Today's read... StarPassage: The Relic by Clark Rich Burbidge

Today's read should be an interesting one with unique twists and turns. I have read works from this author before and enjoyed his tales. This one heads in a science fiction direction and sends the main characters onto a trip through time. It involves a Christmas ornament (which kind of made me blink the first time I read the blurb after seeing the cover), but then, I don't have the impression that it's really a Christmas story. It does involve themes surround PTSD, which with my own son in the army isn't an unknown topic, and I know several families who deal with this. So, that aspect caught my attention. I'm not sure how all of this will mold together, but I'm excited to find out.

THE RELIC

StarPassage, Book One 

by Clark Rich Burbidge

Middle Grade Science Fiction / Religious / Time Travel

290 pages

ages 9 to 16

Teenagers Tim and Martie are desperate to end their parents’ downward spiral. Between their father’s PTSD and their mother’s depression, their family has reached a breaking point. Then an ancient Christmas ornament reveals its secrets, sending the siblings across the centuries on a search for hope. But Tim and Martie aren’t the only ones hunting through time. They’re being watched by dark figures—Trackers doomed to haunt history. These Trackers believe the teens’ ornament is their key to freedom, and they will do whatever it takes to steal it. What begins as an exciting adventure becomes a deadly race. Can Tim and Martie find the answers they seek before their enemy finds them? 

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON

   MY TIDBITS 

Action, time travel, history, family love, and rediscovering the hope only God can offer mix into an unique tale with unexpected twists and turns from beginning to end.

It's Christmas, but Tim and Martie can't feel anything surrounding the season's spirit. Family life is more than difficult with their father's PTSD, due to his military experiences, and their mother's depression. While wishing there was a way to get things back toward a normality, they discover a message etched into the back of the star on their tree. Before the know it, they're pulled through time. The Star makes it clear that it is leading them on a helpful path, which involves meeting historic figures and experiencing certain events. While this might offer the family a chance to heal, it's not exactly a safe undertaking. Not only can everything they do alter time in unknown ways, but the situations themselves become more dangerous with each visit, especially with the evil Trackers are on their tails. These shadow creatures live in the darkness of time and will do anything to get their hands on the Star.

The first pages hit a couple grabbing scenes. This (I'm going to call it) prologue sets the atmosphere and adds a bit of background but was also a little confusing since the real story starts when the characters appear. When Tim and Martie come in, the atmosphere shifts and soon gains sympathy and pulls at the heart strings. From there, the time travel starts but with clear purpose thanks to the messages, which appear on the Star. With each trip, the tension builds, allowing the reader to sink into both the characters and the story. While one aspect of the plot seems to be improving and finding a solution, another one digs in deeper and deeper. It makes it hard to put this read down and exciting to see what will happen next. 

There's an interesting weave of aspects, which despite their extreme differences, somehow come together well. While the Christmas season launches and ends everything, the plot centers around the year in between. So, it's not really a Holiday read. Instead, the main theme in this first read centers around the father's struggles with PTSD and the mother's depression. These are realistically and well-done...and themes which will hit home for certain readers. The religious aspect grounds and flows smoothly into the plot,  offering hope and encouragement with a wholesome dusting. Then, there's the scifi/time travel end, which adds an entirely different direction. Not only does this weave in lesser known moments of history, but then, even takes an exciting, fantastical twists with the evil Trackers. These shadows add constantly building tension and danger, putting more than the lives of Time and Martie on the line. 

This is sold as a read for 9 to 16 year-olds, but I'd put it into the solid, middle grade category. Tim and Martie (especially Martie) come across younger than teens. I was surprised when I revisited the blurb after reading this and discovered that Martie was even a teen. The subject material starts softer but does get more aggressive as the story goes on. Still, even this isn't beyond the middle grade range and will keep readers in the pages. This promises to be an exciting series with much more to come.

And here he is...

Contributor Bios Clark Burbidge was born and raised in the mountain valleys of the Rockies. He earned an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BS from the University of Utah. Clark and his wife, Leah, live near Salt Lake City, Utah, where they enjoy their blended family of ten children and five grandchildren. StarPassage is Clark’s seventh book. His award-winning works include the Giants in the Land trilogy and A Piece of A Story of Christ.

Review: Starpassage: Cyber Plague by Clark Rich Burbidge

Today's 2nd review swings through time, mixing history with modern day twins...and pursuers, who can't be trusted. This is the 4th book in the series, and nope, I haven't read the other three. I loved the idea of mixing fact and science fiction. Plus, this series has won some awards. 

