Book Review: Got Luck by Michael Darling

 

Disclaimer: I was given this book for free in return for a honest review. This blog post contains affiliate links, see disclosure page for details

Title: Got Luck
Author: Michael Darling
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Crime
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Rating: 2/5 Stars

The Premise:

Police-officer-turned-private-investigator Goethe “Got” Luck is known for rolling with the punches and never taking anything too seriously. When he picks up a seemingly dead-end murder case, his life begins to take a crazy turn. Shot at, chased by people he has never met, and attacked by an invisible liondog, Got quickly learns that there is more to this world than meets the eye.

He discovers the Fae. The Eternals. They who dwell in the Behindbeyond. Once, they ruled over ancient realms, but over the centuries, their power dwindled. Now someone wants to restore their rule and subjugate humankind. All it will cost is thousands of human lives.

The clock is ticking. Getting the world out of this one will take a couple friends, more than a few well-placed insults, and a whole lot of Luck.

I became interested in this book, because the above blurb sounded like a pretty cool premise, promising a fast pasted, interesting story with a  twist that is not your standard fair for a fantasy/crime novel. But sadly,  I was disappointed. To be honest, I really do not like 1st person narratives. It is rare that books written in this particular  form are something I can lose myself in, so I had a bias from the moment I actually received the copy. For a first person narrative to be great, I have to connect deeply with the main character, and that connection has to happen rather quickly, in order for me to see the story through their eyes and enjoy the view. That rarely happens.

But, because I have been proven wrong before, I stuck with it and read the book to the end. I was not proven wrong. The plot itself seems a bit confusing at first, not finding much flow until the second half of the book, by which time, I would have already stopped reading, would I not have made the commitment to finish reading the book. While the second half was a little bit more entertaining, it still took me longer than usual to get through, simply because I had to drag myself back to the story, rather than being pulled in. With the immense amount of competition of great indie fantasy Authors now available on Amazon, a novel has to be special to stand out of the crowd, and I am sorry to say that this will be lost in the shuffle. Not my cup of tea.

Light And Dark

Tree With Roots by Claudia H. Blanton

Welcome! Would you like some coffee? The following post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share Blog Hop, and contains links to my artwork, and stuff I actually buy (affiliate links). 

If you were here with me, having coffee – or tea – I got some yummy imported Japanese green tea, if you prefer the latter – I would welcome you to Linzer cookies, and new pieces of art. You would probably notice that this week, I have been working in contrasts – either creating very dark pieces, such as “Anger”, and “Masks“,  or light ones, like “Tree With Roots”. No colorful “in-betweens”, no “something in the middle,” but each on the opposite ends of the color spectrum and theme.

Why, you might ask, would I go from a subject matter such as Domestic violence to something really light in such a short period of time?

My answer to that question is  balance. While I enjoy working on both ends of the contrast, I find myself is automatically balancing my creations, often without noticing, and almost never intentional. I do the same with writing, instinctively seeking the balance that the Universe seems to crave.

Tree In The Dark by Claudia H. Blanton

It is  concept present in all of the celebrations of this season, no matter which spiritual connection one chooses to follow. The light, peace and hope of what is bright, and warm, piercing through the darkness of the Winter months, creating once again balance.

Do you embrace the contrast of dark and light? Does it show in your creative process, or do you enjoy one side of the spectrum more, when you are being creative? Is that an intellectual process for you, or are you creating instinctively?

This blog post is a part of the following blog hops:

Weekend Coffee Share

Tater Tots And Jello

 

 

Brett Manning – A Strong Artist With Powerful Lines

Brett Manning (born on Halloween 1986), always loved to draw, paint and create.
Her drawings and paintings have a warm, feminine strength, that manifests itself in clean lines, and interesting contrast.
Her work does not only include drawings but are  also inclusive of photography, in which she sometimes expresses a rather dark side.

Here are some examples of her art

Card Reader by Brett Manning 

Coffee First by Brett Manning

The 4th by Brett Manning

You can find this talented young artist on RedBubble.

