Tag: Genre Fiction

New book release: ‘Black’ by Skyler Van Kirk

‘Black’ is the exciting new novel by Skyler Van Kirk. Photo: Skyler Van Kirk, used with permission.

I am excited about today’s new book release news. It combines historical and speculative fiction. Stories in speculative fiction take place in a setting other than the real world, a parallel universe of sorts. These are some of the most artistic works of literature because they immerse the reader in either futuristic, dystopian, or imagined worlds. Now picture, if you will, a novel that puts forth the question: is the chief in the oval room really in charge, or is it the fury of the people that fuels the country? In Skyler Van Kirk’s “Black,” the time is coming when the Commander in-Chief will be in direct confrontation with the potent retribution of the people. Sounds exciting, right? If you enjoy the types of novels that explore such topics, pick up your copy today. It is available on Amazon.

Skyler Van Kirk’s journey began in the heart of a sprawling urban wilderness. The raw material of fantasy, woven into the very fabric of this concrete jungle, was the crucible that forged his inspiration to awe-inspiring heights. From those pulsating streets, his words ascended. The strokes of his pen metamorphosed into narratives of passion, love, epic drama, and heart-wrenching tragedy. What was once a pursuit of artistic expression has now become a relentless odyssey to push the boundaries of his readers’ emotions to their limits. When it comes to the sky, it does not get any higher! His new book, “Black,” is about the true power of the Commander-in-Chief and what happens when the pale faces behind the most protected building on the planet have to face the vengeance of the people who built it. (Skyler Van Kirk, 2023)

“Black” – In the past, dreams were taken away by force. Labor was forced and ran by profit. This country was built on a billion-dollar business. Laws were made to keep certain people mentally and physically broken. Families were ripped apart, all for the fortune of this country. Women were used, men were emasculated, and children became the worst victims. Yet, through all of this, they survived. One day they became free, or did they?

In the present, it seems that in generations down the line, certain people are still fighting for the American dream. It is supposed to be better, yet it is not. It is supposed to be easier but it is not. Our children learn that with their ancestors this country would not exist. The people in power are fighting hard to hide their dirty little secrets. People in power are going as low as to rename what really happened to so many people. The one word that still haunts them is “Slavery.”

Now here we are in the future, and things have actually changed. We have our first female president in history. The commander-in-chief is a woman, a woman who is supposed to be a beacon of hope. Yet, just like in the past with every action, there is a reaction. Our newly elected president really thinks she can solve this country’s number one problem. A problem that has been growing for decades, “Debt.”

Regrettably, that ember of hope has morphed into a venomous mirage, adorned by people dressed in powerful deceptive lies. The Commander-in-Chief, seated atop the pinnacle of universal power, desperately clings to a perilous conviction: Only by rebirthing relics from the darkest past of history can she exorcise the unsurmountable national debt.

The past seems to fade into the dark hushed abyss, vanishing like a fridged whisper in the night, while it unfurls its mighty wings. A vengeful lineage, no longer willing to be pawns in the government’s game, stands fortified. No longer shall the heavens rain down fire and brimstone upon, for this time this generation will go to war.

The ancestors of this country were scared by new land and therefore forced into shackles. Now, the juggernaut of a government must finally come face to face and grapple with a nation that has thrown on war paint like the gladiators of yesteryears. How then, will a governance contend with the people who hold them up? The People are finally awake from years of slumber and refuse to yield.

Welcome to black.

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Book review: ‘Dissection’ by Cristina LePort, MD

‘Dissection’ is the debut suspense thriller by Cristina LePort, MD. Photo: Amazon

Dr. Cristina LePort was born in Bologna, Italy, where she attended medical school before emigrating to the USA to complete her Internal Medicine residency at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and her Cardiology fellowship at West Los Angeles VA/UCLA. She has been practicing medicine for more than 30 years as Dr. Cristina Rizza. “Dissection: A Medical and Political Thriller” is her first published novel and a tense thriller with complex characters that combines cutting-edge medical technology with horrific yet still believable terrorist plots.

“Dissection” – DC heart surgeon Dr. Steven Leeds is suddenly overwhelmed by a handful of extremely complicated heart attack and stroke cases, all caused by a rare arterial injury―a dissection. The victims all have one thing in common: they receive harmless-looking cards announcing, “Your heart attack/stroke will arrive within one hour!” It all starts with Dr. Nirula receiving a card warning him of an impending fatal heart attack. At first he dismisses it because he knows his personal odds of such an episode are slim, but then he remembers that 25% of people who have heart attacks have no known risks. His heart starts pounding as his life flashes through his mind, but eventually he moves on. He is the first of many such cases but unfortunately some do not make it. When private detective Kirk Miner and FBI agent Jack Mulville start investigating, they immediately suspect Leeds’ former lover, Dr. Silvana Moretti, a brilliant research scientist who harbors a grudge against all the victims. When important people in the U.S. government begin to receive these same threatening cards and experience similar cardiac emergencies, it falls to the unlikely team of three―the headstrong FBI agent, the gifted private investigator, and the brilliant but conflicted heart surgeon―to find the actual perpetrators and to snuff out a catastrophic plot that only the medically astute can divine.

Dr. Cristina LePort has written an impressive debut novel. Her experience as a medical professional gives it an authentic voice, for example, when she describes a heart attack: “a heavy sickening pressure rose from the center of his chest and spread like an oil spill to reach his jaw.” When doctors themselves get sick, the experience tends to give them a reality check, such as when Dr. Nirula admits that it is not fun being on the other side, being the patient instead of the doctor. The thorough character development makes them relatable, flawed, but overall courageous. With her descriptive language, the author makes the story come alive: “Fear receded like a wave from the shore and crashed into anger.” The political thriller subplot gives it an extra thrill ride during the rush to find the designated survivor to avoid a catastrophe and in case the president does not make it. The chapters are short and the action is mostly dialogue driven. Highlights include Chapter 3: Dissection where Dr. LePort describes Dr. Steven Leeds preparing to perform surgery: he “slid a cap over his thinning black hair, reached for a sponge, and stepped on the pedal to switch on the water” and Chapter 31: Choices when all hell breaks loose and Kirk Miner and Jack Mulville relentlessly pursue the terrorists even though they have both been injured. “Dissection” is a must read suspenseful page turner that combines a fast paced medical thriller with white knuckle political action. It is recommended for readers who appreciate the best of Tom Clancy and Robin Cook.

“She stared at her husband for a long moment as if deciding how to best handle the possible emergency. The man flapped his hand, hurrying her to get ready. A few minutes later, man and wife sat buckled up in their car on their way to Capitol Hospital. The man’s headache and neck pain escalated with the car’s bouncing and swerving. To him, the city street lights appeared blurred. Panic set in.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.