Review: The Vision of the Blind King by Ako Eyong

The Vision of the Blind King

Ako Eyong

Publisher: Ako Eyong (March, 2013)

Genres: Historical Thriller, Time Travel, Supernatural Elements

Tour Dates: January, 2013

Available in: Print & ebook ,353 pages, with illustrations

About the novel

This is the story of Melenoc, a very power hungry man with a particularly uncommon fear of death; a toxic combination of emotions that ultimately drive him into an unending quest for immortality. As he digs deeper it becomes obvious that he will stop at nothing to achieve this goal, even to the point of crossing lines that may compromise the security and well being of a whole kingdom.

It is a tale that pits good against evil, taking us deep into an ancient African society where the survival of the same kingdom will come to rest on the shoulders of another individual; a General who must rise above personal trauma and self doubts, and find a way to pull a nation away from the edge.

As powerful forces collide and the struggle intensifies, unexpected turns and twists will catapult the plot into a four thousand year journey that spills over into the contemporary age; from the rugged camp of a bitter African rebel leader to the concrete jungles of Los Angeles, spawning characters who have no idea that their lives are being affected by a four thousand year old quest.

Purchase Links

Amazon  ~  Barnes and Noble  ~  Book Depository

Praise for The Vision of the Blind King

"If historical fiction (or any kind of adventure story) is your thing then you are going to love this book. TVOTBK takes you on a journey back into ancient times where an assortment of luring characters and captivating events are thrust together seamlessly while leaving you in the dark just enough so that it's impossible to put down. It becomes even more intriguing when you realize that a much larger game is at hand and that everything is just a piece being put into position on a giant chessboard stretching over counties and centuries. As intricately clever as it is enjoyable. "-Kevin, Amazon Reviewer

 

"THE VISION OF THE BLIND KING intertwines seemingly unrelated tales, spanning continents and millennia, into an engaging story of political and spiritual intrigue. Believable characters and well written dialogue capture the imagination and carry the reader on a suspenseful journey through the ages, tracing the path of an amulet that is endued with a mysterious and supernatural power.

On the journey, the reader encounters many characters - from royalty to rogues of forgotten ancient cities; politicos and journalists in the former French colony of Cameroon; rebels and their captives in the jungles of Africa; and, assassins and pawns in the modern day streets of Los Angeles. Through, protagonists and antagonists alike, the author deftly examines universal aspects of human nature, from compassion and acceptance to greed and prejudice. My only disappointment came when I realized I had reached the last page. In short, J.R.R.Tolkien has his "Ring" - Ako Eyong has his "Amulet".  I hope you enjoy the read as much as I did!"-Donald Pitts, Amazon Reviewer

 

"Right off the bat, incredible drama with careful plot enigma. Main character in ultimate morally and physically challenging terrain engaging me to want to know more before I even know what's going on. And these are real issues that pertain to all of us. The backdrop is very interesting, and this book within first 30 pages definitely got me thinking = classic Hollywood feature film story. All the right elements = both historical and current today but causing wonder, passion, desire to know the outcome. I give this author an A+ in creative relevant drama.  Perfect story for a feature film!"-Cary O'Neal, Amazon Reviewer

My thoughts

Author Ako Eyong’, a political refugee from Cameroon, gives us a true historical fiction novel firmly written against an actual historical backdrop.  That is the Hykso invasion of North Africa in 1720 BC. This event provides Eyong with the setting for his novel that deals with the themes of corruption, fate, war racism, and religion. 

The Vision of the Blind King begins in modern-day Cameroon, travels back to the Kingdom of Kesmet and brilliantly as he imparts the tale of one man, a king, whose intense fear of death and who is intoxicated by power.  This should sound familiar, Hitler or Bonaparte, perhaps even Alexander the Great, are good examples of this volatile personality combination.

As this king’s fear of death increases begins a quest to obtain an ancient relic, a piece of jewelry, and the possession of this object will grant him what he wants most: immortality.  The almost uncontrollable desire for the jewelry and its powers causes the king to ignore As powerful forces collide and the struggle intensifies, unexpected turns and twists will catapult the plot into a four thousand year journey that spills over into the contemporary age; from the rugged camp of a bitter African rebel leader to the concrete jungles of Los Angeles, spawning characters who have no idea that their lives are being affected by a four thousand year old quest.

The story was gripping with history weaved with action and adventure and the supernatural quest for immortality create a rocket of a read with an underlying reminder that history impacts us unknowingly throughout time through to the present day.  Only by studying the past can we change the future as through that knowledge comes power.   

The Vision of the Blind King is not only excellent historical fiction it is embedded with truths about humanity that most of us turn a blind eye on.  I especially enjoyed Eyong’s connection of the effects of the history of the Continent of Africa; here specifically Cameroon, with the modern problems Africans and the world face today.  There is a tremendous lesson within the pages of the novel for understanding the continent itself.

 

About the author

Ako Eyong is a Cameroonian national, whose critique of government policy (as a journalist) has led to an existence in America as a political exile. Presently, while working on the sequel to The vision of the blind king, he is taking the first steps into the world of public speaking. He has spoken at several locations in the country, including Oxnard College in California, Coconino community college in Arizona, Ventura college, Ventura Chapter of Amnesty international, Rotary club of Malibu at Pepperdine university, just to name a few. He holds a bachelor's degree in history and a diploma in political science.

Connect with the author  ~   Facebook  ~  Twitter

VABT: Review of Woman on Top by Deborah Schwartz

Woman on Top

by Deborah Schwartz

Publisher: Laudan Press (May 30, 2013)

Genres: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction

Tour Dates: November 2013

Available in: Print & ebook, 346 pages

About:

A Woman’s Struggle To Find Herself After Losing Everything She Believed Was Important.

We hear a great deal in the media about women who become victims of wealthy and powerful men. Like a breath of fresh air, the heroine in Deborah Schwartz’s inspiring book, Woman on Top, does escape becoming yet another casualty… literally…all the way to the top of a mountain!

New York, NY, September 4, 2013 - One has to wonder has anything changed since Nora slammed the door over a hundred years ago in Ibsen’s iconic play A Doll’s House? Deborah Schwartz made sure that they did in her timely novel, Woman on Top (Laudan Press).  Like a breath of fresh air, the heroine in Deborah Schwartz’s inspiring book, Woman on Top shows the way things have changed…all the way to the top of a mountain!

Book Description:

Falling prey to Len, a very wealthy Wall Street banker who is hell-bent on acquiring her as his next deal, Kate struggles after the death of her husband to keep control amidst the detours of a tempestuous New York romance. As witness to a world of power and greed that life in New York offers to a vulnerable woman, can Kate ultimately rescue herself from the lure that is Len’s world?

Throughout this compelling story, which is inspired by actualevents from the author’s own life, Schwartz cleverly weaves self-empowering thoughts into her heroine’s exploits, making it less the ‘damsel in distress’ and more the infinitely successful ‘woman on top!’ In this amazing look at a woman’s journey to finding herself, readers will both laugh and cry as they relate to Kate and her decisions, emotions and experiences.

While following her quest for a reaffirmation of life and love, including a surprising adventure, Kate’s story touches on the unexpected pleasures and decisions we face throughout our lives. Readers who have dreamed of, or survived, a “Len” in their lives, will recognize themselves in Kate as she searchesto find what matters most in her new life. What does a 35 year-old woman who seems to have it all do when the rug is pulled out from under her? Kate’s struggle to find inner strength on her journey down a slippery slope with a Wall Street man leaves readers wondering and rooting for her to land as the ‘woman on top.’

