Book Review: Walking Sticks: The Gift

Walking Sticks: The Gift

By:  Sharron Riddle

Publish Date:  April 22, 2014

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Format:  eARC

Genre:  YA Horror

Series:  Stand-alone (at moment)

Recommendation:  A young adult psychological horror with a connection to an ugly curse.

Synopsis:
When her best friend gifts her with an eerily realistic skull walking stick, Riva's already crappy life descends into terror. As if dealing with the local queen bitch out for revenge and her drunk mother weren't bad enough, Riva's "gift" has sprung to life, unleashing a spirit hell bent on stealing her body. A curse set into motion. Three possessed walking sticks, three girls turning to wood. Riva won't go down without a fight, but can she reverse the magic before it's too late.

Purchase At:
Amazon

**I read this book for an honest review from the author.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Riva has 98 days until she graduates from private school torture zone. Riva is going to spend the night for a few days with Kerry while Kerry's mom is out of town. Kerry's Christmas present from her Aunt arrives. Three walking sticks from New Zealand. Kerry decides to give one to Riva and the other to an old girlfriend she doesn't talk to much since the accident. The harmless, yet spooky, walking sticks carry more of a past than they know. More than even Kerry's aunt knew when purchasing them.

The walking sticks are from New Zealand and of the Maori people. A spell worked into them that curses the owners. An ugly past that goes with the walking sticks.

The girls are initially taken with the sticks, but soon are spooked by them. The story takes on a personal horror along with the psychological torture and worry for the characters. Always wondering what will happen next and how to break the bonded curse they have with the sticks.

All the girls affected have pasts they are working to get away from. Riva has a drunk mother and her father died in a car accident which drove her mothers torment on Riva further. Kerry cuts herself, or had, after her boyfriend fell on the track of the L Train and died. She spent time in the hospital trying to help her get over the torment of his. Dalia is the sister of the said boyfriend and has her own demons with her brother she's hiding from with drugs. Then we have Nick. Nick is a friend of Riva's and Kerry's, but hoping for more with his long friend Riva. But Nick has his own secrets, his nightmares of murders and deaths of others.

Nick is a god-sent of a friend to the girls. He never gives up when things get to a point where there is no way out. I did fear for Nick on several occasions when he leaves the girls, fearful the sticks or the spirits of them would hurt him. These spirit girls are dangerous!

This town has some messed up stories. I'm surprised with the mess that Riva, Kerry, and Nick get into with the sticks that there is a chance to go on. But is there? Those sticks have their grips on the girls. Is there a way to break the curse? Will the girls look to save their selves or their friend?

Many of my readers will pick up that this isn't my normal kind of read. It's not. I loved the sound of the connection to the Maori people and the magic in the walking sticks. That was the draw for me and it held that throughout the read introducing me to new characters and story.

Sharron has created a psychological thriller that young adults can read. I was left wondering when the evil walking sticks would show up or what would happen next to the girls or the town people as I read.

Mythical Monday (40)

It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

This week we have:

Adult & Young Adult Urban Fantasy author 
Sharron Riddle

Talking of Maori Myths and Legends.

First, let me say a big Thank You!!! To Melissa for having me here!

Anyone who has read my books knows I am a sucker for mythology. From vampires to wizards and dragons, to cat shape shifters based on Egyptian legends, my stories cross boundaries and mash-up beliefs.

While researching my soon to be released horror, Walking Sticks, I discovered some of my most interesting legends to date. Legends of the native Maori people of New Zealand.

I found it fascinating that long before the British landed on their shores, the Maori told tales of Patupaiarehe, a fair skinned people with pale blonde or red hair, and eyes ranging in shades of pale blue to black. Of course, my first thought was, where did these legends come from? What were they based on?

In Māori mythology, Patupaiarehe live in deep forests and mountaintops in New Zealand, and are sometimes hostile to humans. Ethereal flute music and singing sometimes reveals their presence, but they were seldom seen.

