Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on February 6, 2019 by Colleen M. Chesebro
An honorable man is mistaken for his disreputable father. Now he’s pushed into a political scheme to start a war that will spread across multiple kingdoms. James Cuttler’s fiancé is being held captive to ensure he goes through with the plan.
Amazon.com
He soon decides his skills are at sea and procures a ship to wage war upon those who disrupted his simple life. He can’t do it alone, so he recruits a band of cutthroats to help him. But first, they need guns and munitions to outfit the ship properly. Deception and trickery will only get them so far. Eventually, they’re going to have to engage the enemy.
James’ goals aren’t necessarily the same as his crew. It’s a delicate balancing act to collect enough loot to keep his crew happy, while guiding them back to rescue the girl.
Voyage of the Lanternfish is filled with adventure, magic, and monsters. Lots of monsters. Hoist the colors and come along for the ride.
Title: Voyage of the Lanternfish
Amazon Author Page: C. S. Boyack
Publication Date: 12/31/2018
Formats: Paperback & Kindle
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Sea Stories, Fantasy, Historical, Speculative Fiction
Speculative Fiction author, C. S. Boyack has entertained me with his novels for some time. He first hooked me with one of his earlier books, Panama, which is another recommended read!
This author has a no-frills style of writing which always draws me into the story and characters. Once you start reading you better plan on staying up late! I know I did.
The plot of the “Voyage of the Lanternfish,” wraps around James Cuttler, a man whose fiancé is being held captive by a political foe. Mistaken for his father, James has no choice but to acquiesce to the Lord’s demands to begin a war between the kingdoms.
James and his best friend, Dan set out to fulfill their promise. In no time, a cast of characters appears that propel the story forward in ways you will never see coming. There’s Fala, an abused woman; Mal, a Voodoo mage of sorts; and Serang, a magical ninja with two pets you won’t want to miss. And, that’s just the start!
For all the exciting pirate adventures and fantasy found between these pages, it is the characters that truly shine. This author delves deep into their personalities and you really get a sense for who they are.
In addition, the book introduces some of the most unforgettable monsters I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. For me, these creatures ensured the success of the tale. In particular, Mal’s rudimentary supernatural beings develop a language which will delight the reader. I’m still laughing! I can’t get those little critters out of mind – they’re that brilliant!
If you love sword fights, bloody battles at sea, mortars, guns, and plenty of magic you are in for a rare treat. The “Voyage of the Lanternfish” is all that and so much more. Are you ready to be dazzled?
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Fairies
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I’m not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.
I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.
I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.
~Craig~
If you have your book listed on BookBub, I will add my review there also! ❤ Click HERE to follow me! (Colleen M. Chesebro) Let me know in the comments.
Are you looking for more great reads? Join author, D.G. Kaye, and myself in our Facebook group, The Literary Diva’s Library to find book reviews, book promotions, & special deals on books from authors you love.
Don’t forget to join us in the #ABRSC, Author Blogger Rainbow Support Club on Facebook. See you there! ❤
Category: Book ReviewsTags: Book Reviews, C. S. Boyack, Deep character POV, fantasy, Genre Fiction, Historical, Literature & Fiction, magic, mosters, pirates, Sea Stories, speculative fiction, Voyage of the Lanternfish
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
“A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him.”
—Dylan Thomas
Click: What is a Rhyme Scheme?
Disclaimer: My book review posts contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I earn a small commission to fund my reading habit if you use the links on my book reviews to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me supplied in books that I can review. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Thank you.
This website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Colleen M. Chesebro is an American Poet who loves crafting paranormal fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre flash fiction, syllabic poetry, and creative nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, tanka prose, renga, solo-renga, haibun, cinquain, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry. Colleen's syllabic poetry has appeared in the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal, and in “Hedgerow, a journal of small poems.” She’s won numerous awards from participating in the Carrot Ranch Rodeo, a yearly flash fiction contest sponsored by carrotranch.com. In 2020, she won first place in the Carrot Ranch Folk Tale or Fable category, with her story called “Why Wolf Howls at the Moon.” Colleen is a Sister of the Fey, where she pursues a pagan path through her writing. When she is not writing, she is reading. She also loves gardening and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art.