 

The Girl – A Five Sentence Flash Fiction

The spunk in her eyes surprised me.
I thought the torture he had put her through would have already taken all of her will, broken her and made her a heap of injured flesh, but instead she looked at me as if she was about to take me on, with the determination to win.
I suppressed my smile, and the flicker of pride, to look professional, after all, our cover could not be blown.
How otherwise would I be able to save her from the monster, in whom’s hands she had fallen?
I reached out toward her, half expecting a move back, but also ready for her to attack, while I whispered, “Let me get you out of this hell.”

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by this week’s Five Sentence Flash Fiction writing prompt “Spunk”, by Lillie McFerrin. Find out what others wrote this week here

Nightmare – A Haiku

“Nightmare” by Avalon Media http://shrsl.com/?~8nb1

Haunted by your dark
twisted soul perverted lies
nightmares burn so deep

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

Being touched by darkness, allows us to appreciate being able to see the light. Sometimes the darkness finds itself into my art, nightmares of long ago past, those childhood fears we all come across. Some nightmares are real, others simply a part of an overactive imagination, which can be a curse or a blessing,  depending on how you choose to use it.

“Nightmare” both the digital art print above and the Haiku, though, stem from real nightmares, those who haunt us far into adulthood, long beyond the actual occurrences that scarred us so deep. Expressing those nightmares, rather than burying them into a place where they can fester and grow, are healing experiences.

If you are being haunted by your own personal nightmares, try to find a way to creatively express them. Release them by bringing them into the light. And if those nightmares stem from abuse, get help.

May your days be filled with sunshine and your dreams with hope.

If you enjoy this piece of art, you can purchase it on RedBubble as a metal print, framed art piece, T-Shirt amd as a cellphone case here: Please support independent artists! Thank you!

The Woods – A Haiku

Denizens of Diabolic Wood by Richard Fray available here:
http://shrsl.com/?~8mpk

did not heed the words
warnings whispered ’bout at night
“Don’t go to the woods!”

Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The above image is by a talented artist named Richard Fay. You can purchase this piece of art on RedBubble here

Do You Even Care? – A Haiku

stuck in frustration
don’t tell me you understand
shut up and listen

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

If you enjoyed this Haiku, please support us by visiting our design store for some light and dark art pieces in practical applications and as home decor.

Prisoner – A Flash Fiction

“Simply Cute” Pattern Design by Avalon Media

Many aspects of him frightened me, but none chilled me as much to the bone as his need for perfection.
Patterns laid perfectly in unison with each other, never one aspect out of place, and the glance in my direction, when something was not up to his standards alone, made me shiver in fear. In a constant state of fright, I lived my life prisoner to his obsession, an obsession I was supposed to be grateful for. If I was not, the bruises on my face would bear witness of the price I would have to pay.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

If you liked this story, why not check out my design store on RedBubble

Nobody – A Flash Fiction

Your departure was reminiscent of your arrival, filled with fanfare and grandiose moves, an orchestrated deliberate performance to the very end.
This was, after all, the main reason I could never quite understand you, the need for overacting, overwhelming everyone in your presence as if you needed their oxygen just to exist.
Little me, had no place in that world, there was no room left for anyone else, no matter how charming any fleeting moment spent in the embrace of your attention was.
And what really had I expected from the moment I met you – me, the nobody, you the powerful star.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The preceding story is a part of the blog hop by Miss Lillie McFerrin, and was inspired by this week’s prompt: “Departure”.

If you enjoyed this Flash Fiction, why not check out my book “Mixing Spices: A Flavorful Guide to Creating Awesome Herb and Spice Mixes” on Amazon Kindle

The Crime Scene Cleaner – A Flash Fiction

It was not that Mr. Annar had forgotten to close his blinds as everyone had suspected, it was that he had dismantled the installation, making it impossible for anyone to block his view of the entire parking lot.
The central bay window was perfectly spaced, allowing him to take advantage of the lucky occurance of being the renter of P-91.
The friendly, lady with the three cats next door on the other hand was not so lucky.
Living next to someone shaken by paranoia, her gentle smile, directed toward him, cost her her life.
Watching both bodies leave in bags, Ben nodded at the detectives and officers, watching them leave one by one, until he was finally alone.
Sighing, he raised his head toward the ceiling at the bloody mess above, already regretting,that he gave his new employee the day off. Cleaning up here alone, would surely take all night.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015