Do you like chess? Of course you do. Don’t answer that. I personally do enjoy it. I suck at it, but I enjoy it. So I was excited to see that one of the games that had a demo for guests at MomoCon to play was Check X Mate. A game where the chess peices are actual characters in a magical story. Not only do you get to play a fantastic story, but you also get to brush up on your chess skills, or just prove to everyone that you are really a chess master.

I had the luck of getting a short chat with a developer. Here is a video of him telling you about Check X Mate.

I strongly suggest that if you are at MomoCon right now you find these folks on the exhibition floor and try out the demo for yourself.

So while I have not talked about my media pass for MomoCon on my blog as much as I should have, I can say I have made sure to make sure that my social media pages know that I was heading out to s.Atlanta to cover a massive animation, gaming and comic convention. As you know from my previous coverage I adore this sort of thing, even though it feels as though I am running on bloody stumps by the end of the day.

So far, I am only one day in to things I have managed to gathers some interesting cosplayers, and some fantastic blurbs from game deverlopers whoes games I have tried.

Expect to see posts soon regarding each of the great things I have managed to find to share with you!

The Rise of Riverstone by Mandy Schimelpfenig is an absolutely amazing novel. Following the story of Laria Audrey, told in the first person, as she goes from her life as a privileged adolescent who like so many young woman, begrudges her family and her appearance, to a life as a servant hiding behind a lie of being deaf and mute.

The first thing that stands out about this novel is the fact that main character, Laria, is a genuinely strong female protagonist. Sure, she’s not hefting around a sword and taking off the heads of enemies, but she’s also not a wilting wall flower waiting to be swept up by prince charming. In fact, romance does not come up in the story until later chapters at a point where it fits the progression of the story and you actually feel for the characters you are reading about.

Besides the main character, each fits perfectly in the well-built world that the author has created for us. While we are only given a little bit of information on the world as a whole, and only two countries, you can tell that the author has put a lot of work in to her world building giving a vibrant world for the amazing characters to live in.

This brilliant fantasy novel is my new second favorite novel (sorry the first will always be Tolkien’s The Two Towers) and will be read and shared with friends seeing a good read for years to come. Plus unrelated to the story, the book is just beautiful to look at and a perfect addition to any collection.

Do you want to feel for excellently written characters and enjoy a lovely world? Pick this book up immediately.

This post contains an affiliate post. Sales made from using my link give me a percentage which goes to support this blog! Affiliate sales make it easier to maintain the costs of site management and domain name. The fact that I get a percentage does not change my opinion on Audible.

Audible is one of my favorite audiobook sites. While it’s known that Audible has an amazing selection of audiobooks I have to admit I was rather stunned when I saw how much actually comes with an Audible membership. It is well known that your membership gets you one credit per month that allows you to buy any audiobook on the site and those credits remain for a whole year so you can buy a whole series if you desire. However, what stunned me was when I found out Audible has more than just audiobooks.

Besides the credit you get each month with your membership Audible also has a huge selection in their plus catalog. Due to this extensive catalog I am currently undergoing a task I had wished to do for years. I am listening to War and Peace! This massive tome is a book that I have wanted to read for years but never had the time to sit down and do so. This amazing narration by Thandiwe Newton brings the book to life, and being able to listen to it on the go makes it easier to get through this massive classic.

Below is a direct link to the book I am currently reading. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have been. I’ve only got about 19 hours left and loving every moment of it!

Try Audible and listen to War and Peace to experience this classic you know you always wanted to pick up!

The Radius Book 3: Fighting for the Radius by D.M. Muga is the final and most exciting book in The Radius series. Picking up on the heels of the second novel, this third installment continues the adventures of Ben Reilly and his friends and family as they reach the explosive culmination of this saga. Having met friendly faces from the dreaded Earth 2 that had been mentioned in the previous books, the group must fight with their new-found friends to defend what is left of their home and the human race!

Naturally it is hard to not find this sort of story exciting. Unlike with many a dystopian novel The Radius series, and particularly this last book’s characters have taken a balls to the wall approach. Heavily armed and not afraid to use their firearms when the situation requires it, and later more sci-fi technology, these characters are strong and well written. I found the female characters in this last novel to be particularly interesting, as the author manages to avoid writing them as overly sensitive and unreasonable character as often happens when male authors try to get deep in to the mentality of female characters. So we are left with exciting interstellar females who are as strong as their male counter-parts.

