The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

Thirteen are needed to maintain power and control. Izzy will get her thirteen whatever the consequences. This is a novel in the tradition of Thomas Tryon or V.C. Andrews.

Women are often scary with out including witchcraft. Hmm, perhaps scary isn’t the right word. If women fought the wars there would be one and done. No holds barred when someone threatens a mother’s child. This book is about controlling women or the women who control.

Chick might be someone you know. Audra is trying to protect her daughter Paula who ends up trying to protect Rowan, her daughter. Where her daughter came from provides some of the tension of the book. If you enjoy intricate plots with deep characterizations you will enjoy this book.

There are no bubbling cauldrons or flying brooms. It is a character study with in depth looks at people’s motivations.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Body of work of Susie Moloney

Web Site: http://www.susiemoloney.com/

The Cypress House by Michael Koryta

This is a story of the great depression, the despair and the illicit means some used to survive. It is a love story in many ways as well as a crime and violence filled occult tale of how people can be trapped in situations beyond their control.

Michael Koryta is an artist. His characters have such life that it is simplicity itself to visualize them and their surroundings. I read the book while in Florida and found myself looking around for some of the scenery or characters.

The story was set in a time of depression and post war trauma. That setting resonated with today’s recession and returning veterans. War changes people and Koryta captured that essence of humanity.

I also liked how he showed a love between two unrelated men that had nothing to do with gender bias or sexual preference. Sometimes the depth of friendship is love that has absolutely nothing to do with sexuality. That type of relationship seems practically taboo in contemporary fiction.

Arlen Wagner’s skepticism of his own talent promoted belief in what he experience, much more than a simple presentation of that talent.

This the second of his books I have read and I will be actively seeking out the rest.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Michael Koryta

Web site: http://www.michaelkoryta.com/

The Peshawar Lancers By S. M. Stirling

Stirling has proposed a post meteoroid holocaust world with the holocaust set in the late 1800’s. The world has recovered to the point of early 1900’s and the novel deals with the political ramifications of the dramtically changed world. Characters are well done, story is exciting, I had trouble putting it down. My biggest critisim is that there is no sequel. This book screams for a sequal, what’s the point of getting you into a very interesting environment, enticing you with good characterizations and then leaving you hang. Stirling’s characters exhibit the characteristics that I think exemplify scifi and fantasy, courage, loyalty, nobility, concern for mankind, all things that are often hard to find in current fiction as well as in the real world. Read this!

Body of work of S.M. Stirling

Review: http://donh.best.vwh.net/Esperanto/Literaturo/Recenzoj/peshawar.html

Web Site: http://www.smstirling.com/