Reprise Review: A Billion Gods and Goddesses: The Mythology Behind the Pipe Woman Chronicles by Lynne Cantwell

 

Genre: Mythology/Legends/Folk Tales/Native American/Spirituality

Description:

“More than forty deities, representative of fifteen pantheons from around the world, have found Their way into the ten books (and counting!) of the Pipe Woman Chronicles story cycle. In A Billion Gods and Goddesses: The Mythology Behind the Pipe Woman Chronicles, you will find additional information on each of the deities in the urban fantasy series, as well as a brief foundation in comparative mythology.

The gods and goddesses in the Pipe Woman Chronicles hail from Alaska to Mexico, and from Russia and Scandinavia to Ireland and Japan – with pantheons of several Native American tribes well represented. The book is organized by type of deity: creators, tricksters, and so on. The gods are also cross-listed by pantheon, as well as by Their first appearance in the series.

A Billion Gods and Goddesses is meant to be a companion volume to the Pipe Woman Chronicles novels, but it also serves as a wide-ranging introduction to the subject of mythology. Anyone curious about what others believe will find something to interest them here.”

Author:

Lynne Cantwell is a contributing author at Indies Unlimited where she shares her knowledge about Indie publishing and promotion. She has a master’s degree in fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University and is a former broadcast journalist who has written for CNN and Mutual/NBC Radio News, among other places. Ms. Cantwell currently lives near Washington, DC. You can connect with her at her website or on her Facebook page.

Appraisal:

I found this a comprehensive guide for the Pipe Woman Chronicles, Pipe Woman's Legacy, and Land, Sea, Sky Trilogy. I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy just reading about the gods and goddesses but Ms. Cantwell is a storyteller at heart. It would be extremely wordy to include every detail about each and every god or goddesses she included in her stories. Besides you would get distracted from the story itself that she was trying to tell.

In this book she has included more information she liked and expands a bit further. As an example, “To most people these days, myth is a derogatory term that denotes a story based on a lie. But to anthropologists, a myth a simply a sacred narrative.” And it turns out there are a lot of similarities between most if not all mythic cultures around the world.

I like the way Ms. Cantwell has organized her extensive research referencing and cross-referencing, and cross-cross-referencing. I can’t even imagine the tangled webs she wove and unwove for our benefit. Thanks for going to so much trouble for your readers' benefit, Ms. Cantwell.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

This is where I generally mention foul language or sexual content… I got nuttin’.

Original review posted February 12, 2016.

Format/Typo Issues:

I don’t recall any proofing or editing issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Reprise Review: Conjure Woman's Cat by Malcolm R. Campbell

Genre: Magical Realism / Culture / Spirituality

Description:

“Lena, a shamanistic cat, and her conjure woman Eulalie live in a small town near the Apalachicola River in Florida’s lightly populated Liberty County, where longleaf pines own the world. In Eulalie’s time, women of color look after white children in the homes of white families and are respected, even loved, but distrusted and kept separated as a group…

When some white boys rape and murder a black girl named Mattie near the sawmill, the police have no suspects and don’t intend to find any. Eulalie, who sees conjure as a way of helping the good Lord work His will, intends to set things right by ‘laying tricks.’

But Eulalie has secrets of her own, and it’s hard not to look back on her own life and ponder how the decisions she made while drinking and singing at the local juke were, perhaps, the beginning of Mattie’s ending.”

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell lives in north Georgia and has worked as a corporate communications director, technical writer, and college journalism instructor. He now works as a grant writer for museums and other nonprofit organizations and writes stories.

For more, visit Campbell’s website.

Appraisal:

The Conjure Woman’s Cat is a novella set in the Florida Panhandle in the 1950s-era about Hoodoo, the KKK, and the blues. The story is told through Lena, Eulalie’s cat and her familiar. Lena is able to spirit walk and communicate with Eulalie. I had no trouble buying into this scenario, this is fiction and I was ready to believe. I found the characters well defined, believable, and they fit into the era the book was written to be in. Eulalie claims to be older than dirt, is full of gumption and spitfire. She has had a hard life and won’t take guff from anyone and she means to set things right. I loved this quote from Lena towards the end of the book.

My Conjure Woman believes no man, woman, or cat should question the consequences of calling upon folk magic, archangels, or the good Lord to rearrange the puzzle pieces that make up the world.

I have heard there is truth in that statement. One can ask the spirits, or pray, but one cannot direct the consequences. So, you better mean what you say and say what you mean.

