Dragonwatch Book 2-Wrath of The Dragon King
Brandon Mull
Shadow Mountain Publishing
October 23, 2018
reviewed by Brian James Lewis

This month, in just a few weeks, Shadow Mountain Publishing is going to be releasing the second book in the Dragonwatch saga by New York Times bestselling author, Brandon Mull, who is also the dynamo behind the Fablehaven series and the Beyonders. This reviewer is new to the author, but you can’t miss his energy and the ability to provide intricate details in a way that will entertain readers of all ages. Remember how parents were so happy when Harry Potter came into existence? Why was that? Well a big reason was that suddenly, children who never read anything, were tackling thick books full of big words and loving it. Not only that, but the stories were powerful and captivating. Good triumphed over evil and showed that it isn’t wise to judge folks or books by their covers.

Dragonwatch is the sequel and continuance of the Fablehaven series of books written by Brandon Mull. In these stories, Kendra and Seth are the new caretakers of the Wyrmroost sanctuary of magical creatures. One might think that inheriting these positions from their grandparents would make for an easy transition, but this is no gravy job. There is a lot to learn, new creatures to meet and then there’s this whole thing about a dragon war. Celebrant, the current king of all the dragons within the preserve of Wyrmroost, has decided to take over the land. To do that, he’ll have to destroy all his opposition, including Kendra and Seth. But he better be ready for a fight! With their crew of allies and their own magical powers, these young caretakers are not going to just cut and run.

While this is very different territory for someone who spends a lot of time reviewing speculative fiction and dark poetry, I found myself getting caught up in the excitement and feeling concerned when we left the good guys in a tenuous state. Instead of safely flying home, they are forced to take a road that is hiding myriad threats that they’re not prepared for. What will happen next? The only way to find out is to pre-order your copy of Dragonwatch Book 2 Wrath of the Dragon King today! These books may be aimed at younger readers, but much like the Harry Potter books I can see adults really digging this. If you like Tolkien, and his Middle Earth, you are very likely to enjoy the Dragonwatch series! FIVE STARS.

Author, Brandon Mull tours schools around the country promoting literacy and sharing his message that “imagination can take you places.” Books are journeys we can take to other lands without ever leaving our hometown. As we head towards the holidays, his books will make great gifts. Especially for the growing number of families who are backing off on Halloween candy to save young teeth. Inspiring children to read is super important. It’s like handing them the keys to the brain gym. Plus, when they’re sleeping, you can sneak in a little reading of Dragonwatch 2. Brandon Mull’s books are available from Amazon.com, where you can also follow him. You can also keep up with the author at BrandonMull.com. Tell him you read about his latest on Damaged Skull Writer, then get ready for some quality reading time!

Let There Be Dark
Tim McWhorter
Hydra Publications
August 21, 2018
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Hello friends and fans out there in Reader Land! I’ve got a book here that I’m really excited to tell you about. Let There Be Dark by Tim McWhorter is a seriously badass collection of short horror fiction that will rock your world! Hydra Publications has put together a fierce looking book from the author of Bone White and Blackened that delivers the goods. Just look at that evil raven on the cover! All ready? Good, because we’re diving in!

One of the most impressive powers great writers have, is to turn everyday things into shit your pants nightmares. Tim McWhorter does it with the first sentence of Rope Burns.                                                                                                                                                    “A fucking Walgreens? Are you kidding me right now?”
Nicely done. So we walk into one of the most familiar places in the U.S of A and smack into the Salem Witch Trials. Well, the location of them anyway. John and his girlfriend are on a research trip to check out the sites of horrible doings to the witches of Salem, Mass. Unfortunately, things have not been going to plan, or meeting expectations. That is, until John uses the rest room and undergoes a trial of his own…

How about a nice tale about a blue ribbon creeper? Would that shake your moneymaker? Better get ready, because it’s time for No Saints Here. I think a lot of people worry about what home improvement contractors do in your house besides knocking down walls. Are your possessions safe? What about your family? Especially if you’re blessed with a highly attractive mate. I mean, you can’t watch the workers all the time. Clancy is a creepy contractor who makes the best out of life’s opportunities. He likes to make it sound a little nicer, by calling what he does surprise dates. You get where things are going? Yeah, yuck city. But when Clancy stalks his latest target, nobody follows the script. Way too many people show up at this little get together. Until the biggest question is: Will there be any survivors?

