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29 Nov 2008

Hosts

Hosts, written by Dylan J. Morgan and published by Wild Child Publishing is a dark fiction novel at 147 pages including cover, publisher’s page and thanks.

Now living and working in Norway, Dylan J Morgan was born in New Zealand and raised in the United Kingdom. He writes during those rare quiet moments amid a hectic family life: after dark, with limited sustenance, and when his creative essence is plagued the most by tormented visions.
Dylan Morgan has also had several short stories published and has completed his second novel Flesh which is going through reviewing, he is currently working on his third novel.

The cover for Hosts is black with white writing and a ghostly white figure in the centre which has worms inside its mouth.

In the small town of Snow Peak, North America an important archaeological discovery will change the town and its people forever. When archaeologist Marianne White becomes the first victim to an ancient parasite over five centuries old and with a storm growing, it is only a matter of time before the entire town is isolated in a nightmare which threatens the lives of everyone. The protection of the town lies in the hands of the Sheriff and the local GP Dr Lauren Kemper, whose own personal nightmares from her past have come flooding back in the form of the husband, Malcolm Macdonald, she escaped two years earlier. Together can they save the town and those in it from the growing number of parasites as the number of inhabitant’s decreases?

Dylan Morgan grasps your attention from the very first chapter, with excellent descriptions of the scene and what is going on which enable you to picture the scenes easily. The characters are believable in both how they put themselves across and also the often terrifying situations they find themselves in.

In Hosts, Dylan Morgan is at his best when lives are on the line and it appears all hope is lost. This is a story of fear, of facing it head on no matter the cost, standing up for what is right and important and conquering personal fears and those of unknown sources. It’s about life and death, and love versus money.

Though I’d say the synopsis would intrigue me into reading this book, I do not think the cover would, not being a bug fan myself I would not recommend this book to anyone with a fear of bugs namely, worms. However having read this book, I would recommend it to anyone over 18 years old, without a fear of worms or bugs likely to raise its head.

Dylan Morgan has done a wonderful job with his descriptions and paints a terrifying picture sure to make you stay away from any water sources. I give Hosts by Dylan Morgan 4.5 out of 5 stars

By R.N. Hadley

8 Nov 2008

Like Glass

Like Glass is Matthew Cory’s first book which is 203 pages in length, not including title pages and thanks to his wife Patti. Though he has written four short stories which he considers complete none have yet been published.

Matthew Cory currently resides in El Paso Texas with his wife, his two year old beagle, Chloe, and cat, Charlie. He is a software/web developer.

Eight years ago during college, Rob fell deeply in love with someone he barely knew. Then one night his brother Bill betrayed him terribly shattering their relationship and leaving Rob alone, cut off from everyone depressed and wishing his brother were dead.

Eight years later awaiting a phone call from his brother to his shock it is Janet, Bill’s wife who phones informing him of his brother’s death, but with so much history between Rob, Bill and Janet, how is Rob to feel...sad he has lost a brother? Happy his wish had come true? Or perhaps upset he didn’t get to kill him himself? Unable to play the piano any longer Rob’s personal dreams are destroyed and he’s forced to seek employment.

In the wake of Bills death can Rob become the person he once was or has he changed so much. Can he forgive and forget and allow himself to move on beyond all the hurt he’s causing himself and those around him.

This wasn’t my usual type of book to read, though this isn’t your typical romance either, if anything I think it’s a bit of a psychological thriller as well. What Matthew Cory has here is a wonderful little story of romance and how one can be betrayed and so easily, not only that but also how family and friends are the most important of things along with trust. This is a story entirely based on love and trust, and how easily these can be reversed. But it’s also a story about how you cannot hide your feelings or emotions from those closest to you and that it doesn’t matter who you are whether old or young we are all fragile, Like Glass.

There are many twists and turns throughout the story as it travels between the present and the events eight years previous. There are one or two sentences which require mild restructuring and a few common spelling mistakes which can easily be corrected, though eyes trained or untrained will be able to see what is being said.

There is a lot of emotion portrayed in this story that at times you cannot decide who is playing the part of the good guy and bad guy. The psychology of Like Glass is really what holds this story together magnificently by creating and manipulating the emotions of both the believable and wonderful characters and that of the reader.

I would recommend Like Glass by Matthew Cory to anyone aged 16 years plus and give this book, 4 out of 5 stars.

By R.N. Hadley