Bound by Duty - Book Blitz

Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith
(Bound #1)
Publication date: July 24th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult

Synopsis:

Amelia grew up in a world of half-truths. She knows she’s an Elder but has no idea what that means. Her father reminds her daily that she must maintain control but he refuses to explain why. Even worse, she’s betrothed to the prince of the Immortals and she doesn’t even know his name.

Finally breaking free to live a few normal years at a community college, the last thing Amelia expects is to find her best friend in a cheeky Southern girl and to fall for a self-assured human who sees her for who she is and not what she’ll be.

As she learns more about herself, Amelia realizes the line between love and duty is a thin one. As her power continues to increase exponentially and her questions are slowly answered, Amelia must make the ultimate choice. The question is, will her head or her heart win the battle?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21957948-bound-by-duty?ac=1

Purchase:

Bound by Duty is on sale for 99 cents through the Blitz from October 5 – 11.  

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lxz3Mg  

Bound by Duty, released on July 24, is Stormy Smith’s debut novel. It’s already climbing the Amazon hot new release bestsellers list and today we wanted to give you a preview.

To set the stage, Amelia Bradbury is our heroine and the center of this next scene. Amelia knows that she is an Elder and that she is betrothed to marry the prince of the Immortals. What she doesn’t know is the source of the power that continues to grow and evolve inside her and what that power will mean for her future. All Amelia wants is a little bit of time to be normal, but she’s about to meet the guy who will forever change the way she looks at herself and what she wants from life.

An excerpt from Bound by Duty:

As soon as I stepped out on the giant deck, the sea air hit my face. It tangled in my hair, whipping it around my shoulders as if playing hide and seek in the dark strands. I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.

I stood there a moment, just listening to the waves beat against the sand as the tide came in. The full moon came out from behind the clouds, brightening my path and leading me to the stairs that would take me down to the beach. I didn’t hesitate. Almost leaping to the bottom, I kicked my gladiator sandals off as soon as I hit the sand and ran toward the water. Just as the tide touched my toes, the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

Someone was there.

Instantly, a jolt of power raced through my veins. I tried frantically to calm it back down, to maintain control. But, against all effort, I’m sure my eyes went from their normal hazel to bright violet, as they always do when my power takes over. I stood there, staring out at the sea, trying to decide how to react. I couldn’t draw attention to myself, but I could protect myself if I had to — I had learned that much. I felt my power build; like small pinpricks of electricity racing through my veins, filling my blood inch by inch. I forced myself to soften my stiff posture, but kept my right hand open and out in front of me in case I needed to use it.

Since moving to Brighton, I’d been working to actually use my magic, but it still felt like a second person trapped inside me that I couldn’t force into compliance. Sometimes it worked with me, sometimes not. We’ve been fighting this battle for as long as I can remember and in times like these, when I didn’t know what I was dealing with, I trusted it more than myself. I stood there, my body still as my power rippled beneath the surface and cautiously probed around me, just waiting to be unleashed.

I slowly started to turn around when he said, “Oh, so you’re hiding from them too, huh?”

His voice was smooth and almost melodic, with just a little fire behind it. I somehow knew he was smirking even though I couldn’t see him. The moonlight hadn’t breached the shadow from the deck where I could see his outline sitting on a picnic table. He was sitting on the top with his feet on the bench and elbows on his knees. I heard the old, weather-beaten table creak and groan as he set his feet on the ground. A shiver ran through me; he looked dangerous.

“Do I know you?” Something told me I’d seen him before. The fear that had ignited my magic instantly turned to curiosity, the danger melting to intrigue. I could actually see the thready, purple wisps spreading out, poking around, trying to get a read on him. It’s a good thing humans don’t actually see our power unless we let them. Abruptly, I turned back toward the ocean, kicking myself as I mentally drew it back in.

What am I doing?! I don’t even KNOW this guy. What if he’s...?

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” he interrupted, as if reading my thoughts. I could hear his voice coming closer, a little tentative, feeling me out.

I’m sure he thinks I’m nutcakes. Well done, Amelia. You are here to blend in, not prompt people to think you’re a freak a month into the semester.