Patupaiarehe were afraid of the light, and were only seen at twilight or in the mist. They were also afraid of fire. I used this mythology for the back story of my spirit girls who inhabit the human skulls affixed to the walking sticks.

Sometimes patupaiarehe would put people under a spell and steal them away. They made love to beautiful women, and some people thought their children were the redheads called urukehu. To keep them away, people would paint themselves with smelly mixtures, or cook food, because patupaiarehe hated the smell. Fire and light would also frighten them away.

In the Walking Sticks, I reversed the legend. I had a powerful chief steal one of the fairy women, to ensure that his sons would be born with their mother’s powerful magic and grow to become great chiefs who could defeat his enemies. To his dismay, the patupaiarehe bore him only daughters, which resulted in disastrous consequences.

Patupaiarehe sometimes taught people magical chants and other skills. They were good at fishing, and are credited for teaching the Maori how to make fishing nets.

Besides the fairy folk, I used other Maori myths to make my tale come to life. In my story, the walking sticks are carved helixes, the spiral being the Maori symbol for unending life. And the top of each stick is a carved human with a bird’s head, known as Manaia. In some legends, this symbol is a messenger between the worlds of mortals and spirits.

The Maori culture is infused with tales and legends. Many Maori are returning to the custom of tattooing. Ta moko - traditional Māori tattooing, often on the face - is ataonga (treasure) to Māori for which the purpose and applications are sacred.

Every moko contains ancestral / tribal messages specific to the wearer. These messages tell the story of the wearer's family and tribal affiliations, and their place in these social structures. Many of these tattoos include cultural symbols based in mythology. Sometimes I think researching the mythology is my favorite part of writing. I learn so many new and exciting facts about ancient cultures. For someone who loathed history in high school, I figure it must be the magic behind the myths that draws me in.

Needless to say, my research for Walking Sticks took me down many interesting and rarely traveled paths. There are literally books upon books with detailed histories of this ancient and intriguing people.

I hope this sparks an interest in you to investigate their mysterious heritage. I also hope it might have sparked an interest in my writing!


Author:
I currently have two new releases – Sin, a young girls who is thrown into a world of zombies and Fey, and Pandora’s Jar, Book One of the Veil Walker series, a girl who can cross between the world of the living and the dead, and the Egyptian guardian who must decide if she is too dangerous to live, or if her powers will conquer his heart.

Please visit my author page to see more of my books:
Sharron Riddle, author page on Amazon

And I’d love for you to join me on Facebook and Twitter!
Facebook:  Sharron Riddle Houdek
Twitter: @RiddleMeAStory

Keep your eyes peeled for Walking Sticks in the near future.
In the mean time, you can pick up Sharron's available books:

Winner of Fate of the Fallen

Thank you all for entering!  So glad to see so many liking the sounds of Fallen Angels.  Hope you all get a chance to give the book a try.

We have our winner of an Ecopy of Fate of the Fallen, thanks to Random.org.  That winner is....

Mirjam Bergervoet

Congrats!  Email sent, and you will have 48 hours to respond from October 24, 2011, 11:00 am EST

Interview & Giveaway with Sharron Riddle!

****Giveaway CLOSED****

Do you like Fallen Angels?  Vampires?  Immortality?  Fast paced with action?  Well, this book was a great read to fit into all those areas.  Fate of the Fallen.  If you would like to read my review, you can jump.  I enjoyed this first book to the series, so much I had to see if Sharron Riddle would stop by for an interview.  And she did!  Please give a warm welcome to Sharron Riddle!

Welcome Sharron!  I’m excited to have you by today. J  After reading Fate of the Fallen I knew I had to have you by.  I loved reading it.

I’m going to start at the end and work back a little.  Thank you for the great ending!  I was afraid we would be left hanging wanting answers, but you did an amazing job of wrapping it all up wonderfully.

