Review: Farr Point by Sam Havens

Sam Havens' novel Farr Point blends themes of coming of age, crime, class and racial prejudice, and relationships including romance and family responsibility to create a well-rounded and engrossing tale. His protagonist, high-school senior Eddie, is both flawed and likeable and it is his revealing narration which is the most enjoyable aspect of this novel.

Farr Point is set in late 1950's, small-town America, which may feel foreign to many readers today, but the description of everyday places and events is detailed enough to create a sense of familiarity without causing the narration to feel false or overly expository. The nostalgic tone is believable, without feeling saccharine sweet or naïve, and sounds almost biographical at times.

Eddie's development from naïve teenager to young adult is clearly demonstrated through his changing relationships with a cast of fascinating characters including his mother, best friends and girlfriend, temptress landlady and her African-American handyman, and many others who are minor but memorable. Havens, a writer and retired professor of drama, has demonstrated his measurable knowledge and skill in producing a novel that is both exciting and emotionally engaging and should appeal to most readers. 

Stats
Title: Farr Point
Author: Sam Havens
Style: Coming of Age/ Crime
Price: $0.99
Date of publication: January 2011
Can be found at:
Amazon (Kindle)

Barnes & Noble 

Thanks to Sam Havens for sending me this novel for review, I am always happy to accept works from authors for review. These reviews are conducted following the guidelines on the policy page.

Review: The Goblin Market by Jennifer Hudock

Jennifer Hudock’s novel The Goblin Market references several canonical works of prose and poetry from the past which will evoke familiar memories in any fan of fantasy literature. While, as a result, parts of the plot feel very familiar, they are reworked in a way which is exciting and original. Meredith begins with a commitment to save her sister from the goblin king, no matter the cost, but finds that bargains of that kind are rarely simple.

While Meredith’s physical journey to the goblin king’s castle to rescue her sister, and possibly the whole world, it is her internal journey from a girl who has sacrificed her happiness to give her sister everything she needs to a confident woman who is willing to give up even more for a greater cause. Hudock’s descriptive prose puts the reader in Meredith’s mind and the reader is quickly drawn into a relationship with the protagonist.

While it is clear that the novel could be extended into a sequel, the conclusion doesn’t confirm this, while also lacking resolution to some plots points. This is a pet peeve of mine, as I like each novel to stand alone as well as possibly part of a series, but as it was only some minor points which were not fully answered it did not impact on my enjoyment too much, and I will likely buy the sequel if it is written. The number of errors, a common problem with independently published ebooks, might also bother some readers, as it did me. These criticisms are minor though when you consider the enjoyable fairy-tale feeling and exciting plot that Jenifer Hudock has created in The Goblin Market.

Stats
Title: The Goblin Market
Author: Jennifer Hudock
Style: Fantasy / Romance
Price: $0.99
Date of publication: January 26, 2011
Length: 85,000 +
Can be found at:
Smashwords (Kindle, ePub, PDF, RTF, LRF, PDB, Plain Text & Online)
Amazon (Kindle)

Thanks to Jennifer Hudock for sending me this novel for review, I am always happy to accept works from authors for review. These reviews are conducted following the guidelines on the policy page.