I sighed, took a breath, and turned to face him, not realizing how close to me he now was. The full moon cast light and shadow across his body as he stood just feet from me, silent, sizing me up as I did the same to him. I drew in a quick breath as all my thoughts came together in just two words. He’s gorgeous.

I couldn’t stop my eyes from roaming. There was something tortured about him, I could feel it as easily as I felt my own curiosity building. He stood just a few feet from me, clearly trying not to be intimidating. But, between the hints of a tattoo peeking out from under his black T-shirt and the leather cuffs on his wrists, there was an intensity he couldn’t hide. He had big eyes with long lashes a girl would kill for. As my gaze followed the strong, angular features of his face, I realized he had a dimple, just on the one side that must only come out when that corner of his mouth lifted into the smirk I had heard in his voice earlier. The one he was wearing now as he watched me watching him. For some reason, that dimple changed everything; transformed him in my mind as just being a boy on a beach.

About the Author:

Stormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favourite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favourite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.stormysmith.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStormySmith

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stormysmith

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8159417.Stormy_Smith

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Fistful of Evil by Rebecca Chastain - Book Review

There is evil and there are Enforcers to do something about it.

Madison, the protagonist and narrator of Rebecca Chastain's A Fistful of Evil, possesses an ability she calls "soul-sight", with which she can switch her vision to see people and the world from a different view and perspective literally.

When Madison switches to soul-sight or Primordium, she sees people's souls and life force. Every person's good or bad deeds give them a colour, a particular shade of white, grey or black.

Madison does not like her ability, after a sad experience in her teens, and wishes she could forget about it or get rid of it. However, while searching for a job, she finds herself part of the world of Enforcers and evil-fighting.

Narrated in the first person from Madison's perspective, A Fistful of Evil has a lot of sarcasm, owing to Madison's character, making the humour element ever-present in the novel. One of the thoughts that come to her is after starting her new job and having to buy a phone. She says/thinks “A cell phone yesterday. A video conference today. Watch out, world. I might get a Twitter account next!”

What I also truly loved about A Fistful of Evil is the fact that it does not have a love story or that the romantic element is neither the centre nor is it even in the periphery. Madison and her best friend Bridget do talk about men and Madison has a crush on several, however, there is no romance in the novel. Applause to Rebecca Chastain for that.  

All the characters in the novel are well-crafted and loveable. Even the demon, one cannot seem to hate him entirely. Rose is funny, flirty and helpful. She is also the one who "babysits" Madison at first. One of the funny scenes I enjoyed was this:

“Mr. Pitt snorted. He redirected his gaze to Rose. “Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“That’s above my pay grade.”

A Fistful of Evil shows Madison's character as it grows, falters and gets up again. Madison has several moments of revelation, of light and realisation, that lead her to her decision as to whether she wants to accept her soul-sight and become an Enforcer or not. It is also the little things that make us great people, as both Madison and the reader realise and as Chastain so beautifully reveals it.

There are many beautiful lines, images and scenes in the novel. One of them has Madison contemplating and weighing right and wrong when doing good; how much wrong or rule-breaking is a person allowed to do in order to do good?

“I may not be proud of my job history, but I’d never committed a crime before, let alone a crime in the name of my job. Then again, I’d never done anything as important as battle evil. My other jobs had been meaningless or boring—often both. At least as an enforcer, I was positively influencing the very balance of good and evil. That had to outweigh the minor transgressions I’d made along the way, right?”

Old cover

Imagery is an important aspect in the novel and Chastain is highly lauded for her choice of imagery and humour. A favourite is the funny and realistic “But there was nothing like a hound of death on my heels to give me an Olympian-worthy boost.”

Also, “The horror reel played out in my head, with the hosts scattering across the continent, then the world, a pandemic of evil” is a highly visual image.  

Also, when she was scantily dressed, she thought to herself: “embarrassment came complete with its own heating system.”

After battling a demon and nearly dying, Niko – also known as "Mr. Dark and Deadly" - takes Madison to refuel or "recharge" her energy, which includes having something to eat. One can proudly say that they will look at green salads differently after reading this novel.

