Changing Worlds

Natural Gifts #1.2

by Gina Briganti, Melissa Barker-Simpson

Saunders' Choice A Natural Gifts Novella Saunders finds himself in a plane of existence called the Dreaming, where he encounters Velvet, the most exciting creature he will ever meet. The answer seems obvious, but Saunders' life has never been easy. The Contract Prequel to The Fractured Series After the Demonic War, a battle which devastated the mortal realm, humans now stick to the world's major cities. To even the score, and to protect those cities, hunters joined together to establish cells across the globe. Maddison Wood is part of an alpha cell within the north of England. Though a skilled fighter and powerful witch, Maddison can be brash, and unpredictable. She has a penchant for trouble, and is usually the first to volunteer in battle. When she accepts an assignment to protect the Hympe King, Tobias Locke, Maddison's fate becomes bound to his. As the stakes change, and she finds herself trapped inside the bowels of an enemy camp, Maddison must fight for her freedom, her independence, and for a prisoner who has not seen the light of day for almost a century.

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2015

About the author

Gina Briganti has been writing since she could hold a pencil. It has always been a comfort that to create she needs only three things; the pencil, the paper and her imagination.

The great state of Texas is where she makes her home.

Writing paranormal romance and non-fiction fit her perfectly, since she has a wildly romantic nature and a deep desire to see everyone living their fantasy through self-healing.

Reviews

[Gina Briganti · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is of "The Contract." As the author of "Saunders' Choice", I wouldn't feel right about giving myself a starred rating.

"The Contract" offers a fast paced, action-packed, emotionally charged look into Melissa Barker-Simpson's new series, The Fractured. The main character, Maddison, is a talented, sarcastic, charming, witch. Getting to know her, and the world that she and her comrades live in, was loads of fun for me. There is a bit of romance in the story as well, which I've come to expect from the author. She doesn't disappoint!

Maddison shows a lot of admirable qualities, including her willingness to risk herself to help someone who has lost all hope. All of the characters are distinguished by their loyalty, and by their willingness to fight for what they believe in.

If you're looking for a fantasy novella with plenty of action and world building, I highly recommend "The Contract".

[Callum McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changing Worlds gave me a brief and enjoyable glimpse into two different series that I'm now eager to explore more of.

Gina Briganti's offering was whimsical and romantic, whilst Melissa Barker-Simpson's was exciting and richly brought to life. Both had a unique and likable heroine at the helm which also served them well.

Each writer's style and voice is distinct from the other but the fantastical quality of both tales means this unexpected combo of short novellas works excellently as a great value package deal.

[M.J. Moores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saunders’ Choice
This whimsical novella is the second in the Natural Gifts Series written by Gina Briganti, which falls between book one The Dreaming and book two Desert Sunrise. The realm of The Dreaming where a mermaid named Velvet practices stand-up comedy is much like a world between worlds where visitors don’t often come but when they do, Velvet seems to find herself connected with them in some way.

Briganti’s world, having already been fully developed in book one of her series, relies heavily on her readers bringing an awareness of this realm to Saunders’ Choice. While the notion of her unique home will undoubtedly bring favour with those readers having a care-free spirit and passion for underwater fantasy, I found this inception of Velvet’s world only skimmed the surface with a lack of character and plot depth I’m used to. The mystery behind Saunders’ choice and its affect on Velvet is spoken of in heavy terms but carried out in a somewhat incomplete way.

Therefore I have to rate the first novella in the Changing Worlds anthology at a 3 out of 5 stars.

The Contract
The richness Melissa Barker-Simpson brings to her main female character Maddison Wood belies the fact that this is just a novella, a prequel to her new fantasy series The Fractured. Barker-Simpson expertly weaves the mystery of who Maddy is and how her role as an elite supernatural assassin has come to fruition in her life. The contract she’s faced with and the many men (Kings, God’s and Werewolves alike) who admire her fighting prowess and innate power brings a subtle tension to choices she must make in this harrowing tale.

Barker-Simpson brings this parallel universe of portals and realms to life with hints of details that colour her writing, set the atmosphere and build a strong foundation for a fantasy world I want to spend more time in. Maddy’s inner turmoil and veiled past tease my curiosity while the Hympe King’s request for help brings more than just plot tension into the mix and the resulting contract that comes from stopping at nothing to keep a promise to royalty leads Maddy and readers on a journey of a lifetime.

Without a doubt, I have to rate the second novella in the Changing Worlds anthology at 5 out of 5 stars.

By M.J. Moores, OCT. Author. Editor.