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My Favorite Middle-Grade Fiction Books of 2019

Scott Cahan

Because I am the author of two middle-grade fiction books, I have a special interest in seeing quality books from that genre get the attention they deserve.  As a book reviewer, I try to spread my book reading time out between my three favorite genres; science fiction, fantasy, and middle-grade fiction. In the past, I tried to choose my favorites from all 3 genres and squeeze them into one all-inclusive top ten list.  I found that my favorite middle-grade books had a tough time competing with my favorites from the other two genres. Not because they are lesser in quality, … Continue reading My Favorite Middle-Grade Fiction Books of 2019

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My Favorite Science Fiction books of 2019

Scott Cahan

In 2019 I read and reviewed 33 fiction books. 17 of those were science fiction novels. In this post, I’ll list my top five favorite reads in the sci-fi category. Keep an eye out in the next few days for two more posts; one for the category of fantasy and another for middle-grade fiction. This list is not a list of the best books that came out this year. It is simply the best books that I happened to read and review this year. My top five are simply the ones that I fell in love with as I read … Continue reading My Favorite Science Fiction books of 2019

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Metal and Bone – Book Review

Scott Cahan

Metal and Bone by C.I. Chevron is inspired by the classic story of Cinderella, broadly reinterpreted through a steampunk science fiction lens. The main character is called Ella by the poor oppressed people that she calls her friends while the wealthy aristocrats know her as a mysterious thief named Cinder. She is beautiful and kind, as we would expect, but she is also smart, brave, and resourceful. The world that Ella lives in is marred by poison gases in the air and a whole class of citizens who have been crippled or maimed by war and disease. Ella is one … Continue reading Metal and Bone – Book Review

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The Line Between – Book Review

Scott Cahan

The Line Between by Tosca Lee is a one-of-a-kind thriller that takes an end-of-the-world story, unlike any I’ve ever read, and couples it with the incredible story of a young girl who is cast out of a cult. The girl is named Wynter and hers is a fast-paced psychodrama that kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. Inside the walls of the cult, Wynter was safe but under great oppression from their leader/prophet, Magnus. When she finally finds herself outside, free from the cult, she realizes the world outside is a dangerous and unforgiving place, and she … Continue reading The Line Between – Book Review

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Paranormia – Book Review

Scott Cahan

Paranormia, by Paul Regnier, is a supernatural thriller with a sense of humor. Average guy, Chris, whose life has been uneventful and depressing as the story begins, stumbles into a showdown between heaven and hell. In one strange evening, he gets involved with an eccentric angel and a sexy demon. The angel tells Chris he has an important mission for him to complete, but Chris wants nothing to do with the man who doesn’t look or act like any preconceived notion he had of angels. The demon, on the other hand, is every single guy’s dream. Solas is her name … Continue reading Paranormia – Book Review

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My Dad is a Mad Scientist – Book Review

Scott Cahan

My Dad is a Mad Scientist is the first book in a new series by Matthew S. Cox. The series is called The Adventures of Ubergirl. Meant for middle-grade readers, this is a first-class superhero tale brought down to a kid’s level. Its main hero is a smart nine-year-old girl named Kelly who, before she received her powers, was considered a loser at school. When the transformation happens, as a result of aliens landing on Earth, Kelly’s life is turned upside down. Soon, she has Superman type powers crammed into her little girl body. The twist in this story involves her father. He … Continue reading My Dad is a Mad Scientist – Book Review

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Fawkes – Book Review

Scott Cahan

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes is a historical tale that draws from real historic events and combines them with a magical element that is pure imagination. The result is an exciting coming-of-age story about a young man named Thomas Fawkes in a world full of magic. It’s set in Great Britain somewhere around the 1600s or 1700s. Thomas wants more than anything to be given a magical mask that can only be given to him by his father. When his father doesn’t arrive on the appointed day to give him his mask, Thomas sets out to find him. His search takes … Continue reading Fawkes – Book Review

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Electrical Menagerie – Book Review

Scott Cahan

Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder is the delightful story of magic and the entertainers whose lives are defined by the magic they create. The time and setting are never defined, but the story seems to be set in some alternate universe that looks a lot like Earth in the late 1800s but it includes certain technological advancements, like robots, that could never have existed back in those days. However, the author weaves these hi-tech elements so masterfully into the story that they felt natural to the world of the Electrical Menagerie. The plot follows an illusionist named Carthage and … Continue reading Electrical Menagerie – Book Review

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Arestana 2 – Book Review

Scott Cahan

Arestana: The Defense Quest by Shawn P.B. Robinson is part two in the Arestana series for young readers. It continues the story of young Liam as he gets pulled into the world of Arestana for another adventure. This time he must lead the armies of Arestana in defeating an attacking enemy. Liam is only a boy and knows nothing about warfare but that doesn’t matter because most Earthly logic makes no sense in Arestana. Once back in the strange land, Liam joins up with his old friends and makes a few new ones. Everyone is just as silly as ever and Liam … Continue reading Arestana 2 – Book Review