The plot is multi-layered and confronts racism head-on. If you are offended by certain terms, this may not be the book for you, however it fits the era and is realistic of the times. This story concerns two families in particular. Both being torn apart, one eventually comes to terms with the past so the healing can begin. It’s a realistic and moving story that will break your heart but then try to make you whole again. This book gives you a look at how white justice was handled in the south. It is sad to believe that certain aspects of this still hold true today. No one can undo the past and it could take years to get past the hurt even if the pain is a sacred pain.

I dearly loved Eulalie and Willie, I could easily have been friends with them both. The more I read the name Eulalie the more I adored it. It has a beautiful rhythm and made me smile every time I read it. Eulalie was a wise woman and deserved the respect she was given. Kudos to Malcolm R. Campbell for a story well told.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Certain racist terms are used within this story, however they fit with the time and the story would seem unrealistic without them. If you are offended by such, perhaps this is not the book for you.

Format/Typo Issues:

I was given an ARC so I really can’t comment on the finished book, but I ran across no significant proofing or formatting issues in the copy I received.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Reprise Review: The Little Universe by Jason Matthews

Genre: Science Fiction/Spirituality

Description:

Rose Adams had a dream—to reproduce The Big Bang in miniature—to simulate a tiny universe. Killed in a car accident, her inventor husband, Webster Adams, sees his wife’s dream to fruition. However, Adams realizes he’ll need help and seeks out the assistance of Jon Gruber, a local handyman, to assist him during the experiment.

Author:

Novelist, blogger, and writing coach, Jason Matthews is the founder of a Facebook group of over 2000 writers. Other books besides The Little Universe include Jim’s Life, How to Make, Market, and Sell EBooks All for Free, and Get on Google Front Page. Jason lives with his family in Prismo Beach, California. Drop by and perhaps you can entice him to a game of chess or scrabble.

Learn more at Mr. Matthews website.

Appraisal:

In a writing style integrating science fiction with spirituality, author Jason Matthew’s novel, The Little Universe, is written in the first person point-of-view of Jon Gruber. Jon is a local handyman for hire. Once he begins work for the inventor, Gruber’s eyes are opened to the wonders of the universe—literally.

As Adams’ universe evolves, his AI computer, Jim, seeks out sentient life orbiting the tiny universe’s stars. Through Jim’s cameras, Jon and the team of scientists that join Adams encounter worlds with mystery and scientific advancement.

Webster Adam’s daughter, Whitney, is drawn into one world whose mysterious dwellers may hold the key to everyone’s questions.

The Little Universe will keep readers riveted, especially if they are interested in the meaning of life and beyond.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: The Little Universe was a nominee in the Science Fiction category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran April 9, 2014.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Review: A Billion Gods and Goddesses: The Mythology Behind the Pipe Woman Chronicles by Lynne Cantwell

Genre: Mythology/Legends/Folk Tales/Native American/Spirituality

Description:

“More than forty deities, representative of fifteen pantheons from around the world, have found Their way into the ten books (and counting!) of the Pipe Woman Chronicles story cycle. In A Billion Gods and Goddesses: The Mythology Behind the Pipe Woman Chronicles, you will find additional information on each of the deities in the urban fantasy series, as well as a brief foundation in comparative mythology.

The gods and goddesses in the Pipe Woman Chronicles hail from Alaska to Mexico, and from Russia and Scandinavia to Ireland and Japan – with pantheons of several Native American tribes well represented. The book is organized by type of deity: creators, tricksters, and so on. The gods are also cross-listed by pantheon, as well as by Their first appearance in the series.

A Billion Gods and Goddesses is meant to be a companion volume to the Pipe Woman Chronicles novels, but it also serves as a wide-ranging introduction to the subject of mythology. Anyone curious about what others believe will find something to interest them here.”

Author:

Lynne Cantwell is a contributing author at Indies Unlimited where she shares her knowledge about Indie publishing and promotion. She has a master’s degree in fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University and is a former broadcast journalist who has written for CNN and Mutual/NBC Radio News, among other places. Ms. Cantwell currently lives near Washington, DC. You can connect with her at her website or on her Facebook page.

Appraisal:

I found this a comprehensive guide for the Pipe Woman Chronicles, Pipe Woman's Legacy, and Land, Sea, Sky Trilogy. I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy just reading about the gods and goddesses but Ms. Cantwell is a storyteller at heart. It would be extremely wordy to include every detail about each and every god or goddesses she included in her stories. Besides you would get distracted from the story itself that she was trying to tell.

