Mini Review: Shapeshifters by John B. Kachuba

Shapeshifters by John B. Kachuba

There is something about a shapeshifter—a person who can transform into an animal—that captures our imagination; that causes us to want to howl at the moon, or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and other weird creatures appeal to our animal nature, our “dark side,” our desire to break free of the bonds of society and proper behavior. Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons.

The myths, magic, and meaning surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba’s compelling and original cultural history. Rituals in early cultures worldwide seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers, witches, and wizards to transform at will into animals and back again. Today, there are millions of people who believe that shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Featuring a fantastic and ghoulish array of examples from history, literature, film, TV, and computer games, Shapeshifters explores our secret desire to become something other than human.

Pages: 208

Format: E-Book

Published By: Reaktion Books

Genre: Nonfiction, Horror, Historical

Rating:
✮✮✮✮

Review:
Shapeshifters gives you an insight in how influential shapeshifters have been on humans throughout the humanity's history. From the beginning of time, shapeshifting has been rejected or accepted in different cultures to mean different things. Shapeshifting has been used as scapegoats for the unexplainable and for something people long for in different ways.

If you are interested in a historical take on something that plays a huge role in our horror, fantasy, and other elements of our life today, this book might be interesting for you. Kachuba goes over shapeshifters in ancient times, in medieval times, and in modern times; looking at shapeshifters all around the world. I would highly recommend.

Trailer Reveal & Giveaway: Lark's Labyrinth by Cathy Cash Spellman

Print Length: 674 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1461177367
Publisher: The Wild Harp & Company, Inc. (November 28, 2017)
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English

Praise for LARK'S LABYRINTH

"Politics and religion collide as Spellman delivers another fast-paced, suspenseful, and totally enjoyable thriller... The author constructs a blistering story--replete with political and religious intrigue--that never slows down and will keep readers turning the pages of this spectacular thrill ride." ―Publisher's Weekly

Praise for CATHY CASH SPELLMAN

“...Almost impossible to put down. The Author has the ability to produce one powerful scene after another and the action draws you helplessly on...” ―Publisher’s Weekly on So Many Partings

“...A cross between The Thorn Birds and Ragtime...” ―ALA Booklist on So Many Partings

“Flows along with an inexorable narrative current that propels the readers from one involving episode to the next.” ―Booklist on So Many Partings

“An energetic plot that never takes a breather.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Paint the Wind

“A western extravaganza.. a plot teeming with outsize characters.” ―Publishers Weekly on Paint the Wind

“I have never read a book or connected with an author who has touched me so deeply – as a mother, a grandmother, and another psychic kindred soul!” ―Elizabeth Taylor on Bless the Child

“This book has really touched my heartstrings as both a mother and grandmother. And Cathy Cash Spellman is one hell of a writer!” ―Maureen Stapleton on Bless the Child

“With a seductive, at times spellbinding style, author Spellman (An Excess of Love) incorporates ancient myths into an entrancing romantic thriller.. Spellman succeeds in capturing the reader’s close attention as an unrelenting sense of foreboding drives the narrative forward with power.” ―Publisher’s Weekly on Bless the Child

The Spear that pierced Christ’s side on the Cross has played a secret, but major role in history. Charlemagne, Constantine, Otto the Barbarian, The Knights Templar and Adolf Hitler all owned it... and believed it gave them the power to rule the world.

What if they were right?

The first time Dr. Cait Monahan ever heard of the Spear of Longinus was the night her husband was murdered because of it. That was when the terror began.

…right before the U.S. Government, the CIA, Neo Nazis, the Vatican and a secret cabal of 13 powerful global manipulators sent their assassins after her and her 9 year old.

 
...just before a lethal secret propelled her across Europe following a riddle that hadn’t been solved since the Holocaust.

…just before Cait Monahan became entrapped in an interdimensional labyrinth that her own husband may have helped design.

Now she’s a player in a game that has led to mystery, magic, mayhem and murder for over 2000 years, and only the help of a tribunal of long dead men may be able to save her.

Vibrant and cerebral, filled with intrigue, Conspiracy Theory and more ancient secrets than the Dead Sea Scrolls, Lark’s Labyrinth pits characters you’ll care about against a mystery you’ll want to solve.

Inside Lark’s Labyrinth is a secret men have killed for …now a woman, her sister, her child and their small band of friends are all that stand between us and the dark, insidious power that’s a hairsbreadth away from ruling the world.