Ready to see where and when we'll go?

CYBER PLAGUE

StarPassage, Book Four

by Clark Rich Burbidge

Illustrated by Karl C Hepworth

Deep River Books LLC

YA Science Fiction

304 pages

In Book One, teenagers Tim and Martie are desperate to end their parents' downward spiral. Then an ancient Christmas ornament reveals its secrets, sending the siblings across the centuries on a search for hope. But Tim and Martie aren't the only ones hunting through time. They're being watched by dark figures-Trackers doomed to haunt history. These Trackers believe the teens' ornament is their key to freedom, and they will do whatever it takes to steal it.

In Book Two, Bobby and Mike are struggling after a tragic accident rocked their family. With the help of the Carson family, they go on a dangerous adventure to solve riddles, save lives, escape the stronger, faster Trackers, and experience some of the most dreadful and exciting moments in history.

In Book Three. Mike longs to help a struggling new patient who may hold dangerous secrets. An evil Tracker has escaped to the present, bringing with him plans to end the world. Our growing band of travelers work together to resist the powerful Trackers at every turn while trying to solve the relic's riddles and guard against the ever-growing risk of betrayal.

Now the Gold Medal winning saga continues with Book Four. Contemporary twin sisters are thrust into a compelling adventure with a mysterious warrior from the past who holds secrets even he does not understand. In the most dangerous adventure yet, our unlikely heroes are thrust into a dangerous and uncertain future where humanity is on the verge of extinction. Pulled from the pages of our modern world, a dangerous cyber plague, societal breakdown, and the relentless Trackers must be overcome to preserve the future. Our inexperienced new travelers must learn quickly to survive while overcoming a series of impossibly complicated and interwoven threats.

GOODREADS   /   AMAZON   /   B&N   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBITS

Historic facts and other true tidbits mix with an exciting tale, holding time travel, adventure, sibling love, and the determination to do what is right.

Tocho, a Native American, is on one of his first hunts, and while he succeeds, he's accidentally thrown into the future. Here, the twins, Callie and Courtney, have been dreaming of him and realize that they have a star, but aren't sure how to use it. With a powerful group chasing them and dangerous situations awaiting around every bend, the sisters do their best not only to escape but to save the world.

First off, I did not read the other books in this series, which is a mistake. The books, obviously, build on each other to enough extent, that there is background information missing, which makes it a little difficult to completely sink into this read. So, I don't recommend this one as a stand alone.

This is a quick-paced read, which thrills as it bounces between times. It's a lovely mix of reality, history, and science fiction impossibility. Starting in the past with Tocho, the forest and hunt draws in as true to life as possible, thanks to obvious research on the author's part. While the landscape and such aren't that rich in description, the author, instead, slips in facts about the animals, and these perfectly blend into the tale. The hunt scene builds tensions, introduces Tocho, and even brings along some history. Before it grows boring, the science fiction shoots in, and starts adventure pure. When this mixes with modern day scenes and tech, it gains familiarity...and yet, the author makes sure to keep feeding interesting facts the entire way through. 

The twins, Callie and Courtney, have a wonderful relationship and are both down to earth. They come across mostly natural and are the kind of girls readers wouldn't mind having as friends. Their decisions and actions are understandable, and their determination is golden. Not everything runs smoothly, but that's what makes them so interesting and easy to root for. 

The twists and turns are well laid, and with the Trackers on the heroine's tails, there's never a dull moment. There is quite a bit of action, and the messages are inspiring. This one is sold as a young adult read, but it reads more like an upper middle grade novel. There is a lack of depth in the scene building and characters, which suits this lower level better. So, that's where my recommendation goes. 

It's definitely an easy read with all sorts of goodness along with action and fun. 

And here he is...

Clark Burbidge's path to becoming an award winning author had distant beginnings. He received an MBA degree from the University of Southern California and a BS Degree in finance from the University of Utah. His career spans 31 years in banking, project finance, investment banking and more recently as Chief Financial Officer of three separate companies.

He has been actively involved in community and church service, including lay youth and adult ministry, for over 35 years. It has been his long-term dream to write and publish several works that have been kicking around in his mind for many years. His first book, Life on the Narrow Path: A Mountain Biker's Guide to Spiritual Growth in Troubled Times was released nationally in March 2011. His second book A Piece of Silver was published in July 2011 and is currently entering its 2nd edition. Clark enjoys life in the foothills of the Rockies with his wife, children and three grandchildren. He looks forward to this next phase of life's wonderful adventures.(from Goodreads)