Archive for November 22, 2017

Steal The Stars

by Nat Cassidy

based on the dramatic podcast by Mac Rogers

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (November 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250172624
ISBN-13: 978-1250172624

Genre: Science Fiction

~~~~~

My Review

When I realized this was based on a podcast series I thought I’d listen to them first. Glad I didn’t so I can compare them now.

This is a very different take on discovering aliens exist. They’ve had Moss, the alien, hidden away for a long time. If you are chosen to work at the facility, you are an employee for life. No quitting allowed. And just going to work each day is a whole bunch of weird, complicated check points.

Dak won me over right away. She’s something else. You wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. But she’s also vulnerable, lonely. When Matt, a handsome, eager younger man joins her security team, she’s immediately smitten, as is he. But fraternizing between employees in any way is expressly forbidden and could get them sent to the far corners of the planet, or worse.

I know, sounds like insta love. Sure, they fall for each other quickly, but working for such a secretive project doesn’t allow you many opportunities to connect and the mushy stuff isn’t a focal point in the story.

Their decision to run away and take Moss with them isn’t as simple as it sounds. I got nervous just reading how they had to plan and sneak and lie. I felt for sure one or both would trip up.

Very suspenseful reading. And the ending isn’t anything I was prepared for. All I could think was I liked how it concluded and, it figures.

Great science fiction and now I must listen to the podcasts.

4 Stars

~~~~~

THE NOVEL BASED ON THE DEBUT SCIENCE FICTION PODCAST FROM TOR LABS

Dakota “Dak” Prentiss guards the biggest secret in the world.

They call it “Moss.” It’s your standard grey alien from innumerable abduction stories. Moss still sits at what looks like the controls of the spaceship it crash-landed twenty-five years ago. A secret military base was built around the crash site to study both Moss and the dangerous technology it brought to Earth.

The day Matt Salem joins her security team, Dak’s whole world changes.

It’s love at first sight—which is a problem, since they both signed ironclad contracts before joining the base security team, vowing not to fraternize with other military personnel. If they run away, they’ll be hunted for the secret they know. So Dak and Matt decide to escape to a better life on the wings of an incredibly dangerous plan: They’re going to steal the alien body they’ve been guarding and sell the secret of its existence.

And they can’t afford a single mistake.

.
,

.
Listen to the rest of the EPISODES HERE!
 .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
.

.

Nat Cassidy is an actor, director, musician, and playwright. He has appeared on shows such as The Following (Fox), The Affair (Showtime), Red Oaks (Amazon), High Maintenance (HBO), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), as well as on stage in numerous productions and workshops both Off- and Off-Off-Broadway. Nat’s plays have been nominated for a combined total of 17 New York Innovative Theatre Awards, including 3 times for Outstanding Full-Length Script (which he won in 2009, and in 2011 for Outstanding Solo Performance for his one man show about H.P. Lovecraft). In 2012 Nat was commissioned by The Kennedy Center to write the libretto for a world-premiere opera, and in 2014 his play Any Day Now was chosen to be part of Primary Stages’ ESPADrills (The Duke Theatre, directed by Tony-nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel). He is also thrilled to be writing the novelization of Steal the Stars, which will be published by Tor Books in November 2017.

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | WEBSITE | 

Mac Rogers is an award-winning audio dramatist and playwright. His audio/podcasts dramas The Message and LifeAfter have been downloaded over eight million times. His stageplays include The Honeycomb Trilogy (winner of the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Premiere Production), Frankenstein Upstairs, God of Obsidian, Ligature Marks, Asymmetric, Viral, Universal Robots, Hail Satan (Outstanding Playwriting Winner at FringeNYC 2007), and Fleet Week: The Musical (co-written with Sean Williams and Jordana Williams; winner of Outstanding Musical at FringeNYC 2005). He has earned acclaim from The New York Times, The Guardian, Backstage, The Wall Street Journal, Time Out New York, New York Post, Flavorpill, io9, Fangoria, Tor.com, Show Business Weekly, New York Press, and many others.

.

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Go HERE to follow the tour.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.

Today I’m sharing some more fun adventure books in the Captain No Beard series by Carole P. Roman.

~~~~~

Strangers On The High Seas

A Captain No Beard Story #4

by Carole P. Roman

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Adventure / Children’s Book

 My Review

It’s a beautiful day on the high seas and the crew of the Flying Dragon are getting to know the newest member of the gang. Cayla, the cabin girl, is a bit young and they all take turns making sure she doesn’t get inot trouble. But trouble finds them.

A ship flying the Jolly Roger is heading their way. Oh no, it’s the Shark Bait pirate ship.  They say the captain is so mean he bites his own tail. What will they do?

Oh boy, I got a case of the giggles reading this one. And I laughed out loud at how new crew member, Cayla inadvertently saved the day.

Each new book I read in this series just endears the characters to me more and I’m anxious to see who joins this zany pirate gang next.

Your kids will get the giggles too, and ooh and aah over the fun, colorful illustrations. Sure to be a big hit.

5  Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

When the Flying Dragon gets a new crew member, Captain No Beard soon discovers that every person is valuable in his or her own way.Responsible for his new crew member and baby sister, the Captain becomes unhappy with his situation and begins to think that being a captain is hard work.

However, when the dreaded Barnabas the Scurvey Dog begins to chase the Flying Dragon, the fearless Captain has to put aside his problems and keep everyone safe. In their race to escape, the Captain, his loyal First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, and Polly Parrot soon find out that help can come from the most unlikely of places.

The Captain’s new award winning adventure is the charming fourth entry in the Captain No Beard children’s book series. With a delightful message that teaches children not to judge a book by its cover, this exciting journey will excite young readers as well as teach them valuable life lessons. While stressing the importance of never marginalizing someone because they don’t look like they can help or keep up, the adorable crew teaches children the importance of not talking to strangers. Filled with thrilling adventure, this amusing book will teach children the important lessons in their young lives, all while keeping then riveted from the very beginning.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

The Treasure Of Snake Island

A Captain No Beard Story #5

by Carole P. Roman

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Adventure / Children’s Book

 My Review

The seas are calm and it’s a beautiful red sky morning on the Flying Dragon.. But Polly says to take heed. A storm is brewing. The crew doesn’t believe her so she explains what she read in a book.

Red sky in morning, sailor take warning. Red sky at night, a sailor’s delight. I learned some hand rhymes like this when I was young. There’s also one for poisonous coral snakes. Red on black, friend of Jack. Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Another snake is very similar to it and it helps you know which one is poisonous.

I love how the sailor’s poem prepared the crew for a storm they couldn’t even see yet. And all because Polly the parrot loves books.

They weather the storm and follow a treasure map to a small island to hunt for bounty. It’s what pirates do, don’t you know?

Oh, it was crazy cute what was in the treasure chest they dug up. Carole sure knows how to spin a charming, funny story.

Kids will want to go on a treasure hunt too. But they’ve already found it. It’s this wonderful book of adventure and imagination.

5  Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

After a fierce battle with a storm, the crew goes in search of treasure. Alexander, that is, Captain No Beard uses a map to locate it on the ominous sounding Snake Island. Bravely they dig until they find the best treasure ever!

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE