I don’t know about other writers, but my heart still races when I see that someone has reviewed one of my books. It’s a bit like opening a present from a complete stranger. You’re appreciative that someone has gone to the trouble to give you a gift, but you're a bit frightened of white it might be.
Every writer says it. Reviews mean a lot. The more you have, the more visibility your books get. And while I know some people think writing a review is as appealing as a middle school book report assignment, all a reader has to do is provide a star rating and a couple of sentences that describe what they thought. That’s it.
Every once in a while, you get a review that makes you nod and know that the reader really understood what you were trying to do. They don’t happen every day. When they do, I think they’re worth sharing.
Here are two reviews that had my heart racing this week.
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Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
The Bonding Blade is a work of urban fantasy fiction based around ancient themes, the second novel in the Desert Goddess Series and was penned by author M. L. Doyle. Written for mature audiences, but without explicitly graphic content, this dark tale of inescapable fate rests once more on the shoulders of our heroine, former sergeant Hester Trueblood. The soldier has been bonded to the Sumerian goddess Inanna for some time now, but that doesn’t make life any easier. Whilst keeping the literal demons at bay and learning to use her goddess-given powers, Hester finds one of her warriors struck down and suspects that something supernatural is at work in his injury.
High action, high drama, and high fantasy all meet in this superb mystery novel with plenty of historical content thrown in. The supernatural elements of the plot are dealt with amusingly and realistically as we see Hester struggle with the magical aspects of her life and the reactions of those around her. Author M. L. Doyle has created a relatable strong female lead, whose adventurous spirit and capable mind inspire readers from the get-go. The goddess elements and ancient Sumerian culture are well injected to give good flavor, but also bear a great deal of authenticity to pique the interest of historical fiction fans. I also really enjoyed the plot structure, which had some truly surprising but credible twists. Overall, I would highly recommend The Bonding Blade for historical, fantasy and mystery fans who enjoy successful genre mash-ups and full-on adventures.
*****High action, high drama, and high fantasy all meet in this superb mystery novel with plenty of historical content thrown in.*****
Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers’ Favorite
“In my previous life, before I’d become a soldier and deployed to Iraq, I’d never have imagined that I would be running around in caves searching for supernatural creatures. All of that changed when I picked up a shiny coin in the desert and became the living vessel of the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna. I know. It sounds crazy.” M. L. Doyle’s The Desert Goddess Series continues with Book II: The Bonding Blade. Quincy is ill, and the group finds out that it has something to do with someone from Inanna's past. A special blade may be the only thing that can save him, but Gilgamesh, for reasons he won't disclose, refuses to help obtain it. In the meantime, there's a series of deaths in the city that requires Hester's attention. Saving a dear friend's life, solving murders, facing unexpected enemies, family issues and complicated relationships, Hester's resilience is greatly tested.
Doyle’s The Bonding Blade has a slightly faster pace for its plot compared to its predecessor and there’s a lot going on for the human goddess vessel Hester Trueblood. At times it's slightly chaotic but not confusing. Her bond with the goddess Inanna is still peppered with disagreements but the tolerance between them has slightly improved. Quincy’s past wasn’t an easy read but it revealed more about himself including Inanna, particularly about the source of his predicament. Also, there's an interesting development regarding one of Hester's staff, Erika. There are unexpected losses that will further challenge Hester and her companions. All in all, Book II of The Desert Goddess Series is an exciting and commendable continuation from Doyle. Fans of the series will be pleased and look forward to the next book.
*****All in all, Book II of The Desert Goddess Series is an exciting and commendable continuation from Doyle. Fans of the series will be pleased and look forward to the next book.*****
When you sit in your writer cave, wondering if all the toil is worth it, every once in a while, you evidence that, yes. It is. It really is.
Here's how the conversation usually goes ...
Interested reader: "Are you writing anything lately?"
Me: "I'm about to release the second book in my urban fantasy series."
Reader: "Really? What's it about?"
Me: "It's about Staff Sergeant Hester Trueblood. She's on duty in Iraq when she picks up a golden coin that activates a spell that makes her the embodiment of the ancient Mesopotamian goddess Inanna. It's the second book in the series."
Reader: ...stares blankly...
Me: "Sounds crazy, I know."
Reader: "No really, it sounds great! Oh my daughter would LOVE that!"
Me: "It's not YA. I mean, it's more of an adult urban fantasy suspense kind of story. Inanna was the goddess of war, and ... love, soooo."
Reader: Now, losing interest. "Oh, well...great. Congratulations."
As an author, you'd think by now, I'd have learned that the last thing people want to hear about is writing stuff. They politely ask. I should just politely say ... something, that doesn't put them in the position to ask anything else. But I have a hard time not talking about this series.