong Reaper, Bernadette, to help her on her suicide quest. They do find food but they also find major trouble. As the Shadows begin to swallow them something strange occurs. They survive to struggle to a haven in the Shadowlands. The place is a refuge for all sorts of creatures, including humans although the humans are little more than slaves in this bizarre facility. There are god-like leaders -- aka controllers-- who recognize that there is something special and unique about Ash. They are willing to protect her while they figure out who or what she is but meanwhile her friend has been sold to the Traders.
Ash isn’t about to help anyone until she gets help rescuing her friend. There is another being who can help her, but he is part beast who may, or may not, be able to control himself. Despite the extreme danger he will face, Daemon agrees to take Ash to another realm where Bernadette has been taken. Daemon is soon captured and Ash must find a way to rescue him next.
I did have trouble with the beginning which is liberally peppered with the “f” word. I almost stopped at about 15% in but I am glad that I pushed through because I did enjoy the story once I managed to ignore the language. There are also liberal sexual orientations shared in the story. They are nicely and respectfully handled so I wasn’t bothered by them but their presence should be noted for those who don’t want to read about homosexual and bisexual characters.
I enjoyed the fast-pace of this story with its diverse and interesting characters. I liked all of the diverse creatures and strong characters. The world building is very good and the danger and action kept me engaged, skimming past the bad language, as I wanted to know what would happen next.
This is another title I received for free through a multi-author promotion; no obligation for review. My rating 4.25.
on October 26, 2016
Shadow Reaper (Shadowlands Series Book 1) by Amos Cassidy is an incredible book that had me right away. It is a fantasy that is full of twists, turns, and lots of surprises. It is not for teens, this is an adult book! It has monsters, mysteries, action, adventure, it does have sex and implied sex, (but nothing overboard), there are demon like creatures or angels? A mystery indeed. I liked this book a lot and can't wait to start book two. The plot was great and the characters were well developed. The end was complete but left opening for sooo many possibilities for many directions and many books to come, can't wait!
on April 11, 2017
The story is action filled and engaging from the start, and I really liked the story. However, there are several problems with the execution of it.
This book is written strangely—the heroine's point of view is first person, and her brother's point of view is third person. Additionally there are no chapter numbers or unique chapter headings, just the name of the point of view character. So there are many chapters headed "Ash" and the rest are headed "Clay". Of course this is unnecessary in Clay's case because his chapters are in third person, so we know whose point of view it is. In my opinion, the first person needs to be replaced with third person, and the chapter headings should be replaced with chapter numbers and/or real chapter headings.
There are several continuity issues. There are also several proofreading and grammar issues that get worse toward the end. It basically just needs another proofreading round.
Note: there are a lot of non-American English (e.g. British or Australian) words, phrases, and spellings (not errors).
Heads up: the brother is in a male/male relationship, and while there isn't much on screen "making out", it is obvious they are a couple. There is also a mildly graphic female/female sex scene.
There are a couple of aspects of the story that seem major to me but are glossed over and not explained. Perhaps in book two they will be?
There is also a mild cliffhanger ending as far as the brother is concerned.
I am looking forward to reading more about these characters and can't wait to see where the series goes. And I am tempted to look for more books by this author to read.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Kindle Scout program.
This book is written strangely—the heroine's point of view is first person, and her brother's point of view is third person. Additionally there are no chapter numbers or unique chapter headings, just the name of the point of view character. So there are many chapters headed "Ash" and the rest are headed "Clay". Of course this is unnecessary in Clay's case because his chapters are in third person, so we know whose point of view it is. In my opinion, the first person needs to be replaced with third person, and the chapter headings should be replaced with chapter numbers and/or real chapter headings.
There are several continuity issues. There are also several proofreading and grammar issues that get worse toward the end. It basically just needs another proofreading round.
Note: there are a lot of non-American English (e.g. British or Australian) words, phrases, and spellings (not errors).
Heads up: the brother is in a male/male relationship, and while there isn't much on screen "making out", it is obvious they are a couple. There is also a mildly graphic female/female sex scene.
There are a couple of aspects of the story that seem major to me but are glossed over and not explained. Perhaps in book two they will be?
There is also a mild cliffhanger ending as far as the brother is concerned.
I am looking forward to reading more about these characters and can't wait to see where the series goes. And I am tempted to look for more books by this author to read.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Kindle Scout program.
on April 8, 2017
For the most part, I enjoyed this story. Humans battling for survival in a world where paranormal creatures have taken over. It revolves around human twins: Ash and Clay. I'm thinking there is some symbolism in the names, that they somehow are more than they seem, and have something to do with the earth itself and have even greater powers than the ones mentioned in this story. But, if so, that was not revealed here.
The world is well-defined and the characters well-developed. Each realm and the creatures living there were unique and vividly described. Ash, a kick-ass girl hero, who has the hots for just about everyone she meets, sets out to find a way to save her people from eventual starvation. Her brother, Clay, on the other hand, has eyes for one one person, but that person betrays him. Clay's true bond is with his twin, Ash.
What I didn't like was all the sexual references: sex and near sex in just about every possible combination. M/F, M/M, F/F, human/non-human, and even someone with a sex change. Yup, gotta get them all in there so no one feels left out. The story would have been just as good, and even better, without all of that.
I received a copy of this book through the Kindle Scout program.
The world is well-defined and the characters well-developed. Each realm and the creatures living there were unique and vividly described. Ash, a kick-ass girl hero, who has the hots for just about everyone she meets, sets out to find a way to save her people from eventual starvation. Her brother, Clay, on the other hand, has eyes for one one person, but that person betrays him. Clay's true bond is with his twin, Ash.