M:  Now… I loved Adam but then came too really like Rahab.  Do you have a favorite of the two?

SR:  I loved Adam. He was sweet and caring. But Rahab had a hotness factor that won me over. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the bad boys.

M:  There is a touch of goddess in Eva. ;)  Could we get a glimpse into her mother’s side of the family in the future?  Or more of what Eva can do?

SR:  There will definitely be more of Eva’s family. Her powers, too. She has many she hasn’t even tested yet, but will come in handy in the scrapes I’ll be throwing her in.

M:  You feature Fallen Angels and the creation of vampires here.  Have the Fallen Angels been a favorite of yours for some time?  Was there a lot of research for the backing to create your connection between the two?

SR:  I’ve been contemplating the creation of vampires for a long time. I did do a lot of research on the mythology, as well as fallen angels, and this just made sense to me. The power of immortality with a bite of darkness.

M:  I think I heard you are writing the next Eva and the Demonators book.  We will get more of Eva and Rahab then?

SR:  Oh yes, they are off to New York to join the local band of vampires to fight the Four Plagues – Rot, Madness, Apathy and Rage.

Oh Good! I can't wait to read more of Eva and Rahab.

M:  Okay, now for some fun questions.

One question I ask all visitors… If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?

SR:  Agh! There are too many places I want to see. I’d love to tour the ancient art and ruins of Europe, dive the Aegean Sea and the South Pacific. Where do I start?

M:  Tea or Coffee?

SR:  I wish I could say I was a healthy tea drinker, but I’m a sucker for blueberry coffee.

(I have to say blueberry coffee sounds tasty. I've never had. Might have to try it!)

M:  Favorite Color?

SR:  Red

M:  Favorite Childhood Fictional Creature?

SR:  As a child, I loved unicorns.  

Oh, I was a unicorn lover too! :)

M:  Now as an adult what’s your Favorite Fictional Creature?

SR:  I love mythology, and the deeper I dig, the more favorites I find. But I think my favorites might be my fallen angels.

M:  Favorite word? (any word at all)

SR:  (Blush) orgasmic – because it can mean so many things, and all of them are wonderful.

Oh, there are soooo many different meanings to orgasmic.  Great word pick!

M:  Thank you for stopping by Sharron.  Here’s wishing you all the best in words and pages.

SR:  Thank you for having me, Melissa! It was a blast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm thrilled to have Sharron by today.  Thank you!

You can find Sharron:
Twitter:  @RiddleMeAStory
Site:  SharronRiddle.com
Blog:  Church of the Damned
Facebook:  Sharron Riddle

Goodreads Synopsis:
When all hell breaks loose in Chicago, Eva Dantanian, top agent for the Demonic Management Agency, is the first one called to help. The 700 year old daughter of a fallen angel enjoys working out her frustrations kicking demon ass ... until her mission puts her in a race to save a missing child.

When family becomes foe and foe becomes ally, deep secrets and betrayals rip her family apart. As the pieces fall into place, Eva is faced with the horrible truth. To save the innocents under her protection, she must kill one of her own kind.

And Sharron has graciously offered an ecopy of the book to one lucky follower!
All entry requirements listed in the Form, along w/extra entries.
International as for an Ebook
Ends: October 23, 2011 11:59pm EST

Please fill out the form to enter.

Book Review: Fate of the Fallen

Fate of the Fallen

By:  Sharron Riddle

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  June 2011

Format:  Paperback 200pgs, trade size

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st book in the series.

Recommendation:  Yes!  I loved the mix of immortal Fallen Angels, Vampires, and Goddesses all with a mystery of murders.

Book Synopsis:
When all hell breaks loose in Chicago, Eva Dantanian, top agent for the Demonic Management Agency, is the first one called to help.  The 700 year old daughter of a fallen angel enjoys working out her frustrations kicking demon ass... until her mission puts her in a race to save a missing child.

