Reader reviews can be found on my Goodreads page.
Reviews for Blood of the Volcano:
Reviews for Heart of the Volcano:
from Karalynn Lee:
“I’m a fan of Howson’s writing, as she subscribes to the lyrical school of style. The worldbuilding in this one caught at me as well. Forget the wolves and cats who abound in paranormals. This is a fantasy romance where you have a gargoyle-shifter and a woman who can change into lava.
…It’s a warming tale rather than a passionate one, but that’s what I like about it — it takes the time to go through the characters’ emotions beyond some blazing, relentless love/lust/angst, and leaves you quietly content.”
Thanks to Karalynn Lee for the review. To read the full review, please click here.
from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books:
“My internal monologue while reading this novella went as follows for the first third:
“Oh, now that’s different.”
“Ok, cool.”
“Huh. That’s some smart use of rock and fire imagery.”
“Ok, now that’s COOL.”
“This is really, really different.”
I love cool and different.
…I can’t get into too much detail of what made the story so nuanced and interesting in its imagery and word choice because I’d give too much away…”
Review Grade: C+
Thanks to Sarah at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books for the review. To read the full review, please click here.
from The Long and the Short of It:
“This is my second foray into reading Ms. Howson’s work…. The writing is outstanding. And though it is a short story taking place over a short period of time, it’s pure magic. It’s a satisfying little story and it looks like the opening to a series. I look forward to more to come.”
Review Grade: 4 Books (out of a potential 5)
Thanks to Orange Blossom at LASR for the review. To read the full review, please click here.
from The Romance Studio:
“Heart of the Volcano is a poignant story filled with unusual magic, controlling priests and characters with very unhuman gifts poised in battle against their very human fears and desires. I was totally captivated by Imogen Howson’s world…
I highly recommend Heart of the Volcano, and I look forward to reading more by Imogen Howson very soon.”
Review Grade: 4.5 Hearts (out of a potential 5)
Thanks to Kathryn at TRS for the review. To read the full review, please click here.
from The Long and the Short of It:
“This is definitely a story anyone can enjoy from young to old, a young adult dark fantasy that will keep you turning the pages till the very end. …In this day [and] age when much of the new fantasy being produced is filled with [cliches] and predictability, “Fire and Shadow” stands out in creative uniqueness.”
Review Grade: 4.5 Books (out of a potential 5)
Thanks to Orange Blossom for this review. To read the full review at The Long and the Short of It please click here.
from A Pen and Fire:
“…wonderful.
I also love the wonderfully drawn cast of characters…the other residents of the training house that Fern goes to are really nifty. It was also a very spooky, atmospheric read.”
Thanks to Cindy Lynn Speer for this review. To read the full review at A Pen and Fire please click here.
from Book Club Forum Book Reviews:
“Once again, I loved every moment!”
Thanks to Michelle for this review. To read the full review at Book Club Forum Book Reviews please click here.
from Black Sun Reviews:
“The draw to this story for me was that the heroine does not start out as being typically strong. She is a victim, but her journey, this story, is about her survival and her transformation into a survivor. And she has to go to really dark places to come out ok on the other side, and she does. And I loved that Ms. Howson “went there” without apology. Candy’s defiance and rebellion, while small by “normal” standards, spoke volumes to me and by the end, when she gains her freedom, she is truly powerful.”
Thanks to Soleil Noir for this review. To read the full review at Black Sun Reviews please click here.
from The Redneck Romance Writer:
“…before I know it, I’m in the story. It’s real. I’m lost.
The beauty of Ms. Howson’s story is that she unfolds each layer with care and deliberation. Every revelation is unique and the ending twist is BRILLIANT. And the words were so beautiful and well chosen that I didn’t feel any impatience to know the end. I just fell into the story and experienced it.
…Ms. Howson has a fabulous gift of describing tiny details that drew me into her world. I absolutely loved this story.
…Ms. Howson sets the bar incredibly high and surpasses it. Her descriptions are rich and lush. Her writing is like a good glass of wine at the end of the day. To have a taste of her stories is to fall in love with words all over again.
…Absolutely brilliant. You are definitely a new favorite.”
