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reviews_and_ramblingsAnd the Rainbow Award goes to...
1.
Angel Martinez - Safety Protocols for Human Holidays
Safety Protocols for Human Holidays: A Holiday to Remember
"Fascinating and quirky, this sci-fi holiday story is unique, unexpected, utterly charming. The writing is exceptional, the plot serviceable and the character development a tour de force."
2.
Matt Doyle - The Fox, The Dog, and The King (The Cassie Tam Files #2)
The Fox, the Dog, and the King (The Cassie Tam Files Book 2)
"This author does one of my favorite things as a reader: puts me right into the action and trusts me to pay attention. And I did. The writing style is uncomplicated and engaging, with a main character I liked pretty much immediately and side characters who are unique and complex. Though the clarity of setting suffers a little at the beginning, by the halfway point, I was well settled in this fascinating futuristic society and trooping right along with Caz as she navigates the complex underworld of New Hopeland. This is the second book in a series, but the author is very clever about delivering what would otherwise have been a ton of exposition, using conversation and character relationships to show me who these people are and what their history is with each other rather than trying for a general info dump, which would have lost points with me. A second book in a series can be a risky choice for an awards submission, but this book can easily stand alone, with fully developed characters and an appealing mystery: close to cozy, but with a sinister edge. I appreciate being trusted by the author. I would love to go back and read the first book, as well as any that follow."
Rae D. Magdon - Lucky 7
Lucky 7
"This story had all the right elements in the right places ... including room for a sequel without sacrificing a satisfying ending."
3.
Matt Doyle - LV48 (The Cassie Tam Files #3)
LV48 (The Cassie Tam Files Book 3)
"This novel was easy to get engaged with. The characters were interesting and different enough so that each one stood out in my head with ease. I liked the idea of a strong female lead and I loved that her being a lesbian was a non issue (as it should be). I found the backdrop for the story interesting and I really wanted more of that, but I loved what I got. The author was able to craft a good mystery but didn't bog us down in details that made the story lag. Overall it was a fun read and I enjoyed it."
K. Aten - Waking the Dreamer
Waking the Dreamer
By the end of the 21st century, the world had become a harsh place. After decades of natural and man-made catastrophes, nations fell, populations shifted, and seventy percent of the continents became uninhabitable without protective suits. Technological advancement strode forward faster than ever and it was the only thing that kept human society steady through it all. No one could have predicted the discovery of the Dream Walkers. They were people born with the ability to leave their bodies at will, unseen by the waking world. Having the potential to become ultimate spies meant the remaining government regimes wanted to study and control them. The North American government, under the leadership of General Rennet, demanded that all Dream Walkers join the military program. For any that refused to comply, they were hunted down and either brainwashed or killed.
1.
Angel Martinez - Safety Protocols for Human Holidays
Safety Protocols for Human Holidays: A Holiday to Remember
"Fascinating and quirky, this sci-fi holiday story is unique, unexpected, utterly charming. The writing is exceptional, the plot serviceable and the character development a tour de force."
2.
Matt Doyle - The Fox, The Dog, and The King (The Cassie Tam Files #2)
The Fox, the Dog, and the King (The Cassie Tam Files Book 2)
"This author does one of my favorite things as a reader: puts me right into the action and trusts me to pay attention. And I did. The writing style is uncomplicated and engaging, with a main character I liked pretty much immediately and side characters who are unique and complex. Though the clarity of setting suffers a little at the beginning, by the halfway point, I was well settled in this fascinating futuristic society and trooping right along with Caz as she navigates the complex underworld of New Hopeland. This is the second book in a series, but the author is very clever about delivering what would otherwise have been a ton of exposition, using conversation and character relationships to show me who these people are and what their history is with each other rather than trying for a general info dump, which would have lost points with me. A second book in a series can be a risky choice for an awards submission, but this book can easily stand alone, with fully developed characters and an appealing mystery: close to cozy, but with a sinister edge. I appreciate being trusted by the author. I would love to go back and read the first book, as well as any that follow."
Rae D. Magdon - Lucky 7
Lucky 7"This story had all the right elements in the right places ... including room for a sequel without sacrificing a satisfying ending."
3.
Matt Doyle - LV48 (The Cassie Tam Files #3)
LV48 (The Cassie Tam Files Book 3)
"This novel was easy to get engaged with. The characters were interesting and different enough so that each one stood out in my head with ease. I liked the idea of a strong female lead and I loved that her being a lesbian was a non issue (as it should be). I found the backdrop for the story interesting and I really wanted more of that, but I loved what I got. The author was able to craft a good mystery but didn't bog us down in details that made the story lag. Overall it was a fun read and I enjoyed it."
K. Aten - Waking the Dreamer
Waking the Dreamer
By the end of the 21st century, the world had become a harsh place. After decades of natural and man-made catastrophes, nations fell, populations shifted, and seventy percent of the continents became uninhabitable without protective suits. Technological advancement strode forward faster than ever and it was the only thing that kept human society steady through it all. No one could have predicted the discovery of the Dream Walkers. They were people born with the ability to leave their bodies at will, unseen by the waking world. Having the potential to become ultimate spies meant the remaining government regimes wanted to study and control them. The North American government, under the leadership of General Rennet, demanded that all Dream Walkers join the military program. For any that refused to comply, they were hunted down and either brainwashed or killed.