“Niko selected Cobb salads for both of us—without bacon!—plus four large sides of grilled vegetables.

Screw that. I’d almost died tonight. I deserved something better than rabbit food.” Later, Niko explains why it is important to eat greens and why Madison's comfort food of fries and a milkshake do nothing to fill her up or recharge her energy.

Overall, A Fistful of Evil is an enjoyable, quick-paced fantasy novel. It's fun, it's different and it makes you think.

It is the first instalment in the series and I look forward to reading the second part.

An interview with author Rebecca Chastain is in the making! So stay tuned!

Note: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Note: I haven't done my usual page quoting because I was reading on ePub and the page numbers differ significantly from the .mobi or other ebook editions.

Stay in touch with Rebecca Chastain via her website, Facebook page and Twitter.

Destroyed cover reveal

Destroyed by L.A. Starkey

(Soul Keeper Series #2)

Publication date: November 2014

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

They say a soul is the immaterial essence, the animating principal, the actuating cause of an individual life.

But what if you had to share yours with the one person you hated the most?

The soul mate principal states that for every one soul there is another that will recognize its match, hence creating the perfect union.

But what if you had two soul mates, which would you choose?

What if your choices had eternal ramification?

Destroyed, the second novel in the Soul Keeper Series, is a modern day love story about the implications of having more than one soul mate, and having to choose between the two of them. The decisions of the gods has left the next generation, their heirs, torn between fate and reality, and the balance of the future hangs in anticipation of what’s to come.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23233086-destroyed

Purchase book 1: http://www.amazon.com/Deceived-Soul-Keeper-L-Starkey/dp/1500927872/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412000252&sr=8-1&keywords=L.A.+Starkey

About the Author:

Laurie Starkey is the author of the upcoming Soul Keeper Series, a supernatural young adult series, and The Liarus Detective Series, a supernatural middle grade series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, Jacob and three beautiful kiddos.

She is a CPA by trade, a church planter and entrepreneur at heart; however, writing and reading are passions she just can't help but indulge in. With more ideas than one person should be allowed, she is blessed to have a muse that doesn't seem to take a vacation and more energy that one might consider healthy.

Author links:

http://www.lastarkey.com/

https://twitter.com/LAStarkey

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8504368.L_A_Starkey

Ice Massacre Sample, GIVEAWAY, Interview

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

Publication date: September 18th 2014

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death.

The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.

Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.

For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22718724-ice-massacre?ac=1

Purchase: FREE during the blitz! FREE till 3 October 2014

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Massacre-Tiana-Warner-ebook/dp/B00NHCF4CM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411652270&sr=8-1&keywords=ice+massacre

Sample - Prologue

Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean

The young man aimed his crossbow at the water, ready to fire a bolt of solid iron at the first glimpse of flesh beneath the surface.

“Sir,” he said, “shouldn’t we have seen one by now?”

The captain turned his back to the salty wind, jaw tight. “They know we’re here.”

“So what are they doing?”

He followed the captain’s gaze. Blackness merged with the empty grey horizon in every direction. A long silence passed, filled only by gentle swells lapping against the ship.

The captain drew his own crossbow.

“Forming a plan.”

All twenty men aboard the ship readied their weapons, reacting in a chain until the last man at the stern took steady aim at the waves.

“Make ready your iron, men,” shouted the captain. “We have ripples approaching off the port side.”

A handful of places in the water puckered, as if something lingered just below the surface. The sea was too black to tell.

Then it happened. Fifty, maybe sixty sea demons burst from the water and slammed against the ship. The men wasted no time. They reacted with trained speed and agility as the demons thrust stones and jagged shells into the wood, both to break holes in the ship and to scale the sides. The men picked them off with bolts of iron and watched them fall one by one back into the sea.

But they were outnumbered. Soon the demons were upon the ship, pulling themselves across the deck with bony arms.

The young man had already shot a dozen and the water reddened with each passing second.

