The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses

The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A captivating and poetic tale of mystery, fantasy, and reality tied together by action

This is the first book by K.N. Smith that I have read and I’m pleased to see that it’s the first in a series because I was amazed at the development of the story, the subtext, and the characters and I am interested to see how it all progresses.
What makes this book particularly fascinating is the manner in which the community in which the characters exist is itself a living, conscious entity. In this respect, the book has a strong fantasy element to it. Yet, contrasted against the fantastical elements is a realism which pits the idyllic against the criminal and the fantasy against grim reality.
There is a wonderful interplay of disparate, contrasting elements which play out on two levels: within the minds of the characters and within the world surrounding them. The writer makes great use of backstories and subtext to lend depth, subtlety, and mystery to the unfolding of the story as it vacillates from surreality to reality. This constant interplay is echoed in the lives of the characters as they struggle to balance their newfound powers with the need to maintain life on a mundane level.
Additionally, the writer introduces poetic elements into the narrative, placing the story into a mythical context, each of the characters’ actions being a response to Fate as they struggle to reach a balance between the demands of normalcy and the pull of destiny. The entire story is neatly woven together in an unpredictable manner and is driven by well executed action sequences, intriguing backstories, and dialogue which lend believably and relatability to the characters and situations.
I would recommend this book to readers of fantasy, mystery, and even fans of certain kinds of comic books which explore how the introduction of new powers or abilities put pressures upon those who acquire them to undergo intensive personal transformations in order to accommodate the responsibilities these entail. Five stars.

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The Wretched Walls (Kindle Edition)

 A decent into madness...hits the reader like a sledgehammer., February 17, 2015

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This review is from: The Wretched Walls (Kindle Edition)

Well written psychological horror. My favorite work by Brian Kaufman. It's rather clever, funny in some places--which balances out its darker aspects. It's dynamic, believable, and creepy. I recommend it to readers of HP Lovecraft, fans of Bate's Motel, and those who read the author's other works. There's plenty to enjoy here.

GRACE OF THE MONARCHS & HER MIRACULOUS JOURNEY (Kindle Edition)

 A transcendent, transformative allegory about life, death, and the evolution of a  

This review is from: GRACE OF THE MONARCHS & HER MIRACULOUS JOURNEY (Kindle Edition)

This book can be taken as allegory, speculative fiction, and a philosophical thought experiment. It uses a powerful narrative device--that of consciousness as experienced through the perspective of a butterfly--to put human life into a broader, transcendent context. It confronts the reader with basic and sometimes uncomfortable questions about the purpose of life and death. The reader is taken on a journey alongside Grace as she experiences the remarkable contrast between the seemingly simple life trajectory of a butterfly and the apparent complexity of a lawyer's life. Grace's expectations are turned inside out as the narrative guides the reader though the trials and tribulations of a troubled soul's self-awakening.

Downhill (Kindle Edition)

 A new twist on the zombie genre, December 29, 2015

 

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This review is from: Downhill (Kindle Edition)

Great short story. Humorous and original. Author builds suspense and takes story into an unexpected place at the end. I would consider it to be dark satire, somewhat Kafkaesque. I will definitely look into the author's other work. Five stars because it is a solid work of short fiction. Fans of The Walking Dead will enjoy this one.

Parabo (Kindle Edition)

 If you like a large dose of black humor with your horror then this is for you., January 7, 2016

 

This review is from: Parabo (Kindle Edition)

This is an enjoyable read and I'm glad to see that it's part of a series. I'll be following this author to see how this one develops. If you like a large dose of black humor with your horror, then this is for you. I'm a fan of The Evil Dead and related types of cult horror flicks and this book has that same vibe. It's not too serious but the horror aspect is still terrifying. The characters and dialogue well done here and the plot goes into some unexpected direction. Five Stars.

Driving Grandpa (Kindle Edition)

 An enjoyable, poignant read with great dialogue and lots of heart, 

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This review is from: Driving Grandpa (Kindle Edition)

This book hooked me from the very beginning because of how relatable its characters are. The dialogue between the man and his grandfather is lighthearted but also soulful. The writer effortlessly blends the events taking place with back stories and flashbacks, providing depth and believability to the situations and characters.

There is a lot of humor, nostalgia, and love throughout the narrative. I found it easy to get lost in the anecdotes and back stories of Grandpa's life and was hooked until the end.

Winner Takes All: An Anamorphous Tale About Origins, Aliens and Time

 Wow. This is an intriguing, mind bending and deep!y philosophic  

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This review is from: Winner Takes All: An Anamorphous Tale About Origins, Aliens and Time (Kindle Edition)

This is a fast paced but highly focused story which covers a lot of geographical , chronological, historical, and intellectual territory. It takes place against a backdrop of historical events and involves historical personages as it explores the hidden influences driving humanities progress throughout time. The author weaves together elements as disparate as synchronicity, aliens, serial reincarnation, spiritual evolution, suppressed archaeology, and psychology. The narrative, despite the complexity of the subject matter, is solid and very readable.

If you're someone who enjoys fringe conspiracy, new age thought, and Jungian psychology, then this book is for you. I haven't enjoyed a book in this genre this much since Robert Anton Wilson's The Illuminatus Trilogy. It has depth, action, romance, and intrigue. Best of all, it takes place in historical settings and shines a light into some very deep and dark rabbit holes.

I had no idea where it was going to wind up and the pace of the story and its many permutations kept me hooked to the end. Five Stars. Definitely an author to follow.

: Mindset: Unlock The Miracles Of Your Mind: A Powerful Approach To Build A Positive Mindset And Achieve Success In Life And Business

 Solid, actionable advice, January 19, 2016

 

This review is from: Mindset: Unlock The Miracles Of Your Mind: A Powerful Approach To Build A Positive Mindset And Achieve Success In Life And Business (Positive Thinking, ... Help, Self Esteem, Millionaire Mindset) (Kindle Edition)

Writing down goals is something we all know is a good idea but this book breaks the process down into micro and macro goal setting. This strategy alone makes the book worth your time but the author goes further and proffers tips, tactics, and even a few web apps which make the strategies within even more actionable.

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Holistic Microneedling: The Manual of Natural Skin Needling

 A complete guide for the professional and layperson, January 21, 2016

 

This review is from: Holistic Microneedling: The Manual of Natural Skin Needling (Kindle Edition)

This book expounds upon three core principles for technicians and those seeking knowledge about natural skin needling. This contains everything you need to know on the subject as someone considering this holistic, natural skin treatments and it also goes in depth for the professional. If you have any questions about skin needling, you'll find answers, diagrams, and clearly written explanations of every facet if the process.

If you're new to natural skin needling, you will learn how and why it works, the way the techniques are performed, and whether it's right for you. You'll learn about the origins of micro needling, it's historical angecexents , and where it is headed into the future.

You'll learn about the tools, the lexicon, and the difference between natural skin need!ing and other forms of skin treatment. The book is well organized and the information is well researched and is fully referenced for those who want to go deeper. Even though it's a technical manual, the writing is crystal clear and easy to understand.

Additionally, the author has made other resources available in the back for the professional and for technician in training. There are far more applications for natural skin needling that I was aware of and I completed the book with my knowledge on the subject of holistic skin care greatly expanded.

I highly recommend this for ANYONE concerned with holistic health.

From Your Street to Wall Street

 Everything you need to know to become an a Investor, January 21, 2016

This review is from: From Your Street to Wall Street (Kindle Edition)

If you've always wanted to know how to make your money work for you then this book is an excellent primer. The subject is notoriously complex and difficult to penetrate for the layperson but this book makes it easy to understand and the knowledge is simple to implement.

It's written with the beginner in mind and starts off with a financial self assessment. It carefully explains the subject in an orderly fashion with each lesson built upon the previous one so that by the end, the reader will have a solid grasp of what it takes to become an investor and why one should.

It explores the risks and rewards giving the reader a clear idea of what to expect when speaking with a stock broker for the first time. The book contains a glossary of need to know terminology and it contains several self tests to ensure the reader doesn't miss any important concepts.

The subject could easily be dense and dry but the author avoids this by writing within an amusing narrative to give the information context, making the book into an effective teaching tool. I would recommend it for teachers, parents, and anyone concerned with their long term financial health.

Levant Fever: True stories from Syria's underground

 A shocking look into the brutal nature of sectarian intolerance and state violence,January 23, 2016

By 

lars Jackson

This review is from: Levant Fever: True stories from Syria's underground (Kindle Edition)

This is a real life account of personal tragedy and eventual triumph which takes the reader into the darkest dungeons of man's inhumanity to man. It is a shocking account of a life caught in the tremendously callous and wasteful cycle of incarceration for what amounts to thought crime, resulting in years of isolation, terror, torture, humiliation , and loss.

Trapped in a ruthless, Kafkaesque netherworld, the author navigates his own political and philosophical positions in the face of brute, unthinking force. Reduced to a number, he nonetheless maintains his self ownership within his own mind and his own recollections of a comparatively idyllic youth as his life is stolen from him day by day, year to year.

Throughout his ordeals, he never loses touch with his empathy as reavealed by his relationships with others who suffer alongside him. He shares their stories along with his own, demonstrating a solidarity with and love for his fellow man, which I believe is the trait which was the determinate factor in his mental, emotional, and physical survival.

It's a profoundly moving and revealing testimony to universality of the good and evil aspects of human nature.

 From start to finish, apocalyptic scifi-horror done right., January 24, 2016

This review is from: Arachnohazard (Kindle Edition)

If you're a fan of old school horror flicks then you'll love this book. It was like "Arachnophobia" crossed with Hitchcock's "The Birds". The science behind the horrific mutations is plausible which makes the story even better. Aside from the plague of winged spiders ( highly intelligent winged spiders it should be added), the human element is a big part of the narrative which adds another layer of depth and believability to the story.

The writing itself is descriptive with a keen sense of timing, maintaining a sense of urgency and tension from beginning to end. The plot twists might better be described as plot mutations, taking the reader into original new territory yet remaining true to all the expectations one would have for this genre of fiction. The depictions of action and violence drive the story's pace forward, keeping the reader uncertain as the outcome remains unpredictable until the end.

The back stories are solid and the characters are well developed and distinctive. The illustrations and unique fonts are nice embellishments. I would recommend it to people who enjoyed Max Brooks' World War Z and to fans of B-horror movies.

Violent, apocalyptic fun.

Violent, apocalyptic fun.

 

Very entertaining, fast paced novella. As a reader of H.P. Lovecraft and a zombie genre aficionado, this was right up my alley.

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