When family becomes foe and foe becomes ally, deep secrets and betrayals rip her family apart.  As the pieces fall into place, Eva is faced with the horrible truth.  To save the innocents under her protection, she must kill one of her own kind.

First Sentence:
"He's here," I whispered into my Bluetooth.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Eva returns to her office at The Demon Management Agency ~ a government agency who pays to keep the demon's quite ~ after a rough case.  In going through the new cases on her desk, separating them to human or immortal to deal with each case based on if a hoax or real, she comes across one where a full demon is killing young half-Nephilim children looking for "the Key."  Knowing this could trigger an ugly war between Demons and Fallen Angels (who have been waiting for a reason to attack Demons) on Earth resulting in an unbelievable amount of human deaths Eva calls a meeting with her Immortal brothers, sisters, and father.  Eva's father sends her, the most skilled in demon hunting along with special abilities thanks to her mother, with her eldest brother, whom blames her for their mothers death, to team up with a vampire to hunt down the person or demon and stop what they are trying to do.  All bringing Eva to a missing young girl who is thought to be an important piece of the puzzle.

This is one of those reviews I'm struggling with.  I loved this book.  I don't want to give anything away, yet I want to tell you everything.  And there is soooo much to tell!  I love the story weaving along with the history building and the story!  Oh my!

We start off quick with snark and action.  One thing I love.  We meet Eva with her sister and brother on the job.  I could tell in the first 3 pages I would love this book.  Loved the humor in the characters.  The characters! We have Eva. She is our main character and she loves her shopping and expensive clothes and shoes. And her men. She loves human men, which her family doesn't love. But that all comes out in the wash too. She is smart and snarky. And a take charge kinda gal. She has a great friend that she is now feeling electrical sparks when they touch, Adam. We meet Adam in the beginning then through out the book I held my breath hoping to see him again, which we did. Oh my did we, toward the end. Adam was a mystery with secrets of his own and I loved what I learned.  We have Rahab, oooo, and Purah, and oh there are others too!

We get two views in this book, one from Eva the second from the kidnapped little girl Jillie. The view written of Jillie is wonderful of a bright young little girl.  I really felt the thoughts are of a little girl that is a big sister.  Really well done!  And the things we learn of Jillie as the story goes.... Oh, such a special little girl.

Okay.  So I want to get into the different species we have here and a little history.  We have Fallen Angels, Demons, Vampires, then there is a touch of Gods and Goddesses added in too, oh there is another too but I'm not mentioning it just yet.  Eva's parents...her father is a Fallen Angel or an immortal, her mother was a Goddess.  The story of how vampires come about is told here, with the thanks of a Fallen Angel.  That's a story we learn about too.  Then we have the Demons of Hell.  See, I want to mention all of this as it is all important and intertwined with the story, yet I don't want to give anything away.  It's worth reading!

So now you probably think this book has a lot of religious references or such in it.  I have to tell you no, it's not.  I'm not one for big religious references.  And this book has basis for the Fallen Angels but religion is not focus of the story and book.  I loved the way these creatures are all weaved together through the story.

We have a mystery to solve.  The reason these young half-Nephilim children are being killed.  Then we come into the one child that is human that is kidnapped.  But it all circles around and comes together in the end.

See this story is layer upon layer of story, mystery, and want.  You want everything from the characters and knowing about them, to family issues in Eva's family, to love, to mystery, to fighting, to suspense.... It's all here in this short read.

In the end I realized there were so many little plots going, and all tied together.  Like a string of firecrackers going off all is answered in the end.  Every time I thought we where done, another cracker blew speeding up my heart with all the excitement that quickly exploded to life again.

I really enjoyed this read.  A blend of immortality; Fallen Angels, Vampires, and touch of Goddesses too.  All with a mystery case to follow and so many other elements with it.  All blended together in a wonderful read.


I read this book for an honest review from the publisher.


This book qualifies for the Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.