In this book she has included more information she liked and expands a bit further. As an example, “To most people these days, myth is a derogatory term that denotes a story based on a lie. But to anthropologists, a myth a simply a sacred narrative.” And it turns out there are a lot of similarities between most if not all mythic cultures around the world.

I like the way Ms. Cantwell has organized her extensive research referencing and cross-referencing, and cross-cross-referencing. I can’t even imagine the tangled webs she wove and unwove for our benefit. Thanks for going to so much trouble for your readers' benefit, Ms. Cantwell.

Buy now from:      Amazon US      Amazon UK

FYI:

This is where I generally mention foul language or sexual content… I got nuttin’.

Format/Typo Issues:

I don’t recall any proofing or editing issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Reprise Review: The Little Universe / Jason Matthews

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Genre: Science Fiction/Spirituality

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Novelist, blogger, and writing coach, Jason Matthews is the founder of a Facebook group of over 2000 writers. Other books besides The Little Universe include Jim’s Life, How to Make, Market, and Sell EBooks All for Free, and Get on Google Front Page. Jason lives with his family in Prismo Beach, California. Drop by and perhaps you can entice him to a game of chess or scrabble.

Description:

Rose Adams had a dream—to reproduce The Big Bang in miniature—to simulate a tiny universe. Killed in a car accident, her inventor husband, Webster Adams, sees his wife’s dream to fruition. However, Adams realizes he’ll need help and seeks out the assistance of Jon Gruber, a local handyman, to assist him during the experiment.

Appraisal:

In a writing style integrating science fiction with spirituality, author Jason Matthew’s novel, The Little Universe, is written in the first person point of view of Jon Gruber. Jon is a local handyman for hire. Once he begins work for the inventor, Gruber’s eyes are opened to the wonders of the universe—literally.

As Adams’ universe evolves, his AI computer, Jim, seeks out sentient life orbiting the tiny universe’s stars. Through Jim’s cameras, Jon and the team of scientists that join Adams encounter worlds with mystery and scientific advancement.

Webster Adam’s daughter, Whitney, is drawn into one world whose mysterious dwellers may hold the key to everyone’s questions.

The Little Universe will keep readers riveted, especially if they are interested in the meaning of life and beyond.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Conjure Woman's Cat / Malcolm R. Campbell

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Magical Realism / Culture / Spirituality

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell lives in north Georgia and has worked as a corporate communications director, technical writer, and college journalism instructor. He now works as a grant writer for museums and other nonprofit organizations and writes stories.

For more, visit Campbell’s website.

Description:

“Lena, a shamanistic cat, and her conjure woman Eulalie live in a small town near the Apalachicola River in Florida’s lightly populated Liberty County, where longleaf pines own the world. In Eulalie’s time, women of color look after white children in the homes of white families and are respected, even loved, but distrusted and kept separated as a group…

When some white boys rape and murder a black girl named Mattie near the sawmill, the police have no suspects and don’t intend to find any. Eulalie, who sees conjure as a way of helping the good Lord work His will, intends to set things right by ‘laying tricks.’

But Eulalie has secrets of her own, and it’s hard not to look back on her own life and ponder how the decisions she made while drinking and singing at the local juke were, perhaps, the beginning of Mattie’s ending.”

Appraisal:

The Conjure Woman’s Cat is a novella set in the Florida Panhandle in the 1950s-era about Hoodoo, the KKK, and the blues. The story is told through Lena, Eulalie’s cat and her familiar. Lena is able to spirit walk and communicate with Eulalie. I had no trouble buying into this scenario, this is fiction and I was ready to believe. I found the characters well defined, believable, and they fit into the era the book was written to be in. Eulalie claims to be older than dirt, is full of gumption and spitfire. She has had a hard life and won’t take guff from anyone and she means to set things right. I loved this quote from Lena towards the end of the book.

My Conjure Woman believes no man, woman, or cat should question the consequences of calling upon folk magic, archangels, or the good Lord to rearrange the puzzle pieces that make up the world.

I have heard there is truth in that statement. One can ask the spirits, or pray, but one cannot direct the consequences. So, you better mean what you say and say what you mean.