Praise for Woman On Top:

“Every now and then you find a book that you have difficulty putting down. Last month, I had that experience with the novel Woman on Top, released May 30, 2013 by first time author Deborah Schwartz. Readers may snicker about the title assuming this is a poorly written shallow romance novel; however, quite the opposite is true. The title is a double entendre and refers to the empowerment of a woman.”- Kristin Meekhof, Huffington Post

“The reader will go through a range of emotions but will not want to put this book down since Woman on Top is inspirational, entertaining, and heartbreaking as Kate straddles two completely different worlds.”- Elise Cooper, Working Mother

“The writer Deborah Schwartz, in her novel “Woman on Top,” demonstrates her writing chops by the way she deftly shifts between two literary genres: romance and pathography. The language she uses and the tones she creates align with the chapters covering the stormy romance of the main character and the intense and ultimately tragic illness experience of the main character’s husband.  In this way, the author makes the reader feel deep sympathy for the main character as the story concerns her husband’s plight, yet feel great frustration with the main character as the story concerns her romance. The author makes us wonder how someone who is so clear and soulful can also be so vulnerable and superficial. She’s probably telling us that we’re just stuck with these seemingly contradictory attributes and characteristics. We’re all capable of manifesting a range of behaviors that work against our self interests and that are determined by circumstances beyond our control. Thus, while Woman on Top tells the excruciatingly sad story of an untimely death and the story of a tempestuous romance with its own pathology, the novel has more to tell about us humans.”- JRT, Amazon Reviewer

“You know those great books that from the first sentence (and the cool cover art) grab your attention, and make you want to read it? Well, this is one of those. Settle in, and get ready for a great ride. Schwartz alternately made me laugh and cry out loud over and over in this funny, sad, sexy, entertaining novel. A psychotherapist, I found myself cheering for Kate, as she brings us with her on her journey , refusing to abandon her true self while rebuilding her life after tragedy. Schwartz also deftly paints a picture of the ups and downs of monied NY dating that makes us non-east coast people shake our heads in wonder in this absorbing and fun summer treat.”- littlesrink, Amazon Reviewer

“The most life-affirming book I’ve read all year! “Woman on Top” is a testament to all women who have overcome adversity (in life and in love) through strength of character and a sheer zest for living. After losing the love of her life, Kate finds herself in the arms of a powerful New York banker who prides himself on being able to give a woman everything she could want, and more. But can he? Schwartz’s book speaks to an essential ingredient for happiness–finding your inner strength. “Woman on Top” will make you laugh and cry and laugh and cry again. If you are in danger of losing faith in true love…or in yourself, read this book now!”- lilybrat, Amazon Reviewer

About Deborah Schwartz:

 

Born and raised in New York, Deborah Schwartz graduated from Tufts University and then obtained her Masters in History at Columbia University where she wrote a thesis on “Feminism in Eighteenth Century England.” She received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. Today, Deborah’s passion is writing and she incorporated her achievement of having reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2011 into her debut novel. A New Yorker to the core, Deborah is most grateful to be the mother of her two grown children.  

For more information, please visit: 

www.deborahschwartz.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deborah-SchwartzAuthor/1376332242578553

Twitter: https://twitter.com/schwartzd18

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7166782.Deborah_Schwartz

My thoughts:

If you love NYC, a sexy and alluring city full of promise and heartbreak, then you are sure to love Deborah Schwartz’s debut novel Woman on Top.  Set amidst the glamour and excess of NYC Kate struggles to cope after the death of her husband when she finds herself suddenly vulnerable in this city controlled by power and greed.

Lonely without her husband Kate gives in to the charms of the stereotypical Wall Street shark, Len and finds herself immersed in a world she neither knows how to navigate or escape. 

Woman on Top is a compelling story, made more so when you realize that it is inspired by the author’s life.  Deborah Schwartz, using her own experiences and struggles, reminds every woman that the road to self-empowerment is journey.  Often an uphill one on its best days, but the struggle to find oneself and emerge from a woman on top is definitely worth the struggle.  Women every will relate to Kate, her emotions, her decisions, her experiences and her mistakes.

Schwartz definitely reminds her reader that life is a journey more than a destination and it is in finding the adventures along the way that is essentially what life is all about.  I believe that readers will easily relate to Kate’s unexpected pleasures as well as her often-heartbreaking missteps along her journey of self discovery and at times recall the moments that took their breath away, both for the good or for the bad, in their own life experience.

I truly enjoyed Woman on Top and relishing the privilege of sharing Kate’s journey and especially the memories reading the novel evoked in myself.  I found myself cheering Kate on as she relentlessly pushes forward refusing to abandon her true self while rebuilding her life after tragedy.

