Self-Published Book Review of the Week: The Edge: How to Find and Balance Yourself in an Unbalanced World

The Edge: How to Find and Balance Yourself in an Unbalanced World

by T.D. Kruser

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.readerviews.com:

I have had the opportunity to read and review many self-help books, but I must say that I found the author’s writing to be very informative and inspiring. He covers many topics from spirituality, to society and the world. I found his directness and honesty very sincere.

Some of the interesting points I found were his thoughts on past failures. He asks how much we need to continue delving on this. He continues to say that often we are afraid we will repeat past mistakes.He requests that we don’t let this happen and learn to take risks, from each mistake we make we learn.

In the chapter “On Other Philosophical Matters,” the author talks about people who confuse having a sense of low self-esteem with feeling out of place or just not knowing himself or herself very well. It is important that we learn to know ourselves, prioritize our goals and values. He also states that this is not uncommon- many of us do not know what we want out of life and what we should be doing.

In “Societal Matters: On Society and the World” he provides readers with “A pronounced societal trend has been an overall degradation in the amount of empathy and respect shown toward other people.” Regardless of our views of others, we should keep an open mind, and listen to what others say or believe. We as a society tend to act aggressively toward those who do not share the same beliefs we have. In addition, we are more worried about our “self” than we are for the good of the community.

Throughout the book he has placed many poems that address the issues he discusses. He also provides some blurbs or words of wisdom to make us think about who we are, what we want and how we treat others.

I enjoyed “The Edge” by T.D. Kruser very much. The author addresses many issues that we confront on a daily basis.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/TheEdge

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Reminder: Submit your Self-Published Book Review

If you are a self-published author and have a review for your book that you would like posted online, we can help! In the interest of helping self-published authors find success in publishing, we post a weekly book review of a self-published book.

To submit your review, please send it to selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com with a .jpg image of your cover. Self Publishing Advice will post your review and cover image on our blog. We post reviews in the order they are received.

If you do not have reviews for your book yet, here are some blog posts that may help give you some ideas on how to obtain them:

Getting your Self-Published Book Reviewed
Soliciting Book Reviews for your Self-Published Book
More on Getting your Self-Published Book Reviewed
Book Review Leads for the Self-Published Author

Karl Schroeder and Kelly Schuknecht
https://selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: RealmShift and MageSign

This self-published author submitted reviews for two of his books:

RealmShift

“RealmShift by Alan Baxter is a gripping, thought-provoking tale that evokes a strong response within the reader, both on an emotional and an intellectual level. It is a dark fantasy that takes the reader on both an adventure-filled ride, but also a spiritual exploration.

The main character, Isiah, has the unenviable task of aiding Samuel, a human version of the stuff that gathers in the bottom of a septic tank, in a quest to kill another bottom-feeder. The reason? If Samuel doesn’t fulfill his destiny and kill bad guy number two, that guy is going to kill a good guy, which equals bad news for the human race.

Action abounds in this thriller, though the pacing slows at times, particularly when things get too dialogue-heavy. Baxter’s prose is better than many in the genre. The opening is almost literary in style, and borders on being a distraction for about twenty pages. It’s as if he’s trying too hard to make an impression on the reader. As the novel progresses, though, his style emerges and the narrative is consistently solid and well-crafted.

The most interesting aspect of this book is the spiritual exploration. Baxter’s premise is that God(s) created neither the world, nor humankind. In fact, the gods are human constructs, and if enough people believe something strongly enough, that belief will come true. This perspective poses interesting avenues of thought: Is there a such thing as “right and wrong”, since there is no perfect superior being to impose a moral code upon the human race? If strength of belief plus number of believers equals deity, how has Elvis not conquered the universe?

This book is not for every Gryphonwood reader. It is dark fantasy blended with action, adventure and spiritual exploration that in no way falls into the typical Judeo-Christian mold. Some will find the story too graphic, while others might be uncomfortable with the avenues in which spirituality is explored. Personally I found it a gritty, entertaining read that made me think. If you like your speculative fiction a little on the dark side, RealmShift is for you.”

– David Wood, author of Dourado and Cibola

MageSign

“An excellent sequel to Realmshift, MageSign by Alan Baxter, is a fast-paced ride through a visceral reality which holds a mirror up to today’s apathetic society.