The plot is multi-layered and confronts racism head-on. If you are offended by certain terms, this may not be the book for you, however it fits the era and is realistic of the times. This story concerns two families in particular. Both being torn apart, one eventually comes to terms with the past so the healing can begin. It’s a realistic and moving story that will break your heart but then try to make you whole again. This book gives you a look at how white justice was handled in the south. It is sad to believe that certain aspects of this still hold true today. No one can undo the past and it could take years to get past the hurt even if the pain is a sacred pain.

I dearly loved Eulalie and Willie, I could easily have been friends with them both. The more I read the name Eulalie the more I adored it. It has a beautiful rhythm and made me smile every time I read it. Eulalie was a wise woman and deserved the respect she was given. Kudos to Malcolm R. Campbell for a story well told.

FYI:

Certain racist terms are used within this story, however they fit with the time and the story would seem unrealistic without them. If you are offended by such, perhaps this is not the book for you.

Format/Typo Issues:

I was given an ARC so I really can’t comment on the finished book, but I ran across no significant proofing or formatting issues in the copy I received.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Descended (Fallen Guardian Saga #1) / Debra Ann Miller

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/ Spirituality

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Debra Ann Miller is a happily married mother of three sons living in Naperville, Illinois. Descended is her debut novel.  To learn more about her check out her website or follow her on Facebook.

Description:

“Destiny has two ways of crushing us…by refusing our wishes…and fulfilling them.

Vie had no idea when she descended into the small town of Newcastle, Wyoming that she’d find herself mesmerized by the mysterious and alluring eyes of one Carter Stone. And Carter believed he knew everyone that lived in his rural town until the day he locked eyes with Vivian Thorne. He couldn't help but wonder what was different about this girl he had known all of his life…  Deeply passionate and extraordinarily suspenseful, Descended captures the struggles between doing what is expected of you and unleashing your destiny, between fulfilling prophecies and desires, between loyalty and love.”

Appraisal:

The Guardians were an elite group of angels who have devoted their entire existence to protecting the Gates of Heaven and the world below. This is a unique story about fate, relationships, and the struggle between good and evil.

I have to admit I had a problem buying into Vivian’s medical condition, it seemed to be a little extreme considering she had brain surgery and managed to keep all of her hair.  I suppose it is possible, I decided to just go with it because there was a higher power at work here and it is fiction.

This is a complicated story with many facets that I did find engrossing. The characters are well developed even though their complete histories are not exposed until later in the story. Ms. Miller has done an excellent job weaving her story together. The plot twists were well thought out and enthralling.

Spiritually takes center stage while religion takes a back seat even though Vivian’s father is a minister at the local church. I loved the relationship between Violet and Gabriel. Well, I have to admit, I loved everything about Gabriel. He was, by far, my favorite character and the one who tied heaven and earth together so seamlessly.

The plot moved at a good pace and had a lot of depth for a debut novel. Ms. Miller didn’t mess around with dipping her toes in, she jumped in with both feet. I can see where some readers may think this story ends in a cliffhanger but it does come around full circle. It will be interesting to see how Violet’s and Carter’s story continues.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found a small number of proofing errors.

Rating: **** Four stars

The Little Universe / Jason Matthews

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Genre: Science Fiction/Spirituality

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Novelist, blogger, and writing coach, Jason Matthews is the founder of a Facebook group of over 2000 writers. Other books besides The Little Universe include Jim’s Life, How to Make, Market, and Sell EBooks All for Free, and Get on Google Front Page. Jason lives with his family in Prismo Beach, California. Drop by and perhaps you can entice him to a game of chess or scrabble.

Description:

Rose Adams had a dream—to reproduce The Big Bang in miniature—to simulate a tiny universe. Killed in a car accident, her inventor husband, Webster Adams, sees his wife’s dream to fruition. However, Adams realizes he’ll need help and seeks out the assistance of Jon Gruber, a local handyman, to assist him during the experiment.

Appraisal:

In a writing style integrating science fiction with spirituality, author Jason Matthew’s novel, The Little Universe, is written in the first person point of view of Jon Gruber. Jon is a local handyman for hire. Once he begins work for the inventor, Gruber’s eyes are opened to the wonders of the universe—literally.

As Adams’ universe evolves, his AI computer, Jim, seeks out sentient life orbiting the tiny universe’s stars. Through Jim’s cameras, Jon and the team of scientists that join Adams encounter worlds with mystery and scientific advancement.

Webster Adam’s daughter, Whitney, is drawn into one world whose mysterious dwellers may hold the key to everyone’s questions.

The Little Universe will keep readers riveted, especially if they are interested in the meaning of life and beyond.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars