Enter into The World of Magic...If You Dare... The Spirit Mage by Layton Green!

Come, turn Merlin's Magic low as background sounds coming from another universe...

A typical 19th Century depiction of Merlin by his cave at Tintagel

New York City. Valjean Blackwood checked his watch once again. A twitch of the wrist that had become an obsession over the last few days, ever since his younger brothers had traveled through a one-way portal to the citadel of a feared necromancer named Zedock. Will and Caleb were trapped in a dark fantasy version of Earth— and Val had no idea how to help them. 
According to Salomon, an old man with silver eyes who might be a crackpot and who might be a two-thousand year old wizard of immense power, time passed at a different rate in Zedock’s world. Presently, a ratio of sixty days in the other world for every one on Earth. Which meant, if the time differential held, that his brothers had been trapped on Urfe for months. At best, they had found a way to escape but were stranded. And at worst . . . 
Val, too, had visited the other world. When he and his brothers had found Zedock’s fortress at the end of their journey, they were forced to pole through a swamp full of undead creatures reaching mindlessly out of the water, horrific creations of the necromancer. So Val didn’t want to think about the worst. Reeling from lack of sleep, shaking with rage and impotence, he stared at the sprawl of Manhattan outside the fiftieth-floor window of his law office and thought about how impossible it seemed that there was another dimension, or world, or universe out there from which Val had narrowly escaped. A world of manticores and cave fiends, magic swords and potions, spirit mages and necromancers. Wizard-monks who could shatter walls with their fists, a city of colored spires so beautiful it had taken his breath away. 
His eyes slipped to the staff hidden behind his desk. Five feet of fortified oak topped by a crescent moon of azantite, a milky-white stone so thin and strong a professional jeweler said it shouldn’t exist. A staff Val’s father had left for him before he died. A wizard’s staff. 
Someone knocked on the door. Val blinked away his exhaustion. “Come in.” With hooded eyes, Val watched Mari Winslow step through the door in red-rimmed glasses and a grey pantsuit that clung to her svelte figure. A half-American, half-Swedish brunette, Mari was only five years older than Val’s thirty-one but already head of the powerful Compensation Committee. She was also Val’s mentor, and was probably checking in to see why he hadn’t left his office for two days straight. Just what I need, he thought...
“What is it, Mari?” he said wearily. 
“How’s the Myrddinus research coming?” Val stilled. The Myrddinus was a secret society dedicated to the exploration of magical phenomena, and his only hope of reaching his brothers. 
Val’s godfather, Charlie Zalinski— the man who had told Val and his brothers about Urfe, before he was turned into a zombie by Zedock— had claimed to be a member of the Myrddinus, along with Val’s father. Despite his best efforts, neither Val nor his junior associate had turned up anything about the Myrddinus other than what Val already knew, which was that Myrddin might refer to a Welsh historical figure who may or may not have inspired the Arthurian legend of Merlin. 
“Fine,” Val said, wondering how Mari knew what he was researching. Her mouth curled into a smirk. 
“Myrddinus. A strange name for a research project...”
Val willed his thoughts away when he reached his building. He took the elevator to the fifty-fifth floor and strode down the deserted hallway to Mari’s office. She was sitting behind a pile of documents stacked neatly on her desk, looking fresh and alert. When Val walked in, her eyes latched on to his staff like a cobra mesmerized by a snake charmer. “Nice walking stick,” she said. “Bad knees?”
Val sat across from her, deciding not to mince words. He rarely did. “If you knew who I was, why’d you wait so long to approach me?”
 “Your father’s instructions. He asked us to hold off until you exhibited an interest in finding us.” 
Val balled his fists to control his anger, reminding himself she wasn’t aware of his brothers’ plight. Or was she? 
“Obviously, your father didn’t tell you very much. You don’t know anything about us, do you?”
“How many of you are there?” She shrugged. “In North America? A few handfuls.” She rose to throw a red leather jacket over slacks and a form-fitting black sweater. “Let’s take a walk.” 
“Where?” 
“To the home of the Myrddinus in New York City, of course. I think you’d be an asset to the organization, and we have something you might be interested in.” 
Val folded his arms. “Stop being coy, Mari. 
What is it?” 
“Your father left something for you.”

~~~

My review of the first book was meant to establish the basic storyline and an overview of the first trip to an alternative universe where, specifically, they were still located in New Orleans on earth, but in an entirely different universe. A universe which was inhabited by all things magic! I'll be sharing about those this time!

The three brothers had made it home but were too late to save their godfather and when they confronted the necromancer, a major exodus--dead man rising--from cemeteries occurred! Zedoc had called up his entry into his own world and only two brothers, plus a friend, had been able to follow him... Now Van was back in New Work, trying to find out how to get to his brothers... His godfather had mentioned the Myrddinus society and he'd been trying to find information on the group... Only to have his boss come right out and ask him about his research! Soon Van was entering into the domain of that very society!

In the meantime, the two brothers, plus Yasmina, a close friend of Caleb, had been successful in killing Zedoc, but the portal had been destroyed! They were now in search of New Victoria (New Orleans) with no way back home...and the magical guardians of Zedoc's castle were now coming for them... First a knight in full shining armor...but was there anything inside?! 

Escaping, they made it to a boat and moved forward into a swamp... All the bugs, sounds, and terror of the swamp was bad enough but soon they were surrounded by a being much like a goblin... One picked up Will and held him on the side like a football, taking his sword, and moving on to find the camp and the others...Interestingly, somehow Will had picked up some bit of his wizardry and was able to understand their language... This certainly was going to help, especially later on!

Back in New York, Van had accepted that his boss was going to be able to help him get to his brothers and traveled to a strange place where those who followed Merlin met... There was a portal there and, though Van tried to go alone, Mari ran and followed through...to land in a place nobody would willingly go... the slums in New Victoria, where the Wizards placed everybody who did not have sufficient magic to become one of the Congregation... Van grabbed Mari and, apologizing, quickly moved to leave behind what were thieves, murderers, and other types of beings who had no other place... 

Mari never made it out...

Captured as slaves to be sold, the goblins moved on to reach the far mines where anybody they discovered would be put to work in the deep mines far below the surface...but even on that trip, dangerous beings tried to take their lives, like giant spiders who came silently, wrapped their prize and scurried back to the central web where those captured would serve as meals whenever a spider got hungry, eating them alive as needed...

There are lots more magical monsters to see, but I thought I'd share one of our heroines...she was also a slave in the mines, and Will was able to understand her words...she was crying for help and indicated she would help save whoever helped her... I loved the introduction of this character who had also been stolen from her home, which was a very hot location even deeper than the mines! So maybe the place there is called...Hell... and we now know the back story...?

Van, Will and Caleb have some form of magical abilities and each had weapons left by their father...but none of them had ever learned about their full capabilities... Van and Will are learning to use their weapons...Caleb is a man of peace that tries to follow his moral compass, but still participates to save those in danger.

Most of the time I prefer reading books rather than movies to get the full story; however, these books are made to be seen as well as read! The magical scenes are fantastic, the creatures from the alternative planet are uniquely designed so readers will stop to think through what these alternative planet beings might look like... and we even find that some who we thought had been killed in the first book, have fought their way back home! Would love to see these books in movie form!

The adventures of the Three Brothers, together with those friendlies who team up with them as they fight for freedom and escape are edge-of-your-seat excitement as trial after trial is brought forth and won...

Only problem...this book is not available until September 15th~
My advice, if you haven't already read the first, hold onto it and get the second book...I guarantee you will want to begin and continue through both books together if at all possible... But wouldn't you know it, Green gives us another cliff-hanger as the second book ends! I have only one comment: Layton Green, Write Faster!

Fantasy, SciFi, and horror Thriller fans should all check this series out... Both books have been fantastic and I'm already looking forward to the next in series. Highly recommended. In the meantime, I'll be reading Written in Blood, coming in November! You really need to check out Author Layton Green if you have not read any of his books yet! He's on my favorite author list now!


GABixlerReviews

Layton Green Presents Debut of Extraordinary New Series!

New Orleans
Present Day

If only all nights were this sultry, all moons so bright and clear. The tendrils of Spanish moss dripping from the oaks whispered adventure in Will Blackwood’s ear, made him long for gallant quests and fiendish dungeons and exotic, leather-clad heroines. With practiced flair, Will threw his cape over his shoulder, pulled on his gauntlets, and twirled his sword above his head. Then he shut the trunk of his Honda Civic and trudged through the parking lot to the employee entrance of Medieval Nights, a joust-themed joust-themed dinner theatre in New Orleans. 
To make ends meet, Will spent a few nights a week engaging in staged battles with a staff of fellow underachieving twenty-somethings. Once Will stepped into the pennant-lined arena, the music started, and the crowd of children and bored retirees screamed at the top of their lungs for blood and victory, he knew he was as close to Middle Earth as he was ever going to get. 
After dispatching two trolls and a papier-mâché dragon, Will changed into a pair of Carhartt pants and a T-shirt and headed to the House of Spirits, a funky little joint where his brother Caleb tended bar. It would be the same routine: two draft Abita Ambers to take the edge off, a little online gaming back at the apartment, and then asleep by midnight so Will could wake up at six a.m. for his day job as a general contractor’s assistant. Just like every other night, just like every other morning. Right before he walked through the beaded entrance of the House of Spirits, Will felt his cell buzz. 
Wanna go get some bad guys? 
The text was from his oldest friend, Lance Wesson, whose name Will envied for not sounding like a hobbit’s. Lance had enlisted in the Marines after high school, then joined the New Orleans Police Department after returning from active duty. Will’s history of severe panic attacks, which had started after his father died, prevented Will from joining any profession involving danger or stress. Lance was sympathetic and let him ride along on calls he knew wouldn’t involve any risk. Will texted back. 
Whats up
Animal noise disturbance at Laveau Cemetery
Will sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. What would be his next big vicarious adventure, staking out jaywalkers? He always felt patronized when he rode with Lance, but he had trouble resisting the siren call of potential excitement. Will’s fingers flicked across the keypad. 
Sure 

Pick u up in 5. Ur at bar? 

Yep  

Will stepped outside to wait. His quick blue eyes roamed the darkened street, all too aware that nothing truly mysterious lived in the shadows of New Orleans, or anywhere else on Earth. Why had evolution enabled human beings to develop

such potent imaginations?

~~~

If you can conceive it, you will find it in Layton Greens new Blackwood series...But be prepared...all that you have never thought of--all that what you've seen in your nightmares... They, too, will be there... Say, for instance, do you think there are parallel universes existing at the same time in the same location on earth? Will Blackwood was into all things fantasy--you might even call him obsessive, as he read, saw or participated in any activity related to fantasy... Magic was so real to him, but his life was so boring. He had a panic disorder--a disorder that had appeared when his father left and also died--that affected many of his potential choices...

Will is the main character, often the story following his point of view; however, his two brothers are very close. His older brother Van feels he has a responsibility for the care and protection of his two brothers, while Caleb tends bar and is also a pacifist. The combination of these three create a storyline that is refreshingly new as they come to discover who and what they really are...

One of their father's friends, Charlie, was the one to initiate the discussions of their startling background, when he presented three gifts to each of the brothers. Will was the most thrilled since he received a sword which fit right into the many scenarios he already routinely participated in... What was surprising was that the sword was so heavy that Will could hardly lift it, which was strange since Will was a building contractor and had developed extra strength in his hands...

That was the first thing that set him to wonder what was so special about the sword...

The second thing was on the night that his friend, Lance, had called him for what he thought would be a routine call about a disturbance in a local cemetery, and would get Will out for a small adventure... But that disturbance proved to be a major event when a Rottweiler dog, which actually looked dead, came toward them prepared to attack! Will's immediate reaction--he was a zombie dog...

And hunting for that dog led Will and Lance to His house...the necromancer... one who communicates with the dead... normally a wizard...

And that, readers, quickly leads into the three brothers trip into the parallel universe of New Orleans...where no technology can be found... It is the world of magic...and those who control magic control the world...Religion lost to those with their magic and all who live there must take an oath to support what is called The Congregation...(I liked that little bit of irony by the author.)

Think Harry Potter (Will) and his wizard life...but for adults! The interesting thing, like the Charmed Ones, the Brothers Three, had no idea their father was a Wizard and, as the book begins, they have little skills to even take care of themselves on earth! They could not have made it in Wizard World New Orleans without help...

