Review: Tearing The Shroud by J.M. Bray

Title: Tearing The Shroud by J.M. Bray
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Release Date: November 1st, 2013
Genres: Fantasy, Action, Drama
Medium: Ebook, Received for Review by Author. Thanks J.M.!

Tearing The Shroud is an action-packed novel full of powerful fantasy and descriptive characters. A unique mix of gaming, inventive fantasy, action and drama, this novel is a one-of-a-kind novel that reaches new heights in the world of fantasy.

Fall in love, be possessed, hunt a sorcerer and save the world -- and Vincent thought calculus was tough.

1984 -- Vincent expected college to be about freedom and girls, but then the nightmares of sorcery, monsters and other worlds began. Not even the surprising attention from his dream girl, Julie, could shake them. Before he's even nailed his second date with Julie, he's possessed by Coleman, a warrior from another realm. Coleman is hell bent on defeating the monstrous Kafla who threatens to tear into Vincent's reality, changing both his and Coleman's worlds forever. They have one chance to stop them: Vincent must allow Coleman to share his body and wage war against the sorcerer.

Now it's up to them, the women they love, and Vincent's rag-tag bunch of role-playing and gaming friends to save the world, or see 1984 descend into the apocalypse.

The plot was fantastic. It was fast-paced, intricate, and definitely addicting. You have a mix of several different themes in this novel, which makes for an interesting mix. You have a bit of gaming taking place in this novel, which Bray describes perfectly. He makes the topic of this special gaming interesting even for those who have never experience nor read about it. He also adds in a great deal of action. There were several scenes of combat, violent fighting with unusual weapons. There was a lot of swords and knives, special instruments of combat I had never heard of. These weapons and action-packed fighting makes this novel also very desirable for male readers. A touch of romance for the ladies, an intricate plot for everyone, and fast action makes this novel an electrifying page-turner.

The characters in this novel were just as mesmerizing. Vincent by himself was an interesting perspective to read from and Coleman was just as equally fascinating. Together, they were "Vinnie" and twice as thought-provoking and exciting. He was a fighter, protector, warrior, friend, and lover. His bravery and simply personality makes it easy to connect with him, along with every other character in this novel. All the supporting characters were equally interesting, and all played major parts in the plot.

The writing was magnificent. Descriptive, imaginative, and majorly unique and original, J.M. weaves a terrific tale of believable fantasy and action. The only thing I would have liked to have seen more of is a bit more 80's theme. The novel is (for the most part) set in 1984. And since I love the 80's culture (music, clothes, tv, film, everything) I would have liked to have seen a bit more 80s culture spread out through the novel. At times, I thought the novel was set in present day time, because with the lack of 80s theme to remind me, I simply forgot it was set in the 80s. Other than that small qualm, I loved this novel and I cannot wait to read the sequel and any other works by J.M. Bray. Great imaginative story.

Also, look how awesome J.M. is for sending me this! Gahh!