What I didn't like was all the sexual references: sex and near sex in just about every possible combination. M/F, M/M, F/F, human/non-human, and even someone with a sex change. Yup, gotta get them all in there so no one feels left out. The story would have been just as good, and even better, without all of that.
I received a copy of this book through the Kindle Scout program.
on January 16, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Kindle Scout for my support during the book's campaign. I enjoyed reading this book and couldn't wait to continue reading when I had to do other things! The book is told by two different people's point of view. It is told in the points of view of Ash and Clay (mostly Ash). These two are twin bother and sister who are trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Ash is a reaper. Reapers are the people that go to the surface and tries to find supplies for their fellow humans, who live in a bunker. Her brother Clay is a maintenance tech who tries to keep up the technology in the bunker the best he can.
Grab this book I loved it.
Grab this book I loved it.
on February 2, 2017
This book was good. I love to meet new characters and new worlds. Ash, Daemon, Avery, Cal, and Clay are all great characters in their own way. I think the Shadowlands and the Cusp are all very exciting new places and worlds. I was exciting to learn more about Inferno as well. The author has done a great job with world building and this book at the beginning kind of reminded my of the movie "Maze Runner", just a bit. This was a great book I won on Kindle Scout! I am glad to see it doing well. Great job Amos Cassidy! I would read more of this series to find out what happens next.
on September 5, 2016
WOW!!! I was pulled in from the beginning! Amos Cassidy has created a post-apocalyptic paranormal world where human are low on the totem pole and monsters are real. A world where humans are struggling, and most don't even realize how bad off they really are. Ashling and Clay are twins, opposites, that are surviving together. Ashling is a no-nonsense, kick-#ss girl. She finds out just how desperate her colonies situation is and decides to take off on her own, to the Beyond. She finds out things aren't exactly what they've always been told, and neither is she. Can she save her friends, her colony, herself? The only problem is that the book ended waaaaayyyy too soon! I really need book 2 right now!
I nominated this book on Kindle Scout and received a free copy since it was selected. And I am so glad I did!!!
I nominated this book on Kindle Scout and received a free copy since it was selected. And I am so glad I did!!!
on September 1, 2016
It's was an amazing fast read. It was told from an alternation viewpoints of twin brother and sister. It was different from the usual books where the alternate pov is generally a love interest. You love how Ash is always ready to fight for what she belt ices in and never gives up. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
on September 2, 2016
I am conflicted on how to review this book. I first thought to give it 3 stars but on second thought it was fairly entertaining once i skimmed over in some parts of it, so I stuck with 4 stars.
The book is told by two different people's point of view which was fine to me. It is told in the points of view of Ash and Clay (mostly Ash). These two are twin bother and sister who are trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Years before something happened and made it to where Earth is devastated and humanity is hiding from various creatures. Ash is a reaper. Reapers are the people that go to the surface and tries to find supplies for their fellow humans, who live in a bunker. Her brother Clay is a maintenance tech who tries to keep up the technology in the bunker the best he can.
About halfway through the book something happens that really made a lot of the characters you initially meet become of little importance. This event changes a lot of the feel of the book but I did not mind that at all. I understood the reasoning for it and quite liked that it happened.
There is not really much romance in this book. There is random sex scenes and to be honest a lot more of that then I felt that was needed. Quite a bit of the book seemed to be related to sex for some reason. Not everything is explained in detail but body parts are named. I personally didn't mind that but I rather when books allow you to make up your mind as to what is going on and not explain it. There also seemed to be no reason some of the scenes were there but this is more a warning that they are there for those that might not want to read a book with them in it.
All in all I really did enjoy the book and will probobly look for the next one once its out. It does end on a bit of a cliff hanger so that you will go after the next book to figure out what is happening but I have my theories.
This is the first book I've read of this author(s). I got this book via amazon scout for being one of the ones that nominated this book.
p.s. I think I finally figured out the issue I had with the sex part of the book. Most of it seemed to be purely for sex and no other reason. I know a lot of people have sex just for sex but it was a bit weird to see it in a book I guess.
The book is told by two different people's point of view which was fine to me. It is told in the points of view of Ash and Clay (mostly Ash). These two are twin bother and sister who are trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Years before something happened and made it to where Earth is devastated and humanity is hiding from various creatures. Ash is a reaper. Reapers are the people that go to the surface and tries to find supplies for their fellow humans, who live in a bunker. Her brother Clay is a maintenance tech who tries to keep up the technology in the bunker the best he can.
About halfway through the book something happens that really made a lot of the characters you initially meet become of little importance. This event changes a lot of the feel of the book but I did not mind that at all. I understood the reasoning for it and quite liked that it happened.
There is not really much romance in this book. There is random sex scenes and to be honest a lot more of that then I felt that was needed. Quite a bit of the book seemed to be related to sex for some reason. Not everything is explained in detail but body parts are named. I personally didn't mind that but I rather when books allow you to make up your mind as to what is going on and not explain it. There also seemed to be no reason some of the scenes were there but this is more a warning that they are there for those that might not want to read a book with them in it.
All in all I really did enjoy the book and will probobly look for the next one once its out. It does end on a bit of a cliff hanger so that you will go after the next book to figure out what is happening but I have my theories.
This is the first book I've read of this author(s). I got this book via amazon scout for being one of the ones that nominated this book.
p.s. I think I finally figured out the issue I had with the sex part of the book. Most of it seemed to be purely for sex and no other reason. I know a lot of people have sex just for sex but it was a bit weird to see it in a book I guess.