For more information on the Woman on Top virtual book tour 

please click on the banner below:

Interview with Deborah Schwartz, author of Woman on Top

Deborah Schwartz speaks with The Most Happy Reader about Woman on Top

The Most Happy Reader is honored to welcome Deborah Schwartz, author of Women on Top.

Why don’t we begin by getting to know you better?  Would you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

 I grew up and have lived in New York most of my life. My two grown children are most precious to me and I just can't wait for grandchildren. I graduated from Tufts University and then obtained a Masters in History at Columbia University where my graduate thesis was on “Feminism in Eighteenth Century England.”  My J.D.is from Boston University School of Law. After practicing healthcare law for 18 years, I spent a year writing 'Woman on Top'. And I did climb Kilimanjaro.

 

When did you decide to become a writer?  Was writing always an aspiration of yours or did your life experiences compel you to become a writer?

I definitely felt compelled to write this book. And it wasn't until my children were out on their own and my career as an attorney ended that I could turn to writing. Writing was always an aspiration and my life experience did compel me.

I loved writing this book and can't wait to do another one.

What made you decide to sit down and actually begin writing?

Especially given that Woman on Top though fiction is based on your own life experiences.  My life inspired the story in the book. After I finished working as an attorney I felt finally free to write the book. It is incredibly rewarding to hear back from women who have said that they can't get the story out of their heads.

They related to it and feel that they can use it in their lives. That's what inspired me to write it. There was a story in there that needed to be told.

Is Woman on Top your way of reminding women of their own ability to emerge “on top”?

Women need inspiration to come out on top and they need to find the strength within themselves. Women have told me that the book has really hit a nerve with them and they don't have to be involved with a wealthy man to feel that. The book is intended to reach out to all women through Kate's story to find their way up!

Other ways to connect with Deborah:

Website: www.deborahschwartz.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DeborahSchwartzAuthor

Twitter:  @schwartzd18

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D3WHBJK/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=deborah%20schwartz&pc_redir=C&qid=1370450935&ref_=sr_1_13&sr=8-13

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7166782.Deborah_Schwartz

Deborah many thanks again for taking the time to discuss your life, the writing process and your novel, Woman on Top, with The Most Happy Reader.  I wish you every future.

Check back tomorrow for my review of Woman on Top and a 

chance to win a copy for yourself.

Click the tour banner below for more information and the tour schedule.

Review: The Three Sisters by Bryan Taylor

The Three Sisters

by Bryan Taylor

Publisher: Dragon Tree Books (July 23, 2013)

Category/Genre: Humor, Literary Fiction, Inspirational, Satire, Philosophy

ISBN13: 9780988402478

Tour Date: Mid-October/November, 2013

Available in: Print & ebook, 401

Nuns just want to have fun! But when three former Catholic nuns, Coito Gott, Theodora Suora and Regina Grant have too much fun and get in trouble with the law, they become nuns on the run.

Driving back to Washington D.C. where they work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Parts, the three sisters are arrested in Tennessee. After defeating the local deputy in strip poker, they escape from jail, and are pursued by the zealous Detective Schmuck Hole, who has personally offered a $10,000 reward for their capture on the 700 Club. Little do they know that when the three sisters visit the Washington Monument, their lives will change forever.

Set in 1979, The Three Sisters is a humorous, adult satire that skewers not only organized religion, but the government, the media, intellectuals, corporate greed and every other part of the establishment. Maybe not the greatest story ever told, but possibly the funniest.

“Blessed are they who read The Three Sisters, for they shall inherit eternal laughter.” — Matthew 5:66

Praise for The Three Sisters:

“This may sound odd but I never thought of myself as a big fan of religious satire…until I read this book. I was caught right away by the three sexy nuns on the cover. A friend recommended it to me and I didn’t think I would like it so I ventured to “skim” the first chapter. I must say that first chapter wowed me with excitement and I became so intrigued…I ended up with finishing it in two days.

