"THESE NAMELESS THINGS" BY SHAWN SMUCKER

"These Nameless Things" by Shawn Smucker

Synopsis:

"Before Dan opened his door to find a wounded woman who had escaped from the tormentors in the mountain, his life had become rather quiet. He and the eight other people in the mostly abandoned town had become friends. They spent peaceful evenings around the campfire and even made vague plans to journey east one day and leave the ominous mountain behind.

But the woman's arrival changes everything. Who is she? How does she know so much about Dan's brother, who is still held captive in the mountain? Why are long-forgotten memories rising to the surface? And why does Dan feel so compelled to keep her presence in his house a secret?"

My Review:

"These Nameless Things" is the first book I've ever read by this author, and to be honest, its cover is what initially sparked my interest in reading it, partnered with the fact that it's been labeled a Christian mystery/suspense/thriller -- a genre combination I love. Not knowing much about this book before reading it, I didn't really know what to expect, and my initial thoughts were along the lines of... What in the world is going on here!? This feeling stuck with me throughout most of this book.

"These Nameless Things" is very mysterious and thought-provoking, where every question answered leads to more questions. In an atmosphere that is quite eerie, filled with utter despair and hopelessness, it carries a strong message of forgiveness and finding light in the darkest of places.

I'm really on the fence with rating this book 3 or 4 stars, my reason being that although I enjoyed reading this book, I feel that its pacing is a bit slow, with most things super drawn out, and its ending seems too rushed, leaving many unanswered questions. I can't say much about this without spoiling the book.

My ⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Note: I received a copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for my reviewing it, for which I am very grateful.

Credits: The book cover and synopsis seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.  

"ASTRAY" BY J.F. ROGERS

"Astray" by J. F. Rogers

Synopsis:

After a lifetime with no knowledge of her parents, troubled seventeen-year-old Fallon Webb receives a necklace once belonging to her mother. The amulet leads her on a life-changing journey through a portal to a foreign land where she encounters unusual creatures, shape-shifters, and something she’s always longed for—family.

In Ariboslia, Fallon learns her mother is alive. Vampire-like creatures have her, and many others, captive. Most distressing is the prophecy that devastated her family. Can she trust it? Because if it’s right, Fallon must destroy the vampires’ leader—her uncle—to rescue her mother and free her people from the threat.

Unprepared and afraid, Fallon sets out on the journey, with no skills to assist her quest and no other way home. In her travels, she learns about the One True God and how desperately she needs Him. Perhaps, with His help, she’ll find a way to fulfill her destiny and stay alive.

My Review:

I love love love this book! It is now a favorite of mine in the fantasy fiction genre…

"Astray" is the first book of the Ariboslia series. The fantasy elements in this book remind me of: "The Chronicles of Narnia”—with characters stepping through a portal between the human realm and a realm where magical settings, beings, and creatures exist; and “The Lord of the Rings”—influenced by folklore, mythology, and the Christian bible, with a selected group of characters sent on a quest to save the world from evil forces.

What appears to be her debut novel, "Astray" reveals its author’s amazing imagination and storytelling abilities. Something I really enjoyed is the way she uses comparative descriptions that are quite creative, fun to read, and help form vivid pictures in the minds of readers, such as: "The hairs on my arms stood up like meerkats on the lookout for danger" as a reaction to a creepy environment; and “The clouds let loose, as if God had tightened His fist around them and squeezed” in reference to a downpour of rain.

The characters of this book are quite interesting with great character arcs. Multiple races (humans, shapeshifters, vampires, and others) can be found in this book, and I love the balance of good and bad shown in every race, with a powerful story of redemption. I especially enjoyed seeing the growth and development of Fallon (the main character) throughout this book. Being in the realm of Ariboslia and surrounded by its natives changes her a great deal, for the better.

Some of my favorite quotes from "Astray" are: “No matter where you are, no matter what has happened, there is a greater purpose for everything” and “Through it all, you are loved by the One True God.”

“Astray” is an inspirational and imaginative fantasy fiction book that teens and adults are sure to enjoy!

I now look forward to reading anything J. F. Rogers ever writes! 😊

My ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Notes: You can find my Goodreads review of "Astray" here. Also, I received a free copy of this book from its publisher and author, for which I am incredibly grateful, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Credits: The book cover and synopsis seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

If any of you would like to learn more about J. F. Rogers and her books, check out her website, JFRogers.com.

"DEAD LAKE" BY DARCY COATES

"Dead Lake" by Darcy Coates

My Synopsis & Review:

A young professional artist named Sam stays alone in her Uncle Peter’s cabin for a week to gain creative inspiration and create several paintings, without interruption, for an upcoming exhibition. Her uncle built this cabin himself about 10 years ago as a beautiful place to escape to on occasion, and when he offered it to his niece, she gladly accepted thinking it was just what she needed to get away from all distractions and focus on her art for a bit.

The cabin rests on the shore of a large lake, surrounded by densely wooded mountains, a two-hour drive from the nearest town. It has no electricity, no phone reception, and no running water. In this place, the only method of communication with the outside world is via a battery powered two-way radio. Sam had looked forward to this isolation and believed it would help her, however her fear of this place gradually rises as eery to downright horrifying things occur, both natural and supernatural.

I read this as I was in the mood for a creepy and quick read, and although I enjoyed reading this book, how it was written, and its pacing... it was more terrifying than I imagined it would be and scared me enough to give me some nightmares.

I recommend this book to those who love stories that make your heart race and your skin crawl. To those who frighten easily or somewhat easily, I recommend not reading this book at night or in the dark.

My ⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Notes: If any of you would like to learn more about Darcy Coates and her books, check out her website, DarcyCoates.com. Also, you can find my review of Dead Lake with my book highlights at Goodreads, here.

Credits: The book cover seen in this post is courtesy of Amazon.com.