Now I should add that this is a violent book, while there is sci-fi violence, there are also some very bloody scenes that may be offensive to some people, however if you have reached this third Radius book then you know what to expect from Muga’s writing and will not be surprised by the decisions his characters make. Beyond the violence there is also sexual situations. In short, this is not a book for the young or sensitive to read. However, if you are looking for a realistic (for science fiction) end of the world read D.M. Muga and The Radius is a must read.

I found this book on Reedsy Discovery.

https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the-radius-book-3-fighting-for-the-radius-d-m-muga#review

The Radius Book 1: Adapting to the Radius is the first book in the series of sci-fi post-apocalyptic books by D.M. Muga the story follows several characters as they strive to survive in a world after a group of scientists collide two stars and all the terrible possibilities that could come from such a reaction come true.

Naturally as the world for the people trapped inside of a black hole goes to pieces violent and deadly reactions happen, not from the results of the horrible nature defying actions, but by the humans that are surviving in this world. Proving as with so many post-apocalyptic stories, that we are our own worst enemies.

Now, as this is a violent post-apocalyptic story there is heavy use of swear worlds, in both English and Spanish. Beyond the language there is also a collection of triggering actions that happen within the story such as rape and gun use, so if these issues make you uncomfortable you should probably just skip this series. If you are fine with fictional violence than this book should be right of the alley of any post-apocalyptic story fan.

The Frequency by Terry Kitto is an exciting and slightly horrific trip through the world of the dead. A teenage girl is seemingly possessed, but a group of people known as witnesses help her, opening a path to a world where death and the afterlife are much more than anyone could have ever believed. Witnesses are sensitive to a certain frequency, allowing them to commune with the dead in different ways, making this story one of the more interesting looks at the afterlife.

Terry Kitto does an amazing job of introducing us to this original idea, mixing the bits of science created for this world alongside the clearly supernatural events. The story is exciting and fast-paced. And as it follows multiple characters, you are never have a chance to get bored with one particular aspect of the story, not that such an interesting setting would allow for that, anyway. These characters all have deep histories and backgrounds that allow them to experience the world in different ways. Each has a painfully damaged past that allows for some intensely horrific outcomes.

The world of the story is well made. At times an author’s additions to the real world can feel forced, but all the scientific and supernatural aspects Kitto adds are explained in a way that does not feel forced or confusing.

The Frequency should be picked up by fans of supernatural horror, thrillers, and really anyone looking for an exciting read!

Pattern Black is a curious and exciting science fiction novel following Mason as he is brought in to a city prison in which snitching gives one currency. However, during his time in said prison, he quickly starts to notice that he is suffering gaps in time and lapses of memory. This is soon blamed on the therapy treatments that are given to some prisoners. But there is so much more to this therapy than meets the eyes, oh so, so, so much more.

Pattern Black is by far one of the most in-depth science fiction stories I have read in some time. And at 200000 words it will keep you reading for some time. I enjoyed it so much I finished the book in only a couple of days because I enjoyed the tale. However, not everyone can do so, so make sure you set aside an appropriate amount of time so you can enjoy this story.

Now, this is a science fiction story. However, its beginning feels more like an action cop movie until the fine details of the plan wind up. Do not let that get to you as this novel is more than worth finishing. The further you get in to the book the more sci-fi and in-depth this story gets eventually building in to a complex tapestry of technology, mind wiping drugs and daddy issues, all of which are a delight to read about.

Pattern Black’s characters are rough around the edges and feel like real people with actual issues. Particularly the main characters phobias which are painfully relatable. I feel for Mason, holes are creepy. This allows you to feel the emotional roller coasters that these characters are on and leaves you wanting to know more and keeps you deeply invested in their stories.

Now the fine details, there are a lot of curses and middle finger flying in this novel, so if you are uncomfortable with swear words of any sort you should probably skip this read. Otherwise, you are in for an amazing ride!

I got an advanced reading copy of this book on Reedsy Discovery.