And that's when many more main characters start coming into the book...Major people who, for gold, will help them get to the place they need to go...the home of the necromancer in this place that somewhat looked like New Orleans, felt like New Orleans... but...wasn't

The key thing I'll share about this universe is that what you'll see will be brighter, clearer, and without environmental issues... Everything is beautiful and much has been magically created... The people do speak English although with an accent and indeed much is comparable to a much older earth than the present...On the other hand, there are all kinds of humans and animals, many of which would be considered creature or monsters... Think of any that you already know about, such as giant spiders...but then allow yourself to enter into this new world where, as you read, you will experience something new and sometimes horrible again and again and again... Be prepared for a fascinating experience that will leave you wanting by the time you finish! 

Thankfully, I had been provided the second book, which will not be out until September, so I'll be sharing that book soon! Leaving you with one early look, Van, the older brother, goes to Wizard school! 

Sooooooo much magic...and more to come! Fantasy Readers have a real treat and should consider this series must-reads! But, even though I don't read Fantasy that often, I was hooked by Green's Debut from first page to last, which, by the way, does end at an appropriate time to be a satisfactory single read as well... but I don't think you'll be able to not move forward...


GABixlerReviews

Layton is the author of the internationally bestselling Dominic Grey series, as well as other works of fiction. His novels have been nominated for several awards (including a finalist for a prestigious International Thriller Award) and have topped numerous genre lists. The Shadow Cartel reached #2 overall on Amazon UK.

In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for the better part of a decade (even though he still resents having cut his hair for that first interview). He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door-to-door phone book deliverer in Florida, and the list goes downhill from there. Currently based in Durham, North Carolina, Layton has traveled to more than sixty countries, lived in a number of them, and has a burning desire to see every country, city, beach, moor, castle, cemetery, twisted street and far flung dot on the map.

Greeth by Charles LaFave - Full of Surprises and Awe--including a Marriage Proposal!

Setting the Mood...

Peter Buraku rushed up the double flight of sandy colored steps, just a minute shy of being late to his job at Chuo Soap, when he caught the ugly green scent of a corpse on the wind. He kept going. He hadn’t been late to a job in eight years. Not since his arrest. 
If he lost his job, he’d be begging in Taito-ku in two weeks and starving in a month. 
The smell caught him off guard. It doubled up his stomach in an ugly way. He felt and there— gomen, gomen nasai!— he pushed through like an oshiya on the subway. The scent, sticky on the wind, caught in his nostrils more firmly. Nothing smelled quite like that. A deer left to rot in the woods for a good while might smell nearly that way, but not quite. And he heard the sounds, the wet sounds of muscle and bone moving, like someone tearing pot roast apart with two big forks. Vomit caught in his throat and he looked up the stairs toward the sound. It was his father. Eyes like dry stones set deep back in the sockets, nose missing, lips missing, teeth showing through in rictus. Across the forehead, a long green gash showed through to the brains. The body stood near the side of the swinging glass doors Peter had meant to go through. Stood looking down at him, mouthing something liplessly. Pointed a grisly, rot-blackened rot-blackened finger at him. 
Peter crashed into a woman and convulsively vomited on the steps. Eggs, milk, and the wet sloppiness of banana slices soaked in stomach acid churned out. Half seemed to come out through his nose. He stumbled over the slick step, caught the cold iron rail, and threw up some more onto the grass. He heaved until he was empty and spat on top of it. 
The old man still stood by the doors, waiting. Time had done a number on him, but nothing could erase the quietly sad, patient expression in his eyes. The faces of the men and women hurrying into the soap factory showed no sign of surprise or terror. No one else could see the corpse of his father. It was a vision for Peter alone...
If anything, his father deserved a look in the eyes. Peter knew he’d want that look. He remembered how lonely his father could be. How it seemed like, aside from his son, he hadn’t had a friend anywhere.
Peter passed without giving his father the look. "I can’t do anything for you. You need to leave me alone now. You don’t know how much I need this job." His father reached for him, and Peter stepped away and walked through the glass doors.

