Blood of Invidia

Maestru Series Book 1

Fiction - Science Fiction
305 Pages
Reviewed on 01/09/2017
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

"Some kids build soapbox derby cars with their fathers. My dad and I built an entire universe," said Morgen Batten, referring to "Blood of Invidia", the new novel he co-authored with his father, Tom Tinney. While father-son collaborations are nothing new, theirs is unique. They've never met in person. Not once. Circumstances have kept them apart for the last thirty-two years.

Morgen was raised, and resides, in Adelaide, AU. Tom currently lives in Hartford, WI. They're both talented and creative writers with a love for the same genres. Two years ago, Tom wrote an "We should write a book together" text, the ensuing string of texts formed the backbone of plot and beginning of the universe they would build. That's when they began this project in earnest. The first goal was to produce a unique and exciting novel, which has yielded stellar results. The second goal is to use the proceeds from its sales to fund their first meeting.

Unable to be in the same room, or even easily call to discuss minor plot or character points, planning and technology became their allies. The 300-page book was written in the "cloud" using Dropbox to hold the important files, drafts, spreadsheets, and outlines. There were narrow time windows, when neither was at work and both were up (one going to bed or one just starting their day) when they could Skype to coordinate the next section or to actively brainstorm. That was the process. Each author contributing their words, and ideas, twelve hours apart from the other. They wrote, and re-wrote, adding to the book when the sunlight reached their side of the world.

This is their first father and son project. Their Soapbox Derby car. The project they didn't have the opportunity to pursue earlier in either's life. And it will let them finally meet.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Blood of Invidia is the first book in the Maestru Series by Tom Tinney and Morgen Batten, a strong opening that promises readers a world filled with powerful creatures — aliens, werewolves, and vampires. In this thrilling tale, a race that had disappeared many thousands of years ago resurfaces as mankind faces one of the most insidious threats in its history. Along the streets of New York, aliens are engaged in a deadly battle. Human life meets one of the worst threats of its existence. It’s then that the blood of the invidia becomes the path to stopping the aliens and reclaiming the earth. This is a story that will entice and thrill fans of fantasy and sci-fi.

Blood of Invidia is a work of high imagination, with compelling characters and creatures skillfully plotted into a fantasy that will capture the hearts of readers. The emotional pull might not be so powerful, but the intense action, the well-crafted plot, and the unique concept of the story are original. As one reads on, it is hard not to imagine the action playing out on screen. There is a lot of drama to keep the reader’s heart racing - the writing is superb, the prose is excellent, laced with descriptive imagery. Tom Tinney and Morgen Batten have used suspense ingeniously to maintain the reader’s interest. From the first page of the book, the reader is introduced to some of the key characters in the story and is pulled in by the descriptions. Readers who enjoy great writing, and who love intense action and a complex plot will find delight in these pages.