One more peek inside? Okay, but this time we’re going into The Dark Side! It’s one of those cool new attractions that are sweeping the nation, blackout houses. First it was over the top haunted houses, but now you go into a completely dark place and have to find your way out, in complete darkness. Sounds fun, huh? Then you step right on in there! I’ll wait outside, thank you very much. This is the same thought Sky is having when her boyfriend Brent drags her off to one of these places. She suffers from high anxiety and in all honesty should NOT be going to this attraction. But she does so to please her dorky boyfriend. That’s nice of her and all, but not wise. Her reward is a terrifying end. Or is it?

More frightening tales await you inside Let There Be Dark by Tim McWhorter. Just released from Hydra Publications and chilling realistic. These things could happen to YOU! In fact I’ve had an experience that shares some parallels with The Dark Side. True story: Some friends of mine thought it would be fun to take me to a haunted house. Unfortunately they didn’t know about my anxiety disorders. So, in the middle of a haunted house I totally locked up. Closed my eyes, couldn’t move a step more. I had to be dragged out of the building by two men dressed as clowns. I didn’t regain full bodily control until I was outside and my emergency meds kicked in. What I’m saying is that Tim McWhorter knows people very well. It’s one big thing that makes him a great writer. He knows what’s going to whip us off our feet. Every one of the stories in Let There Be Dark happens in a different place with unique characters. My favorite thing is how twisted the stories are by the time you reach the end. Take note: The ending you expect to happen is not what you’re going to read! This beauty gets FIVE STARS all day, every day. Whether you’re familiar with Tim’s previous work or not, make sure to grab a copy of Let There Be Dark! It’ll scare you in a whole new way! Available NOW from Barnes & Noble (free shipping for members!) and Amazon.

Boy, am I glad that I ordered my copy of this fine collection of stories via Barnes & Noble.com! It arrived in perfect condition and may I say, this cover is a beauty. As a resident of the Empire State and a Horror writer and reviewer, I wanted to see how we stacked up. So far, I’m three stories in and every one of them has been great! Also enjoyed Editor James Chambers’ foreword. Besides being colorful, it also explains that all proceeds from the sales of A NEW YORK STATE OF FRIGHT will be donated to GIRLS WRITE NOW http://www.girlswritenow.com  This program helps girls in their teens to get mentorship and break into the big world of publishing. The program especially targets girls who would not have a chance otherwise to do these things otherwise and that is pretty dang awesome! So not only are you getting 300 pages of great writing, but you are also helping the next crop of great new writers to step up. Hippocampus Press has done a beautiful job with these books, making them a joy to read and something that will look great on your bookshelf or coffee table! 

Just a few last words-This book is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon. However, Amazon made the road rocky by cancelling pre-orders, so I would encourage you to go with B & N. This is also not an “official” HWA anthology, but it measures up to everything I’ve read in the past. Plus, by helping GIRLS WRITE NOW, you are going to give someone the proper outlet for their feelings, hopes, and dreams. Let’s crush the crack pipes and open those brains up for business! 

I like summer writing time a lot. It’s about the only way I can really multi-task because whatever I’m doing outside, even just taking a nap like Murphy Brown here, I can still say I was getting some fresh air and sunshine. Neither of those things is particularly abundant in the Skullcave, where most of the magic happens.

Lately I have gone back to writing with pencil in notebooks and I think it has helped me reconnect with my writing. Somehow the eraser always runs out before the lead, but that’s okay. It also brings me back to the original way I started writing. The days when I thought I was destined to become the next Kerouac. I have boxes of full notebooks to go through when I have time. Sometimes there are a few treasures in them. Other times, it is more like journal reading.

Sometimes I do take one of my portable typewriters outside to the porch, roll a sheet of paper in and see what happens.  Often, it turns out well because there’s so much to see and hear in the middle of an old city that’s struggling to stay alive. A freight train roars by, the mail carrier stops to chat for a minute, and the local garage is firing up an old hot rod. It makes a joyful racket.

How about you, friends? What is your favorite way to write? Would you change anything, if you could? Whatever way you are writing, I hope the words flow like wine at a wedding and that the word bar is never closed.