Justin NewlandCritiques

An exciting, magical adventure!

The Mark of the Salamander is the first book in author Justin Newland’s duology, The Island of Angels, and it is a wonderful, rousing, and magical adventure, set in the historic period of 1575-80, when Elizabeth I was queen and England is poised to expand into a mighty empire. With its engaging main character, vivid descriptions, and absorbing plot which deftly combines history with magic, the author has created a very special story and I was lost in its pages from start to finish.

Nelan Michaels is the hero of the story: a young Flemish boy who came to England with his father to escape religious persecution. A good boy, his bright future at university is derailed by the false accusation that he murdered a student at his school. Like a character out of a Dickens’ classic, Nelan faces obstacles at every turn and battered by fate, but he always succeeds in dragging himself back up to try and try again.

The author is a compelling storyteller, with a gift for marrying historical fact with fiction. His descriptions of life during this time are subtly full of fascinating details without ever feeling like I was reading a textbook; I was immediately immersed in Nelan’s life and surroundings. Nelan’s circumstances shift drastically during the story, from his middle-class beginnings to abject poverty, even imprisonment, and the author paints a complete picture of it all. Readers get a robust vision of life at all levels of society.

The story moves at a nimble pace throughout and I was so caught up in the story, I was compelled to read the entire book in one satisfying evening. Just when I thought things would settle down, and perhaps, I could take a break, some new situation would arise that I had to see resolved. Still, I think this might be a perfect read-aloud to share with family and younger readers, tantalizing all with cliffhanger stopping points.

I recommend THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER to readers of historical fiction who would enjoy magical storyline.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

I have previously read other books from talented author, Justin Newland and was excited to have the opportunity to read the start to his In the Island of Angels series, The Mark of the Salamander. I know I should not judge a book by its cover, but this one caught my eye right from the start. I was far from disappointed. It was an honor to take this journey with the main character, Nelan. I loved the vivid historical details that had transported back in time to Nelan’s time. I enjoyed taking this adventure and setting sail on Francis Drake’s Golden Hind. This is one that held my attention from page one until the very last page. I am not huge fantasy fan, but thought it worked well for Nelan’s story. Overall, I thought it was a fabulous read. Loved it!

The Mark of the Salamander will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading historical fiction that is full of intrigue and adventure during the Elizabethan era of England. I am eagerly awaiting to read the follow up of the In the Island of Angels series to find out what could possibly happen next and what Justin Newland has in store for his readers and fans.

I received a paperback copy of Justin Newland’s The Mark of the Salamander from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

I had to stop when I saw the vibrant yellow cover and see what The Genes Of Isis by Justin Newland was about. Then I saw angels and grabbed it. The Genes of Isis by Justin Newland wasn’t quite what I though it would be and it took me a while to get into it, but it is worth a read if you are into science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction. I love when I can recommend a debut novel.

My name is Akasha. I am mother of you all. You are the children of angels. And this is out story.

The Helios is a tribe of angels that, like I have seen before, think they have all the answers. They came to Earth to move humans to a new stage of evolution by delivering the Surge.

Horque comes to Earth with the Solarii, another tribe of angels to fix what the problem the Helios created when they made the hybrids.

Akasha has a premonition that foretelsl of all their extinctions with a great flood. So many moments reminded me of a religious and an Egyptian story.

I am not a church goer, but I have enjoyed some Christian books and those with a religious tone. The Genes of Isis by Justin Newland is one of those. Many things sounded familiar, especially the polluting of religion for personal reasons. Political intrigue and revenge are alive and well. Is this where pyramids came from? I would think they would be more aware of Karma. 🙂

Issa made a deal with the devil and, at first, I though she was just a nice person. As the story comes together, I find she is so much more. Who knows what would have happened without her.

The Genes Of Isis by Justin Newland is hard for me to rate. I wasn’t very far into the book and wondered if this would be one of those I wouldn’t finish. I was confused. Not just by the names, which I create my own way of pronouncing them in my head, making the reading easier, but figuring out what was going on…Is it Gods and angels? Is it aliens? A third or half of the way through, the religious tones emerged and things were coming together. All in all, I would recommend if this is your type of story and like immersing yourself in a fantasy world of fantasy.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Genes Of Isis by Justine Newland.

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A rich world awaits in this grabbing tale of a town, which has not only been divided but grown as far apart as heaven and hell.

Tula has left her home on the plains to venture up the mountains in search of the city of angels, but what she finds is anything but angelic. Across the deadly ravine from what had been the wondrous city of Unity, another town has formed. This one holds the people, who broke away from the angels and insisted they follow their own course through life. As time has progressed, the angels seem to have completely disappeared. Instead, demons have taken their place, and they have a thirst for death. Every so often, they trick someone to walk across the dangerous, rope bridge dividing the towns and ensure that person plunges to their death. But Tula refuses to give up hope, and as she gets to know the citizens and their history, she realizes that the situation is darker than she'd assumed.

The author has created a rich and original world, and with Tula, it's no problem to sink into it. There isn't much background given about her. The reader just knows that she's made this journey with the hope to enter Unity and meet the angels. And that's enough. The characters she meets bring the spice, each one vibrant and unique. They have their own thoughts, goals, and history, which adds lovely depth and makes Tula easy to root for as she slowly figures out what the true situation in the town is. The pacing isn't quite a fast as I usually like, but there's more than enough going on to keep the reader in the pages.

This is a book, whose food-for-thought deepens as the tale goes on. There are several messages in the pages and quite a bit to chew and digest. As Tula uncovers more and more dark secrets, the reader is cleverly lead to consider questions surrounding difficulties and issues found in people and society today. All of this happens without leaving the fantasy world and the adventure Tula is up against. It is a grabbing read, which stays with a reader even after the last page is finished. I received a complimentary copy and found myself caught up in Tula's adventure.

The Old Dragon’s Head by Justin Newland is a rich historical fantasy set at The Great Wall of China in 1400. Fans of the genre will enjoy exploring the relationship between the heaven and earth realms, the evolution of society, and the journeys of multiple characters seeking to understand and embrace their true identities.

Twenty years earlier, the Dragon Master disappeared. The Old Dragon, the supernatural protector of the Great Wall, cannot be summoned by anyone but the Dragon Master, leaving the Chinese struggling through internal corruption and exposing The Great Wall to Mongol attacks. A magistrate’s poisoning triggers a series of events that includes increased persecution of Chinese people and conspiracy with the approaching Mongol forces.

Newland introduces characters including the dead magistrate’s son, a menial laborer cleaning the The Great Wall, and an astrologer linking the living to the dead. As their circumstances deteriorate, they face a perilous journey to embrace their new roles as China evolves.

Balancing the panoramic scope with the intricate character tales is a big challenge that Newland expertly handles. At the start of each chapter, he presents a thought from Chinese teachings that prepares the reader for what will be presented. It helped keep the reader focused and made it easier to keep track of the numerous threads in the plot. The story moved clearly between the big picture views and the more intimate character studies.

If you’re looking for light reading, look elsewhere. The Old Dragon’s Head is meant to be pondered and savored. The book seems slow at the beginning, but it’s only because of author Justin Newland’s deliberate and precise table setting. He’s presenting the core of the story, then introducing the characters and political environments so that the reader will get easily immersed into the plot as it unfolds. As the plot unfolds, he deftly ties everything together in the conclusion

The final scene makes it difficult to let go of the story once the book is over without considering where the reader thinks the next part of the story would proceed. Has China truly evolved, or is history doomed to repeat itself?

The Old Dragon’s Head is a thought-provoking epic that will appeal to historical fantasy fans who enjoy being swept away to a different place and time.

Thank you, Blackthorn Book Tours and Matador Books, for providing a review copy of the book.

This was an interesting mix of a supernatural thriller with elements of historical fantasy and biblical mythology. I can definitely see some parallels between this story and biblical ones, but with a unique twist. It will certainly make you pause and think if you're at all familiar with the Old Testament, but not in a bad way. I really enjoyed the characters and descriptions. I have to warn you, once you start reading you won't want to put it down. There are a lot of elements to this story, but they weave together smoothly. The book isn't very fast-paced, but it's certainly not slow. If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, and don't mind some biblical overtones, you're going to enjoy this book!

The Old Dragon's Head is an immersive coming of age tale set in China's past. Although I'm not an expert in Chinese history, I appreciate Newland's dedication to bringing the setting to life. Reading it you can almost feel like you've traveled back in time to watch the events unfold. This isn't your typical coming of age story - it's so much more. Filled with tough choices, unexpected surprises, and a destiny that's bigger than any one person can imagine.

The Old Dragon's Head by Justin Newland is a magical realism historical fiction set in ancient China. For twenty years the last Dragon Master, Wing, has been missing. With no successor in place, the energies of the Old Dragon could not be summoned to strengthen the Great Wall, and now the Mongol threat looms large once again. The last section of the Wall, at Shanhaiguan, near the Bohai Sea, is under guard of the Prince of Yan, uncle to the Emperor. When an attempt on the Prince's life ends in the death of the local magistrate, things begin to heat up.

The new magistrate seeks to foment conflict. Secretly, he hates his own people. He arrests several as being traitors and collaborators with the Mongols. Any who oppose Gang are arrested, and tortured into false confessions. In the midst of this, one man, the soldier Bolin, begins having visions, and hearing voices. A spirit has a task for him, one important for China's security.

I quite enjoyed this read! It's more historical mystery than magical realism. Indeed, those aspects don't fully flower into something possibly beyond the scope of our world until the end. It explores the deeply spiritual and religious nature of the Chinese. Much of the work of the Mongol shaman Altan would fall as magical realism. (Unless, that is, what he does is either the work of poison or a result of extreme suggestion). I loved the exploration of culture and beliefs of this particular time in history. It's a snapshot of these peoples' lives as they guard the wall or support the soldiers doing so. One particularly interesting aspect was Luli and her work at the Po Office. Leaving something behind for your 'soul successor' was something I've never come across. I enjoyed the glimpses into Mongol culture as well.

The cold case mystery was interesting. I guessed the location of one body long before it was actually revealed. The second was found by the Great Wall Mummers on their way back from the other end of the Wall. It took them ten years to go all the way from one end to the other! They hadn't been to Shanhaiguan for twenty years! That's just so wild to think about. I liked all of the major story players. Action jumps between the soldier Bolin, Luli the healer and Po Office mistress, and Feng, the son of the murdered magistrate. Yet, there's more to each of these people than you first might guess. Gang, the corrupt new magistrate gets his own focus too, but I did care as much for him. I understand why he is partially the way he is, but he's a fanatic and just disagreeable all around. Overall, a good read! Recommended!

*****Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Love Books Tours.

Using the Book of Enoch as its starting platform Justin Newland tells a fascinating story interpreting life in the far distant past of human history. He takes the reader to a time where the physical and astral realms are virtually indistinguishable in day to day living. As the story unfolds he presents a unique view of the science behind the creation of the Pyramids and a variety of Egyptian artefacts. Apart from its highly esoteric nature the plot is also full of warmth, tragedy, adversity and surprises. From fairly early on I was hooked and found it difficult to put down.