You can purchase Lark's Labyrinth at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Credit: Dakota Cash

Multiple New York Times and International Bestsellers, a Paramount Movie, book sales in 22 countries, Cathy Cash Spellman writes stories about love, friendship, adventure, and history. Known for her big sprawling sagas and memorable characters, Cathy writes the kind of stories women like to lose themselves in, and then remember long after the book is done.

Her books range through several genres: contemporary, historical, mystery, mystic and romance. Several take place in two time-frames, both current and historical.

Bless the Child was a Paramount movie in 2000, starring Kim Basinger and Jimmy Smits, and Paint The Wind has been optioned for film and TV.

Cathy is an Astrologer, Martial Artist (Black Belt Goju Ryu Karate) and has expertise in Chinese Medicine, several alternative healing modalities and many metaphysical disciplines.

She has written for Self, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Mademoiselle, Cosmo, Penthouse, Mode, Kung Fu and many other magazines about women, health, empowerment, sexuality, spiritual philosophy and Astrology. She blogs for The Huffington Post and The New York Times.

  

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Nerd Blast and Giveaway: It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington

Series: It Takes Death To Reach A Star Duology (Book 1)
Hardcover: 324 pages
Publisher: Vesuvian Books; (March 3, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1645480127
ISBN-13: 978-1645480129

Praise for IT TAKES DEATH TO REACH A STAR

"...merging the best of apocalyptic fiction and sci-fi ... compelling." —Library Journal

"Cinematic, thought-provoking, immersive ... in the manner of the novels of Philip K. Dick." —Booklist

"[I] cannot fathom how Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington created this masterpiece." - Reader's Favorite.
"This was one of the most original books I have read in a long time. I was completely transfixed from beginning to end.- This book gets a perfect score (which is rare!) - editing, format, layout, etc., all well done" —Feathered Quill Award Judges

WE ALL HAVE DEMONS. SOME DEMONS HAVE YOU.

The world you know is dead. We did this to ourselves.

The epidemic struck at the end of the Third World War. Fighting over oil, power, and religion, governments ignored the rise of an antibacterial-resistant plague. In just five years, the Earth was annihilated. Only one city survived—Etyom—a frozen hellhole in northern Siberia, engulfed in endless conflict.

The year is 2251.

Two groups emerged from the ashes of the old world. Within the walled city of Lower Etyom dwell the Robusts—descendants of the poor who were immune to the New Black Death. Above them, in a metropolis of pristine platforms called lillipads, live the Graciles—the progeny of the superrich, bio-engineered to resist the plague.

Mila Solokoff is a Robust who trades information in a world where knowing too much can get you killed. Caught in a deal gone bad, she's forced to take a high-risk job for a clandestine organization hell-bent on revolution.

Demitri Stasevich is a Gracile with a dark secret—a sickness that, if discovered, will get him Ax'd. His only relief is an illegal narcotic produced by the Robusts, and his only means of obtaining it is a journey to the arctic hell far below New Etyom.

Thrust together in the midst of a sinister plot that threatens all life above and below the cloud line, Mila and Demitri must master their demons and make a choice—one that will either salvage what's left of the human race or doom it to extinction …

You can purchase It Takes Death to Reach a Star at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Content from both Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington.

A veteran law enforcement officer, Stu Jones has worked as a beat cop, an investigator, an instructor of firearms and police defensive tactics and as a member and team leader of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. He is trained and qualified as a law enforcement SWAT sniper, as well as in hostage rescue and high-risk entry tactics. Most recently, Stu served for three years with a U.S. Marshal’s Regional Fugitive Task Force - hunting the worst of the worst.

Stu’s passion for writing developed during his years in college while obtaining his bachelor’s degree in history. In the years that followed, Stu published three faith-based post-apocalyptic novels – the Action of Purpose trilogy.

Stu's most recent published work is the award-winning futuristic thriller, It Takes Death To Reach A Star, written with co-author Gareth Worthington(Children of the Fifth Sun). It was published by Vesuvian books in May of 2018. He is currently working with Gareth Worthington on the follow-up to "Star" as well as other joint and solo projects.

Known for his character-driven stories and blistering action sequences, Stu strives to create thought-provoking reading experiences that challenge the status quo. When he’s not chasing bad guys or writing epic stories, he can be found planning his next adventure to some remote or exotic place.

Stu is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo-Helin-Fountain literary. He lives in Alabama with his wife, two children, and a golden-doodle who thinks he's human.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World's doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts - he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction.

An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time.

You can visit his author page and blog at www.garethworthington.com
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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