This is the sequel to RealmShift, which I enjoyed reading, but had enough issues with to mark it a 3/5 on the Amazon scale of reviews. MageSign scores an easy 4/5 on that same scale. Although Baxter drops enough background story to make this more-or-less stand on its own, I recommend you read RealmShift first – it will add to the overall experience.

Again the story revolves around Isiah, the central character for both books, but this time he’s not working for the mysterious entity known as The Balance, he’s doing a little project of his own. In the first book, we were introduced to Samuel Harrigan, a particularly nasty piece of work, and we learn of his ability with blood magic. In MageSign, Isiah has decided the world could do without more Harrigans and sets out to destroy The Sorcerer, Harrigan’s teacher of the black arts. In the second book, Baxter gives us enough information to know who Harrigan was, but to gain a true understanding of how bad this guy really was – read the first book.

But three years has passed between the books. The reader is led to believe Isiah has been kept busy maintaining the balance of all things, while the Sorcerer has been far from idle. Now his organization is truly global and fast-tracked toward reaching an horrific goal, a goal hidden to everyone and everything – including the Balance.

Stepping in and out of countries ranging from Australia, England, the USA, and even Tibet, Baxter creates an intricate plot, laced with wonderful scenic descriptions. His knowledge of the martial arts also shines through with excellently choreographed fight routines, and more subtle references to Asian fighting style disciplines and everyday way of life.

Isiah is still a superman of a character with amazing abilities and inner strength, but the story allows a greater showing of his human side – including a growing affection with a new leading lady. But it also better depicts his understanding of the need to keep balance between all things. His reasoning behind choices and actions within the book, truly paint a man made to keep the balance without having to be amoral – a difficult thing to accomplish.

The sentence structure is again short and sharp in places, unusual and something which takes a little getting used to, but I was ready for it this time after having read RealmShift earlier. This is obviously a style choice by Baxter and works for him more often than not.

But Baxter’s true claim to fame is his final climaxes. In the first book, the build up was very well done although the aftermath and character reactions were disappointing – not the case here. The mounting tension is exquisitely handled, built up to a crescendo of amazing proportions. Nothing is missed on this ending, including all the character reactions. It is a fitting ending to a thoroughly good read.

Accepting the sentence structure as a style choice, I’m happy to let that pass, but the Balance still feels the need to shout in capitals. Thankfully, the entity has a much smaller part to play in this book and so yelled conversations are short and sparse.

The only other issue I had with this book was one scene between Isiah and his mate, Gabe. It came across as inserted slapstick in the middle of a dark fantasy novel. It was not required, and tended to make a mockery of the two characters Baxter had painstakingly built up, both in this book and in RealmShift, and almost made me put down the book there and then – I’m glad I didn’t, but it was a close thing.

Ignoring that one scene, Baxter has delivered a book which is better than the first one, which was pretty good to start with. If this trend continues, I’ll be looking forward to the next installment.”

– By Brenton Tomlinson, originally posted at Horrorscope – http://ozhorrorscope.blogspot.com/2009/04/review-magesign-by-alan-baxter.html

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s website: www.alanbaxteronline.com

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: The Shipwreck of a Nation – Germany: An Inside View

The Shipwreck of a Nation – Germany: An Inside View

by H. Peter Nennhaus

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.Ijustfinished.com:

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. It is a must read for serious students of history, particularly so for the study of the events in Europe, America, and the Middle East during the 20th Century, the circumstances surrounding Germany during World War I and especially, World War II, which primaily this memoir is written about.

