John Claude Bemis

This is a unique story. In a post-apocalyptic world, the ‘skinless ones’ have all died since ‘the turning’ and the world is home to only animals. Casseomae, the main character is a large cub-less bear that protects a ‘cub’
that came to the earth in a crashed vehicle, a passering (spaceship). In this world, the animals speak to one another in vorago and the ‘cub,’ a young boy who is the only survivor on the ship, chirps. At least that’s how the animals hear it. A smart and wisecracking rat, Dumpster joins the bear and the boy as Casseomae tries to protect him and get the boy someplace safe.

This odd group of characters must fight to save their lives by battling wolves and assorted other animals, while traveling across the land toward the Sun’s birth and to the Havenlands, if they even exist. The Prince who fell from the sky is told completely from the animals’ point of view. It is part Redwall, part The Incredible Journey and part Day of the Animals.… (mer)

What if the legend of John Henry was more than just a story? And what is really up with the machine she died trying to beat?

Twelve-year-old Ray is haunted by the strangest memories of his father, whom Ray swears could speak to animals. Now an orphan, Ray jumps from a train going through the American South and falls in with a medicine show train and its stable of sideshow performers. The performers turn out to be heroes, defenders of the wild, including the son of John Henry. They are hiding the last of the mythical Swamp Sirens from an ancient evil known as the Gog. Why the Gog wants the Siren, they can’t be sure, but they know it has something to do with rebuilding a monstrous machine that John Henry gave his life destroying years before, a machine that will allow the Gog to control the will of men and spread darkness throughout the world.

By the Way, Mr. Gerval made me mad!
from Amazon… (mer)

THE WOODEN PRINCE by John Bemis is the first book in the new OUT OF ABATON series exploring the adventures of Pinocchio.

Pinocchio is an automa in this intriguing re-imagination of the beloved character. Pinocchio’s new master, Geppetto is trying to figure out how and why this unique automa is mysteriously transforming into a human body. After being kidnapped, Pinocchio must begin a journey across the Empire to find Geppetto again. Along the way he stumbles upon Princess Lazuli who is on a mission of her own. Together they must face half-beast outlaws and the emperor’s winged airmen to survive.

Librarians will find an audience among youth who enjoy fantasy adventures. Middle grade readers will enjoy the intersection of the traditional characters along with the new fantasy characters and steampunk world-building elements.

Many readers will be looking forward to the second book in the series titled LORD OF MONSTERS coming out in 2017.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.johnclaudebemis.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on March 15, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.… (mer)