Sheep Book Review: Reign Drops (Bloodborne) (Volume 1) by C. Patt

Reign Drops (Bloodborne) (Volume 1)
by C. Patt
June 27, 2016
114 pages
Plans change. Death stalks us. People evolve.
Dalia had a simple life, a life she loved. Working with the missionary program in Belize City as a translator was everything to her. The idea of returning home to the jungle and her isolated tribe was the last thing she wanted to do. When events forced her return she tried to remain neutral, uninvolved. As destiny called to her, she was left with no choice. Forced to acknowledge that magic and monsters exist, Dalia takes on the legacy that her family was raised for. The ancient Mayan legend forces her to make choices of life and death to save her people. When her only ally, a vampire with a brutal past, refuses to help she must fight to change his mind.

"Reign Drops is a unique melding of fantasy and alternative history. The world building is beautifully done and the characters are intriguing."

-Hadena James author of Amazon bestselling Dreams & Reality novels

"As a lover of Mesoamerican culture, I found the Mayan aspects of the story intriguing and refreshing. C. Patt did a remarkable job inter-spicing native lore with the modern tale. I'm looking forward to more in the Bloodborne Series."

-Olivia Hardin, USA Today Bestselling Author

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In all honesty I was reading this book, trying to digest it while many things were going on in my life. It took a while to finish and I needed to go back and read parts to put the story together in my mind. So I hope to be fair in my writing of this review.

I was excited to see that this book included a theory of Mayan culture which gives it a different flavor altogether. I enjoyed the role of the women of the Mayan tribe and their dedication to carrying on the tradition set hundreds of years before. The outside education of a female left me somewhat confused as I wondered what the tribe did with those young women after they were educated. Did they return or stay in the mainstream culture? But then I realized I was asking too many questions and just needed to step back, read the book and enjoy the story.

The reintroduction of Dalia to her families life style was at times understandable and at others confusing. Definitely a curious setting of modern and ancient culture. Being educated outside of the tribe in a somewhat contemporary life style was sure to make her return uncomfortable but finding out she was the "savior" spoke about from the ancients had to be an earth shattering revelation. I have to say she met the task head on and put her loyalties in the right place.

I think this story was as much about culture and beliefs as it was about paranormal activities. The vampires were shed in a different light as was the "magic". It was definitely an interesting take on the genre. The introduction to the prophesy was a great way to start but the crossover to the "present" gave me pause to wonder exactly how much time had passed. I would also have liked to have a little more information about the "dragon" culture and how it intertwined with the Mayans. Perhaps I was looking for a little more history when that was never the intention of the author. (As I said, little distraction on my part)

The writing is easy to digest and well penned. I felt it to be a rather dark tale but the setup eluded to that emotion. Although interesting (I love reading things with Mayan culture in it), it was not a page turner for me. With all this being said I felt it was not bad for a first book and it did leave me with a curious attitude regarding future adventures of Dalia and her tribe. I would pick up the next installment to see what is now in store for this Mayan priestess.

I give this 3.75 "world saving" sheep

Jeanie G

About the Author:

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C. Patt lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, three cats, two dogs and DJ the turtle. She writes as often as she can, but perhaps not as often as she should. According to the husband it is possible she reads too much.

Zombie Apocalypse- Who would Author Theresa DaLayne want to team up with? + giveaway

Ahhh, the Zombie Apocalypse. It’s a favorite subject of conversation among me and my friends, in my house, and oh, just while I’m sitting by myself, plotting my own survival plan.

The fact is, if you can prepare for zombies, you’re prepared for just about anything. And I give a lot of thought as to whom I’d bring into my “group.” Yeah, if Rick were here, I’d be the new Maggie. Don’t get me wrong, Michonne is kick-ass in so many ways, but I don’t know how to swing a sword, and she rocks those dreads way better than I ever could—so Maggie it is.

But aside from the fearless leader and myself, who else would I hand pick to trust with my life? And I’m talking real-life people. Friends and family. Who would I take, and who would I trip on the way out?

Everyone plays a role, and each role is equally important to keep the machine running, right?

I have a friend named Heather, who I’d definitely bring along. She can grow anything. Seriously. Anything. Her passion is identifying fungi and pruning wilted leaves from otherwise thriving plants. Once she gave me a Sex Ed lesson in the male and female flowers on her cucumber vine. Awkward, but interesting. So Heather, in.

My friend, Karen, knows almost nothing about plants, and cried when I took her horse back riding for her birthday. Not out of joy, mind you, but because she’d never touched a horse in her life and was terrified. She claims she would be vital for comic relief, but F-that. Comic relief won’t stab a zombie in the temple. But she is from New York and can throw a pretty mean right hook, so I figure her surly nature would make her a pretty good zombie slayer—whether she knows it or not. Karen, in.

My husband—of course—because not only is he pretty talented with a handgun, strong, and smart, but I could picture him being second in command. He knows people and can sniff out a threat from a mile away. Plus I’ll surely need a good snuggle when I come to the realization the world has gone to hell in a hand basket. Husband, in.