If you’re looking for a serious study of religion or to explore the depths of the human condition, this book is probably not for you. The whole point of it was to be a roller-coaster of a ride – sexy naughty nuns running amok in 1970′s America and not looking back. Heavy on wordplay, allusions, and references to famous philosopher’s such as Voltaire, Taylor thumbs his nose at the common institutions and over-used plots.  So if you’re not afraid to ruffle some religious feathers, this might be the book for you.”- Joshua Silverman, Author of  The Emerald Tablet (Legends of Amun Ra, #1)

“This book is a hysterical read–not for the faint hearted or the easily offended. I thoroughly enjoyed Taylor’s sense of humor, writing style, and his use of innuendos, pun, satire, etc. He is a master at intertwining historical events of the Bible, church history, and religious stereotypes along with history in the 1970s. More than half way through, the book has a great surprise that I cannot say more about without giving too much information. I can only say that I laughed for two days. The character development of each of the three sisters (and some of the other characters such as Victor) is superb.”- Maureen Burton, Amazon Reviewer

“Reading The Three Sisters May Add to your Years in Purgatory, but It’s Worth It.  After reading The Three Sisters, I realize that Taylor has made the ultimate sacrifice. He is definitely going to Hell for writing this book, or if he is lucky, he’ll probably spend about five trillion years in Purgatory. But hey, his loss was my gain.

I really liked this book. It was witty in an Oscar Wilde or Mark Twain sort of way and made me laugh throughout. Not only is the main character highly sacrilegious, but the plot itself is about as sacrilegious as you’ll get. But the book is as much satire as sacrilege, and the sacrilege just lays the foundation for the rest of Taylor’s skewering of society.

The book is set in 1979, and only after you finish the book will you realize why (no spoiler here.  I found myself pulling for all the three sisters to overcome their predicament. Consequently, I couldn’t put the book down.”- S. Zehntner, Amazon Reviewer

“Simply divine! The plot: naughty nuns conquer America! Set in a mythical past, this satire is truly one of a kind. The author has a wicked sense of humor and an imagination that defies description. The more offbeat your own sense of humor is, the more you’ll appreciate this book. I highly recommend this for anyone who’s looking for something unusual.”-Mari Trevelyan, Amazon Reviewer

About Bryan Taylor:

Bryan Taylor is a double PK, a preacher’s kid of a preacher’s kid. With that legacy he faced two destinies, being an unhappy triple PK (Jubilees 17:23, “He that is born unto the son of a preacher and himself preaches shall be miserable until his dying day and suffer eternal damnation.”), or being sacrilegious and happy.

He decided to forsake the Southern Baptists for Catholicism, but when he applied to join a convent, he was rejected (sex discrimination!), so he decided to do the next best thing: write a novel about the three nuns he would most like to meet.

Bryan Taylor was born in Louisiana, grew up in Michigan and Texas, went to school in Tennessee, South Carolina and California, taught in Switzerland for a year, and has traveled to 50 countries, more than any Pope except Saint John Paul II. He now lives in California, which is one of the few places with people crazier than him.

The Three Sisters Website: http://www.threesistersnovel.com/

Bryan Taylor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BryanTaylorAuthor

Bryan Taylor Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/3sistersnovel/books/

My thoughts:

Normally I would shy away from a novel that had anything to to with nuns.  Some bad school memories will just never be erased.  However, to my delight these are not your average nuns.  I know that Sister Rita and Sister Dawn, my high school task masters, would never approve of anyone having any fun; much less that fun leading to lawbreaking; certainly not a nun, but Bryan Taylor would disagree and thank God for it!

Because I survived Catholic education it was intriguing to read Taylor account of three nuns with a sense of humor and a wild streak!  The novel, set in 1979, is really outrageously funny and few institutions escape Taylor’s satire; not only organized religion, but the media, the government, intellectuals, corporate greed; basically the establishment, man!

What was so endearing to me it that Taylor chose three nuns as the protagonists who would thumb their nose as the establishment.  Truly, for this reader that choice took the novel from being funny to being at times hysterically so.  I enjoyed Taylor’s refreshingly wicked sense of humor and the novel’s ability never to bow to “political correctness”.  

I truly enjoyed Three Sisters on the Run and thank Bryan Taylor for giving the reader such a funny novel that reminded me not to take things too seriously and enjoy the adventure rather than wait for the destination.