Thanks to Jennifer Leeland for this review. To read the full review at The Redneck Romance Writer please click here.
from Book Club Forum Reviews:
“…beautifully written, Imogen has a fantastic voice that captures you from the first sentence! You find yourself immediately caught up in Candy’s life, wondering and fearing what is developing.”
Thanks to Michelle for this review. To read the full review at Book Club Forum Reviews please click here.
from Twisted Fairytale:
“…a fascinating and refreshingly different take on an old myth. I knew in advance which myth it was, so I kept wondering just HOW Ms. Howson was going to take it there.
…A few of the scenes were pure magic… Things just got creepier as you fell deeper into this world.”
Thanks to Isabelle Santiago for this review. To read the full review at Twisted Fairytale please click here.
from The Redneck Romance Writer:
“…a story that creates a world and defies category.
…The relationship between Linnet and her mother is one of the most gut wrenching things I’ve ever seen and it’s crafted with infinite care.
…The most potent parts of this book come at the end and there’s no way I’m giving out spoilers. It’s a book that inspires thought and emotions that aren’t always comfortable, but Ms. Howson gives relief with her gorgeous descriptions.
…Ms. Howson knows how to reach for a reader’s emotions and hold them, not with a tight grip, but a gentle squeeze. She takes you by the hand and leads you into the world she crafts. Her brilliance is clear from the first paragraph as she puts you directly into the skin of her characters. And the words. It’s clear from her writing that she choses each one like a diamond merchant choses a beautiful stone.”
Thanks to Jennifer Leeland for this review. To read the full review at The Redneck Romance Writer please click here.
from Book Club Forum Reviews:
“…beautifully written, pulling you straight in, and not letting go until long after you read the last word.”
Thanks to Michelle for this review. To read the full review at Book Club Forum Reviews please click here.
from The Faerie Drink Review:
“There was everything from suspense to romance in this short little story. Linnet and her romantic interest were surprisingly fleshed out and the tid-bits of information about what life was like in that period were much appreciated. The only issues I had with this short story were… well, that it was so short. A whole novel could have fit into this great retelling of Rapunzel.
…I loved this story and hope to find more of the author’s work in ink soon.”
Thanks to Constance for this review. To read the full review at The Faerie Drink Review please click here.
from Teen eBooks:
“…a fresh and lively sci-fi Rapunzel with a very major twist that readers will encounter in the very first segment.
…Howson crafts more than a knight and princess romance by launching Linnet (yes, different name) literally sky high, living in an upper-class tower that looks down on the peasant underworld, which is conveniently obliterated in a blanket of smog. Ultimately, issues of social hierarchy and ignorance trump all-out heroism, and even romance takes a back seat to this horrific world as experienced through Linnet’s sheltered apartment and roaming imagination.
Howson describes the environments with a confidence and frugality of words that works perfectly in this novella format, successfully conveying a placid oppression and a sense of alienation for her readers, without ever being unsuitably loud, nor lush, with her narration.
…intriguing, involving, and unassumingly unique. We feel Linnet’s hatred for the silence and blindness of her world, and our expectations for a deliberately and consistently bleak narrative are ruptured by an explosive grand finale that leaves us gripping our ebook readers.”
Review Grade: 4 out of 5
Thanks to Joseph Boutilier for this review. To read the full review at Teen eBooks please click here.
from Dear Author:
“The socially conscious motifs of the story were well done as was the world building. I liked that the fantasy aspects served to drive both the internal and external conflicts rather than exist as merely a background set piece.
…your voice is one that I really enjoyed and I thought the story was quite imaginative. I would look forward to a full length story from you.”
Review Grade: B-
Thanks to Jane for this review. To read the full review at Dear Author please click here.
from Coffee Time Romance:
“Falling is a wonderful young adult romance with a girl who is so heart wrenching because she thinks she has faults and is not worthy of love. … Imogen Howson has definitely captured my interest with this short futuristic tale that left me hungry for more.”
Review Grade: 3 coffee cups (out of a potential 5)
Thanks to Kate for this review. To read the full review at Coffee Time Romance please click here.
from The Long and the Short of It:
“I adored this story. It was a modern retelling of the fable Rapunzel; where a young girl must escape the preconceptions of her life to find true happiness. This story was a fantastic read. I look forward to more stories from Imogen Howson with relish.”
Thanks to Brandy Jones for this review. To read the full review at The Long and the Short of It please click here.