Lets just get my mom in there, too. Not only can she make a meal out of anything, but she’s my mom, so…can’t really leave her behind. Mom, in.

Speaking of relatives, my sister—who lives in Canada—would be an amazing addition. The only problem is, I’d have to get to her first. With no planes and limited car accessibility with cluttered highways and no gasoline, that would be a challenge. But her husband is totally into survival stuff, loves to camp, and I’m pretty sure would gnaw on a stiff squirrel if there was nothing else to eat. Plus, I may not step into the shoes of Michonne well, but my sister would rock a ninja sword with just a little practice. Sister, in. (And her husband in, too. He could be our tracker and survivalist.)

Education is important, even when the world has ended. I’d still want my kids to know how to read and write, so I’d definitely bring my friend, Zubaidah, who is a teacher. She’s also really strong and most likely has a zombie-killing beast laying dormant inside her somewhere. I could see her taking down walkers with a buck knife and zip line. Zubaidah, in.

Now that the group is getting bigger, I have to start being choosy about who I let in. We have a lot of who we need already. My question for you is, would YOU qualify to be in my group? Tell me why, and I may add your name to the list…

Stone Legacy Series Overview
Genre: Mature YA
Their empires have fallen, but their mythology lives on…

Zanya Coreandero is a seventeen-year-old orphan with only a single friend and no hope for a normal life. The only home she’s ever known is the isolated institution—where breakfast is a handful of medications, the psychiatry sessions are mandatory, and her every move is watched.

When Zanya is kidnapped, she meets a group of gifted Mayan descendants, each with a unique ability. Gone from a nameless castaway to the only hope of mankind, Zanya is forced to make a grueling decision: bond with an enchanted stone and save humanity from rising underworld forces, or watch helplessly as Earth falls victim to a familiar dark deity from her dreams. This time, he’s playing for keeps.

A wicked secret hides behind a handsome face…

When Arwan, a dark-eyed timebender, takes interest in Zanya's mission, it's unclear if his intention is to help, or if he's on a hell-bent mission for revenge. Wary of falling for another guy with major secrets and a tainted past, Zanya fights to keep her distance. If only her heart gave her a choice.

With the approach of an ancient bonding ceremony, Zanya struggles to control her abilities—and her desires.

As the winter solstice approaches, it brings an onslaught of unexpected side effects. While Zanya battles to seize control over her supercharged powers, she must also face an overwhelming suspicion that her new boyfriend, Arwan, is hiding a secret so dark it could destroy them both. And with her powers finally taking root, pacing their relationship becomes even more of a challenge.

Just when she thought life couldn’t get more complicated…

With the arrival of a surprise houseguest, Zanya’s deepest fears about Arwan are confirmed. And when middleworld deities intercede, the group of gifted Maya descendants are confronted with hardships they never saw coming—including an enemy more deadly than they have ever faced.

When the heavens, middleworld, and underworld collide, an epic battle for power threatens the existence of mankind. Their survival rests in the hands of Zanya and her new, enchanted family. But when a final secret turns her world upside down, her stone, family, and future aren’t the only things she’s destined to protect.

Mayan Blood (Stone Legacy Book One)

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Interlude (Stone Legacy Book Two)

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Lights of Aurora (Stone Legacy Book Three)

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Anarchy (Stone Legacy Book Four)

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About the Author:
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A long-time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa began her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and feature articles to delve into the whimsical world of fiction.

Since then, Theresa has been married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and has been repeatedly guilt-tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having traveled to over a dozen countries—not to mention an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. Wherever life brings her, Theresa will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

GIVEAWAY

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Cover Reveal: Blood Stitches by Erin Fanning

Blood Stiches

Kindle Price:$1.99
Release: May 12, 2015

Kensington

It’s called El Toque de la Luna–The Touch of the Moon. At least that’s how nineteen-year-old Gabby’s older sister, Esperanza, refers to the magical powers she inherited from their Mayan ancestors. Esperanza says women with El Toque weave magic into their knitting, creating tapestries capable of saving–or devastating–the world. Gabby thinks Esperanza is more like touched in the head–until a man dressed like a candy corn arrives at their Seattle home on Halloween. But “Mr. C” is far from sweet… 

Soon, Gabby and her almost-more-than-friend, Frank, find themselves spirited away to a demon ball, complete with shape shifters–and on a mission to destroy Esperanza’s tapestries before they cause an apocalyptic disaster… And before it’s too late to confess their true feelings for each other. 

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About the Author: Website-FB-TwitterErin Fanning spends her summers on a remote Michigan lake, where her imagination explores the water and dense forest for undiscovered creatures. In the winter, she migrates to central Idaho, exchanging mountain bikes and kayaks for skis and snowshoes.

She’s the author of the “Curse of Blackhawk Bay” (Sam’s Dot Publishing, 2008), “Mountain Biking Michigan” (Globe Pequot Press, 2002), and numerous short stories, essays, and articles.