5 beautiful stars for an all-time favorite

Thank you, Kaje Harper, for this wonderful story!. I was so hestitant to read this. Mostly because I'm always reluctant when it comes to historical romances. More often than not the history is only used as a setting and everything else is ignored in order to make the romance possible. Which annoys me to no end. Because when you decide to write a story in a different time period, to me that means, you also have to do extensive research in order to make it at least a tiny little bit authentic.

If you ask me, Kaje did a formidable job here. Of course my "histotrical perspective" is somewhat different, since my country was the enemy in the war she described. But still, it felt right to me. The way she told the story of two young men deeply influenced and scarred by living and fighting during WW2 was impressive and felt unbelievably real. The anger, the depression, the naked fear, the love, the secrecy - all of it went directly under my skin and made me feel so much for the MCs.

I especially liked how she didn't end the story after they found each other again after the war was over. We were able to see this couple grow together, get even more close, fall even more deeply, grow old together and break free together. It took decades, and so many sticks and stones, before they could finally get married and even though I am not the type to cry easily over a story, I had to pick up a tissue or three at the end. Really, truly beautiful.

. . . allow coyotes to seal you into a tanker truck to drive you into the desert, purportedly to reach the other side in only three hours.

Tito will never do it again.  And I'm telling you: just don't do it. 

The Jaguar's Children is a book of survival, of living and dying, of family and history and the future.

it is so good.  Do I dare to compare it to Anne Frank?  Yes, I do.  She had a diary, and he had a cell phone, but as far as the importance of the content and the beauty of the writing, they are equals.

Although this is fiction, we've all heard the stories of the thousands who try to cross borders and never make it to the other side.

if you decide to read this book, be prepared for difficult scenes that are hard to sit through, but also you will find this to be meaty with lots of food for thought.

"The human soul was not made to know such things and live." -- Tito, Day 2

Progress updates as I was reading through the book:

http://redthaws.booklikes.com/post/1158876/on-the-subject-of-famine 

 http://redthaws.booklikes.com/post/1159299/what-would-anyone-do 

http://redthaws.booklikes.com/post/1159325/free-mind-full-stomach-all-will-be-well 

"The battery is getting low now, and the life of the phone is not the only one that matters."

Jeffrey Ford is a great short story writer. This story is very good and it's free and you should go over and read it on Tor.com.

But keep in mind that you really need to read about five stories by Jeffrey Ford to get a feel for what he's doing, to appreciate his range.

So, read "The Thyme Fiend" and, if you like it, do yourself a favor and grab one of his short story collections. They're all good, but I'd recommend you start with either of the following titles:

If you love the short story as an art form, I'm pretty damned sure these books will make you happy.

Book – Dead of Winter (The Beautiful Dead #2)
Author – Daryl Banner

Publication Date – November 6, 2014
Genre –Fantasy/Post Apocalyptic/Romance
Type – Part of Series
Cliffhanger – Kind Of
Rating – 4.75 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

*BOOK TWO IN THE BEAUTIFUL DEAD TRILOGY*
*IT IS RECOMMENDED TO READ THIS SERIES IN ORDER*

No one said being an Undead is easy.

Winter’s Second Life became a lot more complicated when the Living moved into her hometown of Trenton. Undead neighbors fight with their Breathing ones. Food is sparse. And, worst of all, the season is taking a change for the colder.

A desperate plea for help to a neighboring city turns deadly and soon Winter finds herself facing an old friend from her past whose plot to annihilate all life on the planet may have everything to do with her.

And what about the man-with-the-heartbeat in her house? Is there even room for love in such a ruined, unforgiving world?

New friends are made. Others are lost forever. In the dead of winter, no one is safe.

My Thoughts - Story
Holy Shit…were my parting thoughts as I finished the last page…That ending…the last part of the book…I swear I was reading something from one of the great poets – The words…the imagery ---- the tightening of my heart – the tears forming in my eyes – the love bursting through – the hope – the elation – HOLY FUCK…just being in Winter’s shoes…her dedication and love – how in world could anyone ever question whether she was alive or dead – her soul must still be holding on to her.

OK…I’m sidetracking here…back to Mr. Banner.  I bow before you almighty Daryl Banner….you have done it again.  Something I didn’t think possible.  Yeah, I’m sorry…I didn’t get back to you – you tried to tell me that you wanted to send me a copy and I let Real Life get in the way…(BAD CAROL – BAD CAROL) – I’m smacking myself for you…I should have listened to you and took the ARC immediately.  I devoured this book – I loved having Megan, John, Hel and the rest of the gang all back again…plus we meet some new savory characters in this one also!

Now…you are probably wondering or asking why I didn’t rate this a full 5 stars?  I think it had to do with the beginning…they way John acted toward Winter and I did find the beginning a bit slow (sorry don’t beat me master). Ohhhh…and don’t forget that you had me sobbing in work…UGH

Annnnddddd….a little more taken off the top because you left me wanting more again.  I just know you are going to write another one…Winter and John’s story is not finished yet…..along with Grimsky!  Hmmmm?  Get those fingers exercising Mr. Banner and this time…don’t take my silence as an answer!

YOU ARE A MASTER!

Re-Cap
It’s been about 6 months since Trenton fought against the Deathless….Living and Undead together co-existing in a somewhat harmony.  The gangs all back but all is not quiet in the town of Trenton…there is a wall of fire not too far off…the humans need food…John and Winter need to figure out what is going on between them…and after Grims release…what is he up to now?

We follow Winter as she tries to figure out what this fire means along with keeping peace in Trenton.  There are new friends…new threats and the ultimate sacrifice one has to make.

Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam –  N/A
Angst – 4 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 out of 5 Stars

Told In – Winter’s POV

Heroine/Personality – Winter…God how I love this gal!!

Hero/Personality – John…kinda frustrating in the beginning…but turns it all around to be special in my book!
HEA (Spoiler) - Don’t know really
Would Read More from Author? DEFINITELY
Recommend To – anyone who loves not just a great fantasy…but life lessons that really make you think.

I often find Ray Bradbury's writing a bit precious. At some point in his career it seems to me that he became more concerned with being a GREAT AUTHOR than simply telling a great story. And, yes, I felt that way sometimes while listening to The Halloween Tree.

BUT...

And that's a rather large 'BUT.'

But, with The Halloween Tree he did manage to pull off the gorgeous poetic prose, the grand imagery, while telling a wonderful story. I don't use the word 'wonderful' often in a serious manner, but here it fits. There seems to be no other word to describe this book.

Every word seems perfectly chosen, each sentence, paragraph, and scene, meticulously crafted to evoke the spirit of Halloween and the feeling of being a young boy.

I listened to Bronson Pinchot's excellent narration, Bradbury's hypnotic meditation on death and rebirth, and let the grandest Halloween vistas build and burn in my mind, endlessly reforming and shattering, reassembling and disintegrating, painting themselves over and over, only to be washed away a thousand times.

I cannot imagine a book that more perfectly captures the soul of the holiday.

Don't even ask me what price I'd pay to be a boy again, running wild through the streets with my older brothers on Halloween night. I'm afraid of what my answer might be.

Highest possible recommendation!