Slow scraping sounds threatened him from behind. He whirled around, crossbow ready. Burning eyes met his, and sharp teeth, bared to rip into his flesh. He gripped the trigger, felt the bow tighten—

And the demon was gone. The young man stared into the wide gaze of a girl his own age. With a startled cry, he jerked his aim so the bolt barely missed her.

She held a black shell in her hand, sharp at the edges and ready to use as a club. But she didn’t raise it. She just looked at him.

He lowered his crossbow.

Her blonde hair fell heavily over her shoulders, dripping beads of water down her naked chest and stomach, pooling where her torso joined her tail.

He blinked, but made no other motion—where her torso joined her tail. Scales faded into flesh like some sort of beautiful, green and tan sunset.

She pulled herself closer.

“Stay back,” said the young man, unsure what prompted him to hesitate.

He looked into her eyes—emeralds surrounded by pearl white—where moments ago they had burned red. Her sharp teeth had retracted behind rosy lips. The seaweed-coloured flesh of her upper body was now olive and raised with goose bumps from the icy wind.

“Hanu aii,” she whispered. Do not fear. She spoke his language.

He loosened his grip on the crossbow, studying her. She lifted a frail arm and pushed the hair from her eyes, then motioned him forwards.

His pulse quickened as he stared at the beautiful girl.

“Hanu aii,” she said again, her voice resonating sweetly, as if she sang without singing.

Suddenly, he was kneeling in front of her, level with her luminous eyes. The sounds around him faded but for the soft purr in the base of her throat.

She reached up and held an icy hand to his cheek, not for a moment breaking eye contact. The hand slid behind his head and pulled his face towards hers, slowly but firmly. He inhaled her sweet breath.

“No!”

He flinched. He turned to see the captain racing towards them, aiming his crossbow at the maiden.

The young man grasped the scene around him. The ship was empty. A few stray weapons and barrels bobbed serenely in the water. Blood soaked the deck in places, and even the main mast had a splatter across the bottom.

The captain fired wide. Before he could reload and aim again, the sea demon put a hand on the young man’s chin and pulled his gaze back to hers.

Her eyes blazed red. Her skin rippled into the rotten colour of seaweed. Her ears grew pointed and long like sprouting coral. She opened her mouth to reveal a row of deadly teeth.

The young man screamed.

The demon pulled him against her with more strength than three men combined, and they dove headfirst off the side of the ship.

They disappeared into the blood-red water.

 

Author Bio:

Tiana Warner was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys riding her horse, Bailey, and collecting tea cups.

Author Interview

Give us the tweet-sized version of what Ice Massacre is about.

A teenage girl is sent to battle the hostile mermaids that are driving her people into poverty. A story of love, secrets, and ass-kicking.

What makes Ice Massacre unique?

First, I haven’t seen a lot out there that portrays mermaids for what they really are: flesh-eating sea demons. But I think what also sets it apart is its almost entirely female cast. This island decides to send female warriors to kill the mermaids that plague them, because women don’t fall victim to a mermaid’s supernatural allure. We end up with an all-female war on a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Meela, an aboriginal girl who’s never been away from the tiny island she calls home, also has a pretty unique journey of self-discovery. I don’t want to reveal too much. But I think a lot of aspects make this story unconventional.

What’s your favourite thing about the book?

I love Meela’s antagonists. Meela’s a tough chick and she has a lot coming at her from all directions. Writing those opposing forces was so much fun.

What’s next for you as a writer?

 The sequel! This is the first in a trilogy, and I’m hard at work on book two: Ice Crypt.

Author links:

http://www.tianawarner.com  

https://twitter.com/tianawarner  

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5825979.Tiana_Warner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dreams of Perfection – The Quest for Mr. Perfect

Every woman dreams of her perfect man, detailing their every aspect: haircut, eye colour, hand size, job, even their scent and favourite perfume.

In Dreams of Perfection by Rebecca Heflin, romance-writer Darcy Butler creates perfect men in her steamy novels. However, Darcy is not so lucky with real-life men; she divorced after catching her fiancé and husband-to-be cheating on her a few days before their wedding.

Her soon-to-be-released The Doctor's Dilemma is no exception, with its protagonist Dr. Blake Garrett being perfect for Darcy, acting as her reference sample when considering or dating men.

But what happens when Mr. Perfect leaps from the pages and materialises into Darcy's fairly-ordered life? Is he as perfect as she hopes? Does he have the perfect kiss?

The novel also opens with Josh, Darcy's best friend, long-time family friend and lawyer at her father's firm, who realises he is in love with Darcy but cannot muster the courage to tell her, whilst also fearing to break apart their friendship.

One of the most memorable chapters in Dreams of Perfection is chapter four, where Darcy agrees to go on a blind date with a friend of a friend. She is to meet with a 'Kempton Bell'.

"Kempton Bell. Kempton. What kind of name was that? She wondered" (p. 17)

The reader cannot help but agree with Darcy's thoughts. She agrees to meet Mr. Bell and what follows is a super hilarious chapter. Heflin's sense of humour is put to good use here. Darcy's blind date is a man who cuts to the chase. He doesn't say Hi or Hello but cuts straight to "Pretty", "you dress too provocatively" and "that won't be necessary once we're married… you won't have time [for your writing] with all the social and charitable commitments you'll be undertaking as my wife." (p. 18) These words are said in the first few minutes of the date or rather 'meeting'; after his otherworldly order from the waitress. That and he hands her his resume and "recommendations" from his ex-wife!

A short while later, Darcy meets the man of her dreams "literally". He mysteriously leaps from the cover of her book to real life. One of the lines and images that stood out for me was from Josh's point of view when he sees Mr. Perfect wrap his arms around Darcy: "He felt the familiar fangs of jealousy puncture his heart." (p. 44). I love alliteration and beautiful imagery; this line combined both and hit the spot.

She tells Josh "Don't worry about me. My hero has come to life. I don't know how or why and frankly, I don't care. I only know I've been waiting for Mr. Right, and here he is, in the flesh, only he's Dr. Right. Who better than the man of my dreams, quite literally?" (p. 44-45)

Naturally, Josh is suspicious of Mr. Perfect/Dr. Blake Garrett and seeks to prove him a fraud, causing additional tension in his relationship with Darcy.

Order and commitments begin to fall apart and strong friendship ties start to strain with the appearance of this new and dazzling fictional stranger, who may not be around much but nonetheless consumes all of Darcy's time.

As the title indicates, Dreams of Perfection tackles the idea of perfection. Darcy's imagined Blake Garrett and the real-life Doctor collide but slowly. At one point, and appearing like party-pooper, Darcy asks Blake why they never argue. The reader realises that the absence of arguing makes life seem perfect; however it is essential in every relationship. After all, a utopia is boring.

Despite being a bestselling romance writer, Darcy is unaware that her books are mere fantasy for her readers. Her idle attempt at finding Mr. Perfect blinds her to what is right in front of her.

Moreover, I felt Darcy is rather selfish. One cannot help but feel sorry for Josh – a lot. One realises that work and boyfriend tend to take most of a person's time. Still, Darcy becomes exceptionally absorbed with Blake, she forgets everyone else, including Josh and Laura and her usual outings with them. The relationship also makes her abandon many baseball games with Josh – although she feels bad about it. Still, Darcy does not attempt to make a compromise when she gets a new boyfriend. The number of times she skips or ditches games with Josh for her dates or commitments with Blake make her appear selfish and insensitive. However, they play a role in her transformation.

When she sits with her Aunt Rosie, Darcy comes to a revelation:

"Her own dreams of princes and white horses, of perfect alpha-male heroes and being swept off her feet seemed childish and silly when compared to what her aunt and uncle had. Mr. Right didn't have to be perfect. He just had to be perfect for her. Like Uncle Al was for Aunt Rosie." (p. 221)

Heflin's Dreams of Perfection bears many fairy-tale aspects, and though it has a happy ending, Mr. Perfect is not the one who gets the prize, making it a sort of fairy-tale in reverse or a twist in the tale.

Heflin maintains an excellent tension-relief-comedy model throughout her novel. She has a very good sense of humour, whether through scenes, or more often through Darcy's sarcastic inner voice. Moreover, Darcy's best friends, Laura and Josh constantly tease one another creating lots of humour for the reader and later jealousy for Darcy.

Dreams of Perfection is an excellent novel of love, maturity – past the age of 30 – self-discovery and perfection. Its short chapters make it an easy and quick must read.

For more, check out the author Rebecca Heflin on Twitter.

Mapping Me - Book Review

Mapping Me: A Landscape of Women's Stories, edited by Tamara Azizian, is a collection of 40 pieces written by 40 women from across the globe. The pieces vary between poetry, short stories, thoughts, and include a scene from a play. Mapping Me is divided into sections depending on the main themes tackled with stunningly beautiful artwork at the beginning of each section.

This collection boasts many amazing pieces and I have tried to select the best of them to mention here.

Mapping Me opens with an introduction and the sections of the book, which is then followed by the first artwork called 'Take a Chance' by Ira Mitchell. The colours, the brush strokes, everything about that painting is just dazzling.

'Tiny Atom' by Abha Iyengar is a staggeringly brave story; short, to the point and highly emotional.

'Undersea', by Shahilla Sharif, is a wonderful poem that opens with these breath-taking lines "I should have deciphered our prophecy/in the mythology of our meeting". The words are carefully chosen throughout. 'Undersea' is one of the best poems I have ever read and certainly one of the best in Mapping Me. It is as sad as it is magical.

'Holding the Man', by Sharanya Manivannam, is an excellent story. It is well written, vivid and explicit. It is a story though, not a poem – in my opinion.

One of the pieces, in this collection, is a scene from a play called 'Happy Birthday Li'l Eagle' by Sia Figid. A confrontation between mother and daughter, the scene is beautiful and carries many messages. It is obviously a climactic scene in the play with many stunning lines and speeches. It is a scene about children, love and life. A 10-star piece.

'Mama Wearies then Brightens' by Gloria J. Wimberley is a short, funny and enjoyable poem, which I'm sure many can relate to.

'Bloodless' by Zara Potts is unlike anything I've ever read. It is deep and emotional, despite the apparent 'unemotional' and "bloodless" word choice. I loved these thought-provoking words "There is freedom in acceptance. Fighting only tightens the ropes and makes it harder to release yourself." And the conclusion: "even barren fields can still be beautiful and [a] fruitless tree can still have roots." A must read.

'The Mother', by Cheryl S. Ntumy, is a heart-wrenching piece of endurance, pain, suffering, love and persistence.

Denise Donaldson's 'A Bra Story' is an enjoyable, interesting story with a lovely ending.

'Full Arms and Underarms', by Farha Hasan, is a funny short story about something all women experience: Waxing! It is a very interesting story topic; one that is brilliantly handled with a lot of humour.

'Thoughts in the Dark', by Somaya El Sousi from Gaza, is an amazing must-read piece with many beautiful lines. Similarly, 'Fear', by Danijela Hlis, is an excellent poem about Alzheimer's. A five-star piece.

Tania Haberland's 'My Grandmother's Art' is a beautiful and highly artistic piece. I truly enjoyed the word choice and flow.

'Paper Confessions' by Shabnam Piryaei is a poem of stunning imagery and an equally staggering opening verse: “regret and guilt follow me/ as if I were their mother/ stroking with the dissolved edges of a punished whisper my arms,/ singing to themselves/ lullabies made of dead bees/ as if each does not know the other exists.”

The Matrimonial Clock by Shweta Ganesh Kumar is an excellent story, very modern and applicable to many third world countries and societies. It is brilliantly told. “[it] as if, the future of the world depended on her marital status.” This line hit a chord, many in fact. And I'm sure many can relate to it as well. Five stars to this one.

'Inside the Ring - The Diary', by Batsirai Easther Chigama, is another excellent piece, sad and painful at first, but with a great conclusion. Tough decisions take time, especially when children are involved; this five-star-story stresses this point. 

'Serepta', by Jessica Loomis, is another beautiful and subtle story about women and the pressures they endure because of society. It is also an excellent conclusion to the Mapping Me collection.