Through the eyes of a small boy through growing adolescence [the author is 15 in 1945 at the end of the war]; the biography portrays the mind-set, the fears, the values and concerns of the Germans prior to and during the War, especially the concern they shared with much of Europe against the tyranny of Stalin in Russia and their fears of an attack by the Soviet Union. It is well written and the author has painstakingly tried to present a fair, honest, and compassionate understanding and sympathy with all of the peoples mentioned, including Jewish victims. The book also reveals disturbing facts and outrages that have been deliberately kept hidden by the main stream media concerning excesses from the Allies. This includes the senseless and horrific fire bombing of Dresden and the unnecessary loss of mostly civilian life. Also disturbing is the revelation of General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s treatment of surrendered German soldiers; between 1.2 and 1.7 million were left to perish, many by starvation even though abundant food reserves were available, in prison camps after they had surrendered and after the war was over. Eisenhower personally, reclassified surrendered soldiers in order to legally circumvent the Geneva Convention. Every German was treated as personally responsible for the Holocaust, even those who had no idea that it had taken place and the few who were aware of German excesses and who had vehemently denounced them during the War, were treated with the same inhuman consideration as the alleged “Death Camp” guards. Eisenhower’s behavior should surely be called into question. Although it is not revealed in this book, serious students of both history and military science are now aware the Eisenhower was descended from Swedish Jews and let his personal animosity override what should have been American Values and the Precepts of the Geneva Convention. By contrast, General Douglas MacArthur, in the Pacific Theater treated surrendered Japanese soldiers, including the Emperor of Japan, with respect and compassion.

This would be the same as if the United States was suddenly and devastatingly vanquished by [to site the current times] “Moslem Extremists” and every man, woman, and child in the country would be considered guilty and compelled to suffer retribution by the excesses of a few at the Iraqi prison of Abu Ghraib.

Germany made no less than twenty seven peace concessions to England which whom they shared a kindred affection. Each time it was inexplicably turned down. Germany was treated as a pariah while the excesses of Russia were being ignored. During the early stages of Hitler’s reign the Jews were free to travel and immigrate to any country that would take them. The author reveals the bewilderment and dismay of the German people when these peace initiatives were rejected. It is also disturbing to the reader.

Also not mentioned, although it would have made a good and complimentary input, was the noble action of Hitler’s Deputy, Rudolph Hess, who flew to Scotland on May 10, 1941 on a mission of peace – only to spend the rest of his life, dying [possibly murdered] on August 17, 1987 at the age of 93, in solitary confinement in Spandau Prison in West Berlin.

The story line is eloquently written and can bring the reader at times to both laughter and tears. Throughout the book, wonderment is expressed because of the peculiar affinity and deference shown to the monster Stalin over the German people.

The iniquities and injustices that were written into the Versailles Treaty of June 28, 1919 were the root cause of German backlash, which gave Adolph Hitler the rise to power.
This was an agreement between Jewish Prime Minister to England, David Lloyd George; Prime Minister of France Georges Benjamin Clemenceau, whose aid Georges Mandel was Jewish: and U. S. President Woodrow Wilson whose aid Colonel Edward House was also Jewish.

It was Georges Mandel, whose name at birth was Rothschild, who exercised considerable influence over English and French political leaders and who was most vehemently opposed to any overtures of peace from the Germans during the early stages of the war (this is not mentioned in the book). Mandel was obstinate in his support for Stalin. He was eventually executed by the Vichy French.

This is one of the best books I’ve read about World War II and I highly recommend it to anyone. I would like to see it on the required reading list of every elementary and high school in the United States and on the required reading list for college students.

It finally and justly portrays the German people as proud, virtuous, and compassionate. One also realizes they were also victims of World War II.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/shipwreckofanation

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Son of the Great River

Son of the Great River

by Elijah Meeks

Son of the Great River is an adventure story set in the distant past, with pen-and-ink illustrations interspersed throughout the book. It follows a boy named Saffu, who is forced to leave his tribe and travel to the land of cities and kings to return a strange artifact. His journey takes him across the Bronze Age landscape and through his own, sometimes troubling, coming of age. He quickly loses sight of his quest and gives up, but tragedy forces him on and when he discovers civilization, where he befriends two other young people, the hunter Samhail and the brilliant runaway girl, Rheem. Despite his desire to return to his tribe and his love, Naganawae, he finds himself embroiled in the plans of an ancient king and a war not of his choosing. Each character responds differently to the temptations and corruptions of civilization and power, and their choices are sometimes contradictory. Throughout, Son of the Great River reveals that despite the trappings of bronze weapons and strange cultures, the people of this ancient time are much like the people we know today, with the same courage and weakness that define us.

You can visit the author’s website at www.sevenlions.org
You can buy the book on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601457723

The Edge: How to Find and Balance Yourself in an Unbalanced World

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The Shipwreck of a Nation – Germany: An Inside View

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Son of the Great River

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