Another great review ❤️
LikeLiked by 4 people
Oh this book was a joy to read. Great characters! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing, Jaye. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant review for an equalling brilliant book! Our review being posted later today…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for reblogging this post, and I’ll keep my eyes peeled for your review too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jaye ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! We must be on the same wavelength. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great review for this book! Thanks, Colleen!
LikeLiked by 3 people
What an entertaining read! I think Craig wrote another fun book. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed the story. Lanternfish has a large cast, and I’m glad they all came across. I’ll share this as many places as I can today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well done, Craig. You wrote a fab book! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
Lanternfish is looking like a pretty valid story. I’m so excited to find these reviews popping up in the blog world. Colleen is super supportive of the indie community of authors, and if you don’t know her yet you’re missing out. Sail over to her site and get acquainted.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Craig. I just love good story telling. I wish you all the best! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well wishes are always gleefully accepted. Thank you.
LikeLike
Great review. I read the book and loved it. The characters really draw you in.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Those monsters are pure brilliance! 😂❤️
LikeLike
Thanks, Michele.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent review, Colleen. I really enjoyed this book too. As you said, the characters shine–all of them so diverse–and the creatures are fantastic. I’m smitten with the root monsters!
LikeLiked by 3 people
OMG… Mae, me too. I could see this play out in my mind as a movie. There’s something for everyone. I’m not a gun girl, but even the fight scenes were excellent. I loved it!! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Feel free to contact all your Hollywood friends. I’ll get busy carving some turnips and yams so we’re ready.
LikeLike
Appreciate it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fabulous review Colleen… congratulations Craig…great to see the book doing so well…xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. It’s so much fun when the stories resonate with people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your review is spot-on. I, too, have read most of his work and enjoyed everything, but this one will really stay with me.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I really loved the deep pov with the characters… and those monsters! Brilliant! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks again, Staci.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful review, Colleen
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, John. This was such a good book. Have you read it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not as yet. It is on my TBR
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great. It’s very enjoyable… and funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So I read. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing review, Colleen! Congratulations to Craig! He introduced me to the Speculative Fiction genre and now I can’t get enough. 😀 xo
LikeLiked by 3 people
Same here! Diana Peach helped quite a bit too. I really enjoyed this book. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Diana’s work too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re birds of feather, we are… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, ha. Yes, we are. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Write those speculative tales, Vashti.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m more into reading books and stories in the genre, Craig. I may attempt to write something at some point. 😉 xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great review Colleen! I’ve yet to grab ‘Lanternfish’ but now I really want to… hoodoo AND ninjas, what’s not to like? PS: I love your rating system… very sweet!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jessica. You will love this book. One of the best I’ve read! My faeries? I thought that added a fun touch. Thanks for noticing. 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Off to the bookshop!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Nice! Let me know what you think. 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Enjoy the voyage.
LikeLiked by 3 people
What a great review of Craig’s book, Colleen. I can see why you wanted to own a copy of it. Congratulations, Craig!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Miriam. It was such a fun read. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, I could feel your enjoyment of the book. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome, Craig.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m currently listening to this one, Colleen, and can’t wait to get to the root monsters – everyone raves about them!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I I I I, Captain! You will love them. I bet this books sounds as good as it reads. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on M J Mallon YA/Paranormal Author and commented:
Colleen’s glowing review for Craig’s Voyage of The Lanternfish. #recommended #reading
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for sharing this. Means a lot to me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hugs for sharing, Marje ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure Craig. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks so much, Marje. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure Colleen. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome review, Colleen. I’m seeing so many fabulous reviews for Craig’s work. Bravo to Craig! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so thrilled that everyone seems to be enjoying it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He’s got some fab stories and this one is so good. Possibly his best book so far! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Looks great, Colleen. Wonderful review and am looking forward to this one as well as many others by Craig. He’s prolific for sure. I need to carve out time to read some of the ones I already have. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Keep this one on your list. His creativity and humor are delightful! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thoroughly enjoyed Craig’s book and I’m thrilled to see so many others enjoying a lot of the same things about it that I did! Fantastic review, Colleen!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jan. It was such an entertaining story. Those little monsters. I loved them!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. I think Craig is surprised at the reception the little root monsters have received. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL! I love the paranormal aspects. His book, Panama, is excellent too! 😍
LikeLike
I am. I never thought they would be so popular.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re just the author… little do ye know. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
No kidding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! 😂
LikeLike