But as the grave had slowly filled,
an idea already grew in the back of his mind.
 He heard the sound of black wings
fluttering across the yard.
The sound of something pounding at the glass.
~~~

Greeth

By Charles LaFave

Peter Baraku, a man with a destiny, although he never knew about it. Peter from an early age was fascinated with life--with making it. And, as a wizard, he was able to do so. Until he tried it on a human... As a result, Peter, as a wizard, had two hearts which were bound together by authorities which prevented his being able to use his magic...


It had been eight years and he was working in a soap factory, trying to make enough to keep his mother and him alive...Fortunately, one of the golems he had made long ago had remained and she took care of his mother, thankfully, because he'd never have been able to pay somebody to take care of her.

I suppose this doesn't sound too weird yet...but it's going to get there quickly! If you love dark fantasy, I guarantee that this book is one of the most original you will read and that it will be "almost" totally satisfying. I say that only because the ending was not one I would have preferred, but it left me wondering if there was going to be a sequel...we'll see. This book totally stands on its own so you will be mesmerized by the original creativity and the ingenuity it obviously took to write this epic story! This is this author's debut and I was amazed at the quality and the diversity of the material, yet within a cogent underlying continuum that keeps readers moving forward into the climatic action at the end.

Peter flinched at the sound of the word. 

He was thirteen the first time a Japanese

 kid called him uizado. Split Peter’s scalp

 with a rock and ran away. The first signs

 of hatred and resentment exploded after the

 war ended. After the Others put their mark

 on the world. It became an even uglier

 word then, spray painted on people’s doors, 

tied to bricks thrown through windows,

 found pinned to the bodies of the

 dead.

~~~

This is a time when humans and wizards have adjusted to living together and with wizard help, humans certainly have the opportunity to live much longer since the wizards create healing spells that are stocked and maintained for use on humans... Wow! 

But we all know peace doesn't live long and, when some things started happening around the world, like the lost sounds of insects--in fact they just weren't around to bother us anymore--or, more importantly, to help us! So where were they and why had they left?
Unfortunately, later they would find out where...and why...

And then Peter got an offer he couldn't refuse. The father of an old girlfriend of his, who he stilled love, came and offered to get his wizard skills returned...and once done, he'd pay much to have Peter find his daughter and get her home...

And now the real horror of the book begins...Peter and Ishmael, a mega-rich corporate owner, set off. And I'll save you by not sharing what happened to Peter next, other than to say that he was a one-eyed wizard when it was done...

On to Julie...who was now a member of the Praesidium, the group that had taken Peter's wizard skills away!

It's good they can't see me. The Praesidium uniform inspired as much fear as it did awe. She could see it in their faces when they looked at her. Uizado, they’d say under their breath as she passed. They’d be wrong, of course. Julie Alvarez wasn’t a wizard. Just a well-trained human. 

Neither the uniform nor the car technically belonged to her. Her employer issued those. The only things that belonged to her were her underwear and the rapier. 

The latter was a gift from her grandfather when she graduated the fencing academy at eighteen. She had it with her when she took the silver medal at Oslo and later at her grandfather's funeral. Her fingers traced the worn handle absentmindedly, making their way to the brass cage that made up the guard and down to the leather of the pommel. 

You’re pensive this morning, little one. You want to talk? 

"No, Espiga. Not today. I’m just thinking, that’s all." It had been quite a shock, on her eighteenth birthday, when she’d held Espiga, her rapier, and first heard the deep, rasping voice in her mind. Julie had exchanged a knowing look with her grandfather, who then told her the story of the haunted blade. The voice had become so normal she felt lost without it. Julie carried Espiga everywhere.

~~~

So our main male character is now a Wizard. Our female main character, a highly trained human with a magical telepathic sword...Then we also have a brother-sister who we meet concurrently--the sister a hardened warrior and the brother, a wizard whose life is surrounded in music, evening using his guitar (and strings) to defend himself. These four are later brought together to fight...Greeth...and her minions (who have been visiting here today...).

Some scenes are, just, gross! Others will make you gag, but, by that time you will be so engrossed in the story and the desire to find Greeth, that you'll be hooked on the book just as I was! My honest opinion...somebody in the business of fantasy movies should be sent this book...it's made for animation applications for so many of the scenes that you can actually visualize them in your mind.  I would love to see that movie, setting a new standard, I believe, for dark fantasy. Wow! Don't miss this one! It's unbelievably unpredictable, and totally memorable, even the ending which I was sad about...

GABixlerReviews

Growing up, Charles LaFave spent more time with books than with people. One might argue that this is a terrible way to raise a child. Of course it is. Definitely socialize your child if you have one. On the other hand, it undeniably fostered an incredible love for books that continues to this day. Before his writing career took off, he worked as a body removal specialist for a funeral home, a network engineer, a construction worker, blogger, and a paperboy. Not necessarily in that order.