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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE by Tim White Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.
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Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!
THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE
by Tim White
Pub. Date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Ocean Scribe Publishing
Formats: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 600
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Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-NIGHTMARE-MACHINE
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Purchase the book directly from Tim! There’s also a prequel novella!
What
is The Nightmare Machine? Think Silent Hill meets Inception and Monster
Hunter International.
Five millennia of suffering. A pilgrimage steeped in terror. Will her quest
bring redemption or only a false promise of salvation?
Bangor,
Maine. Sara Holcomb knows what she must do. Raised within a secret order
devoted to protecting humanity from a malevolent god, the dutiful
seventeen-year-old prepares for a terrifying expedition through a world of
nightmares. So when the time comes, she convinces three close friends to escort
her on a perilous journey to an otherworldly cathedral of bone and blood.
Transported
to a land of chaos and horror while they sleep, Sara wrestles with guilt at
bringing people she holds dear to this hell from which they may not escape. And
as vicious traps and pitiless creatures tear at their bodies and minds, the
honor-bound young woman fears they won’t be strong enough to complete the
mission that will preserve mankind.
MY REVIEW
The first thing that caught my attention was the stunning story displayed on the cover. Yes, it pulls you in, wanting to know this girl and her story. It’s absolutely perfect for what’s revealed inside. And the title. It’s also perfect. A teenage girl, descendant of a long line of Maidens, destined to save the world. She takes three friends as protectors into a hidden world. One filled with danger. Teeming with monsters worthy of your worst nightmares. To enter. They sleep. To survive. They awaken.
The first chapter sets up the intrigue. A typical girl. One with horrible nightmares. And hints of a family secret. I was hooked and remained that way through the entire story. Sara was an ordinary girl thrust into a horrific saga. Her character was so genuinely written and I really empathized with her. She had to face things a much older person might not have handled as well as she did.
Dylan was in love with Sara. But that wasn’t why she chose him as one of her protectors. He was a boy wonder. A budding genius and curious about how things worked. His mind worked in mysterious ways and she trusted him.
Dylan and Sara both helped Dr. Alex Warner at a small recovery clinic helping people overcome their addictions. I was unsure how that made her a good choice for a protector aside from knowing Sara and Dylan. Once they began their quest, it began clear.
Tom’s place on the list of protectors was obvious. He was a veteran of war and had survived some horrific situations. He was no stranger to violence and death and his training made him a perfect candidate to work as a team. I really enjoyed his part in the story. He was someone you didn’t want to mess with yet he had a lot of baggage and that gave him an aura of vulnerability.
I tried to envision this nightmare world the group had entered. The author did a great job of showing it to me through words and my imagination did the rest.
As for how the story moved along. I mentioned the first chapter hooked me and kept me hooked. Well that’s true. And the characters sealed the deal for me. Along with the cruel world in The Nightmare Machine and the outrageous and dangerous monsters that were unleashed in it’s pages. Whoa. I do love monsters and there were some humdingers in the book.
Packed with action, suspense and horror, I was thrilled to get everything I wanted out of this story. That was great. And even more exciting. There’s more to come! Can’t wait for that.
5 STARS
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About Author Tim White:
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Tim White is
an author, editor, writing coach, and game designer in Phoenix, Arizona. He
started writing fiction in 1996 and nonfiction in 2006. As of 2023, he has
published more than 1,000 nonfiction articles and three nonfiction books. He
has written three novels, four novellas, dozens of tabletop role-playing game
(TTRPG) scripts, and hundreds of short stories.
Tim is a
zealous crusader for the power of storytelling to promote human flourishing. He
writes fiction in several genres, particularly one that he calls “Romantic
horror” (as in “Romantic-era novelists” such as Victor Hugo and Alexandre
Dumas, not as in “romance novel”). This little-known genre is unique in that it
uses fear as a backdrop against which heroism is sharply contrasted,
dramatized, and elevated.
Tim’s
storytelling philosophy is summed up eloquently by one of his favorite authors:
“I often
hear people say that they read to escape reality, but I believe that what
they’re really doing is reading to find reason for hope, to find strength.
While a bad book leaves readers with a sense of hopelessness and despair, a
good novel, through stories of values realized, of wrongs righted, can bring to
readers a connection to the wonder of life. A good novel shows how life can and
ought to be lived. It not only entertains but energizes and uplifts readers.” ―
Terry Goodkind
Before
transitioning to writing full time, Tim was an Army combat medic, and later, a
nurse paramedic specializing in trauma and surgery. He is a lifelong shooter
and has ranked moderately well in state-level 3-gun competitions. He loves
board games, video games, and role-playing games; cats; Pembroke Corgis; good
coffee; good books; and escape rooms. He owns an escape room venue in Arizona,
where he designs and builds every prop and puzzle in-house.
Sign up for one or all of Tim’s Newsletters!
Website | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Giveaway Details: (there are 2 giveaways)
Bargain Booksy Giveaway:
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One winner will be chosen at random on 4/15/2024 and notified via email
that they have won the 20 eBooks and a Kindle.
Giveaway Link: https://www.bargainbooksy.com/thriller-giveaway-021524/
Rockstar Book Tours Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours,
International.
Ends March 5th, midnight EST.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/19/2024 |
IG Post |
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2/19/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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2/20/2024 |
IG Post |
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2/20/2024 |
Excerpt |
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2/21/2024 |
IG Post |
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2/21/2024 |
Excerpt |
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2/22/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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2/22/2024 |
IG Review |
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2/23/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/23/2024 |
IG Review |
Week Two:
2/26/2024 |
IG Review |
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2/26/2024 |
IG Review |
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2/27/2024 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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2/27/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/28/2024 |
Review |
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2/28/2024 |
Review |
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2/29/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/29/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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3/1/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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3/1/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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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.