I’ll warn everyone now, it is very, very, Rated R.

“Shadowmagic” and it’s sequel “A Prince of Hazel & Oak” are two books in the same vein.

The stories revolve around Conor, a seventeen-year-old boy from Scranton who is pulled into the mythical world of Celtic legend, Tir-na-Nog. The adventures are fun, but what’s truly entertaining is Conor’s modern American sensibilities in this archaic world. It’s funny and poignant all at the same time.

He still has all the things we expect of a teenager, needs his parents, wants to impress them, bu also wants to stand on his own. Conor makes mistakes, some big, some small, but they stem from his inexperience, not trite emotional outbursts or stupidity. He’s a fish out of water and is doing the best he can.

Something, I think, we can all empathize with.

So, long story short (too late!) go grab the newest book by John Lenahan, “A Prince of Hazel and Oak.” If you haven’t picked up “Shadowmagic” yet, do it first and then get the sequel. He’s promised a third (and it sounds like final) book to the series. Get writing John!

1. Brooks has done an excellent job on the exposition. Normally, this stuff annoys me, but I really do need it this time and he’s easing me back in.
2. Dick Hill’s reading is fantastic. So “storyteller”-like that it draws you in quickly and leaves you enjoying every phrase.

I’m only on Disc 2, so I’m just getting underway, but I forget the polish and professionalism that is commercial audiobooks.

Again, still love Podiobooks, but we have a ways to go before we match some of the professional folks.

That said, I can’t wait to read the next book from Nathan’s fertile mind. I highly recommend these books. I’m always enthralled by smart people overcoming obstacles and crises.

Well done Nathan! Keep up the good work!

They’re experiencing “growing pains” and their server costs have just doubled! It’s a tough time, but it’s a good thing. The increased traffic means they’re getting more popular, but with the load comes a price.

Head on over to use the donate link here.

Thanks gang!

Far too often the terrorist plot to blow up a lot of people is used with overwrought dialogue and predictable settings. Such is not the case with Faithful Warrior. The main character is a retired Special Ops soldier now living as a minister in suburban Ohio. The way Sands manages to reconcile the two seemingly different aspects of the main character’s life and personality. Bonus kudos for mentioning that the commandment is not “Thou Shalt Not Kill” but is actually “Thou Shalt Not Murder.” Very different connotations.

I gathered a lot of good stuff from this story, most especially some vivid and tense action sequences. Also, I want to commend Sands in his narration for taking on Arabic and African accents. Personally, I’m a little nervous trying them out, lest I offend someone. Sands pulls them off with just the right accent that is believable but not offensive.

So, there you have it. Go forth and download.

And it’s all good and fun, don’t get me wrong. But it gets a touch cliche after awhile. After reading “The Lies of Locke Lamora,” I made a decision that that was how my books would go. No noble hero. No epic quest. Just some smart, extraordinary people scraping by under the nose of the law. And occasionally above it.

Now, imagine my surprise, nay, delight, at reading the description of Michael J. Sullivan’s “The Crown Conspiracy.”

They killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They chose poorly.

There’s no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to kill the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out…and so begins this tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.

And let me tell you, it’s a fun tale and fantastic bit of fantasy. I can’t wait to read book 2.

Download audio file (cc_promo_03.mp3)

• The Crown Conspiracy on Podiobooks.com
• Michael J. Sullivan (Author)
• Nathan Lowell (Narrator)

Good thing I’m going with “Mana Punk” instead. A little more fantasy and lot less steam to make the mechanics of the Shardlore world a little easier on the “suspension of disbelief” of my readers.

Check out his post and see what you think. Is it overdone? Do we need to go in a different direction?

I loved “How to Succeed in Evil” and he has a new work coming out called “Unkillable.” Great writer and an incredibly cool voice.

PatrickEMcLean.com

Fortunately, I’m way behind on other podcasts so I have no excuse but to catch up on them. I guess I could plug them, huh? The four I’m really into are: Escape Pod (Sci-Fi Short Fiction), Pseudopod (Horror Short Fiction), Pod Castle (Fantasy Short Fiction, whom I narrated a piece for), and lastly Decoder Ring Theater (New Old Time Radio Adventures).

You’ll find them all on my links section there on the right.

Now…get to work John Lennahan! I’m waiting!