#christinaengela

The Time Saving Agency by Christina Engela – Review

Lee Hall 8 Comments

A highly enjoyable time travel caper…

Quantum Series #2 - The Time Saving Agency 2019 - Front

Only two months previous were the citizens of Deanna dealing with the threat of an alien attack but now another threat of perhaps greater proportions emerges from the fabric of time, quite literally.

Christina Engela has created a story that follows not only a similar concept of the previous entry into the Quantum series but one that fuses those ideas with something completely different and original. Written in a way that sometimes tributes Terry Pratchett, yet again readers will find this story quirky and clever with a style that confides in the reader.

Familiar faces Gary Beck the ‘badfella’ and Cindy Mei Winter return as their story together continues and while that is happening the main story arc begins to unfold from an unexpected place; the fabric of time where there are Time Agents and Time Terrorists. What ensues is a cat and mouse time travel story seeing ‘Agent Scrooby’ trying to track down the evil genius and escaped terrorist known as Brad Xyl who has dastardly universe destroying aspirations. Scrooby enlists the help of Bounty hunter Gary Beck and together they set out to to put Brad Xyl’s plans to a halt.

Although Cindy Mei Winter takes more of a cameo role along with ‘Fred the Arborian’, in this story Cindy’s journey and life as a trans-woman is briefly touched upon giving an important and positive modern spotlight on the subject.

Overall the Time Saving Agency is a fun read which see’s the ‘Quantum Series’ taken on an unexpected journey of time travel while also continuing the journey of it’s characters seen in the previous book in the series. The narrative is delivered with a sophisticated level of humor and sometimes sarcastic wit that never allows for a dull moment.

4 Stars 

3 Reasons why you should read Indie Books!

Lee Hall 4 Comments

It’s another review post of my reviews and by that I mean recent indie book reviews but this time the number of reads is a little smaller; this is because all three of my recommendations in this edition were a little longer. But here at the Hall of information we don’t discriminate by book length, novel, novella, short or even a sentence or two is welcomed here so let’s take a look at what I’ve read and reviewed recently…

Quantum Series #1 - Black Sunrise 2019 - frontBlack Sunrise by Christina Engela is the first of 6 space travel/ science fiction books set in the Quantum series.

Last year Christina got into contact looking for a review of ‘Demonspawn’ which I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend – review here – so naturally she reached out again this year in search of more reviews so I agreed to read all 6 books of the Quantum series!

Black Sunrise, as quoted from my 5 Star review is ‘A fun and enjoyable quirky multi-character story that carries an important message…’   That message which is intertwined with some action, comedy, and overall fun is all about diversity and inclusion. There’s even a talking plant!

Very soon I shall be delving into the second book in the series ‘the time saving agency’ so watch this space for a review!

Continuing with the space travel science fiction theme my next review is of a book which is set for release very soon so I consider myself pretty lucky to be asked to take a look. Of course I am talking about ‘Kau D’varza: A story in the ChaosNova universe’ by David Noë.

kau d'varza

This is the first ARC review for the Hall of information and having already reviewed another book in the ChaosNova universe called ‘Seeker’ – review here  I didn’t hesitate in taking a look into what is a growing universe of high end science fiction, here’s a quote from my 5 Star review, ‘Engaging and immersive high end sci-fi that follows multiple characters along with their antics of journeying through space…’ 

I found myself immersed in what is a concise and well imagined realistic universe that almost felt like a fly on the wall documentary. There’s deception, investigation, sabotage and even an epic space battle in the latter stages of what is a story I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys this type of thing!

‘Kau D’varza: A story in the ChaosNova universe’ will be released on the 7th of June! 

My final recent read is probably situated directly opposite space travel and science fiction but it was still just as immersive and enjoyable. I am talking about ‘A Squatter in London’ by Irene Pylypec. 

squatter in ldn

As quoted from my 5 star review this book is ‘An enjoyable well written memoir about a young lady who embarks on a travelling adventure…’

As someone like me who is from London I found this story sentimental and nostalgic even though I wasn’t around in the 1970’s. The story perfectly captures everything for the times, the sights, the sounds, the tastes and experiences of a truly multicultural city.  It was even insightful to local history and politics providing not only a journey of one woman’s travels from Canada to the UK but a factual account of everything she experienced . This book can be read by not only Londoners but anyone who enjoys immersive and personal travel experiences with a hint of history through the eyes of a young person in the 1970’s.

And that wraps up my recent reads. Look out for another review very soon and of course tomorrow is the season finale of my Sci fi epic ‘Jack Thorn’ you can read the previous edition here.

Thanks for reading, rock and roll man!

 

 

Black Sunrise by Christina Engela – Review

Lee Hall 7 Comments

A fun and enjoyable quirky multi-character story that carries an important message…

Quantum Series #1 - Black Sunrise 2019 - front

Black Sunrise is about a lot of different things and the author has done a great job of linking them all together by way of a story that is not only funny, it’s also strange in a good way and carries a positive message. The diverse array of characters range from a bounty hunter to a talking plant called ‘Fred’ who in some senses stole the show considering this ‘Arborian’ seemed to be more of a secondary character.

Set mostly on the planet of Deanna; this holiday destination see’s the arrival of an alien spaceship helmed by the ‘Ruminarii’ a race of hostile lizard type aliens looking to send a message. Along the way we see the story from many different points of view; including these aliens who (spoiler alert) fail in a sense to send said message.

Cindy Mei Winter; a former government agent is trying to put the past behind her and provides the important message this story carries. What first appears as a suggested undertone comes center stage in the latter part of the story as Cindy is revealed to be transgender; something that is portrayed in a positive and modern way. In fact there are two transgender characters in this story. This message extends to many of the other characters who are all different in their own way questioning the concept of what an alien really is. 

Overall I found this story enjoyable with a positive message that puts the ‘conscience over paycheck’ concept into practice. There are some parts I found to be genuinely funny while in other moments it was thought provoking.

Seeing as this book is a part of the wider ‘Quantum’ series I will be sure to check out the others.

5 Stars 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demonspawn by Christina Engela – a review

Lee Hall 7 Comments

‘In space, not all things were certain… not even death’ demonspawn-2018-cover-front1

Demonspawn is a detailed well-imagined space story, which I found hard to put down, in fact I read the book in just 3 sittings.

Christina Engela has created a believable world of space travel, delivering it in way that seemed to me logical and explained without straying from the main plot.

From the very opening, there is a deliberate psychological vagueness as to what the ‘big bad’ could be. This heightens the mystery giving readers a real urgency and a want to find out, eventually you will.

With that tension steadily building the story follows the somewhat damned crew of the I.S.S. Mordrake; a ship seemingly stranded and damaged beyond repair in the furthest reaches of space. Their captain is found murdered and so it’s up to main character Joe Lofflin to investigate along with a cast full of convincing characters.

Then they discover a derelict ship just floating in space.

This story reminded me of films such as Alien and Event Horizon but Demonspawn could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with them. There were many concepts of the sci-fi genre in this book that were original and put together in a way not seen before anywhere else (this was especially so for the ‘Akx’.)

It’s an enjoyable read that will leave you wanting more.

5 Stars. 

 

If you have book that needs a review, then do get in touch….