The Silent War (Scales of the West, Book Two) by Diego Balasquide

REVIEW

“This ends with Nate.”

A chilling note found on the body of the deputy mayor puts Nate Lee at the center of a dark conspiracy.

Triceratops Canyon descends into chaos as its citizens disappear at the hands of mysterious new foes.

As Nate, Emma, and Junior follow the clues, they’ll unearth terrible secrets about their home.

Their trust in each other, their alliances and their personal limits will be tested, as they are forced to confront a terrible question:

What is the cost of freedom?

The Silent War is the second book in the acclaimed fantasy Western series, Scales of the West.

Diego Balasquide’s The Silent War, the second installment in the Scales of the West series, deepens the saga in a world where frontier western grit collides with prehistoric danger.

The Silent War expands the Scales of the West universe with confidence. It shifts the central question from can humanity survive the Wildlands? to can humanity survive itself while living in the Wildlands?

Like its predecessor, The Silent War blends the iconography of wild west adventure with the thrill of dinosaurs and other primal beasts. What distinguishes this sequel is its sharper focus on political intrigue, factional conflict, and the pressures of myth-making in a community perched between reverence and fear.

Balasquide excels at atmosphere: dusty towns, wagon convoys, political corruption. Triceratops Canyon reads like a frontier town bursting with both promise and paranoia.

Unlike Book One (The Scales of West), where survival against beasts was more central, The Silent War positions intrigue as the greater predator.

The conflict between two factions obsessed with Nate’s destiny, reframes the protagonist not just as a caretaker of animals but as the contested centerpiece of human politics.

Nate himself, torn between compassion and fear, struggles with the responsibility his powers carry. Is he a savior, a monster, or a tool for political ends? He longs for normality but is repeatedly pushed into messianic expectations.

Emma‘s exhaustion and self-doubt collide with her relentless pragmatism.

Junior‘s breakdowns, failures of command, and flashes of violence make him more human than heroic.

Matsumoto is a villain but also a foil, a mirror in which Nate confronts the possibility of his own corruption.

Secondary figures (Erin, Evelyn, Billy, Will) enrich the texture by adding elements as betrayal, cowardice, excess zeal, or devotion.

Each action scene intensifies the question of trust… in Nate, in institutions, in friends.

However, sometimes it feels overstuffed as the sheer number of factions, betrayals, and plot developments can overwhelm and readers may occasionally lose track of shifting allegiances.

Balasquide’s prose is cinematic, structured like a screenplay, visually vivid, and tightly paced. The author balances action with quiet emotional beats while dialogue adopts a colloquial western rhythm, even when dinosaurs roar through the streets.

The Silent War merges perfectly the grit of western with survival horror, and political thriller.

Fans of Jurassic Park and Firefly will love this frontier tale where dinosaurs roam and loyalty is tested at every turn!

Readers who enjoy genre-blending epics with moral complexity, strong characters, and cinematic spectacle will devour The Silent War!

BUY NOW: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DKB5N8MQ

Keep in touch with the author:

@intothediegoverse (Instagram & TikTok)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/scalesofthewest

Don’t forget to get your merch! Shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs and more are available at dbalasquide.threadless.com.

Dream star, Phantasm Strikes, Issue #1, by Justin Gerard

REVIEW

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https://justimation.com/products/sample-dream-star-phantasm-strikes-issue-1

https://www.instagram.com/justimation/

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Justin on Behance

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Scales of the West by Diego Balasquide

REVIEW

Diego Balasquide was born in southern Puerto Rico in 1993. Having loved movies from a young age, he eventually grew to love the art of filmmaking, which led him to pursue a career in creative writing.

In 2019 he graduated from The Art Institute of Tampa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Film, followed by a Master’s in Creative Writing from Full Sail University in 2021.

His love of the Jurassic Park films and interest in social issues led to the publication of his first novel, Scales of the West.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555284696878

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/intothediegoverse

YouTube

Taste & See by Deckard Croix

REVIEW

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/1312408383

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST

On Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/deckcroix?mibextid=ZbWKwL

On YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@TachismeRecords

LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC

MORE ABOUT DECKARD CROIX

Sound Art

Deckard Croix gained recognition for his associative work, notably the 2009 project “Mascara,” recorded at Michiko Studios in NYC, which featured classical acoustic instruments and experimental techniques. He released the ambitious 90-part collaborative project Bocca di Leone in 2011, celebrating Sardinian culture through sound montage, later reissued under Tachisme Records.

In 2015, he arranged the soundtrack for Martin Ronquillo’s performance art piece Melodia Sangre, incorporating lavish synth droning and bow guitar. His 2016 work, Mise en Contexte, focused on electronica and indeterministic composition techniques.

Manos

From 2012 to 2018, Croix worked as a guitarist for various projects before forming the cosmic ambient group Manos with Larry Durica and John Godshalk (FloorianSoma Flux). Their self-titled debut album was released in 2019, leading Croix to revive his record label as Tachisme Records.

Solo Works

Following Bocca di Leone, he released Splendour + Misery in 2020, a minimalist acoustic album. His psychedelic-songwriter LPs include Cosmospine, Marquis Verdigris, and Postnatal Noise Cocoon, marked by provocative lyrics and intricate guitar work. He has also released two EPs and three singles.

Two EP’s have been released. A three-song album titled, French Diseases of the Soul (2022), featuring a psychedelic rock song bookended by two expansive dark ambient tracks. And the impromptu drone project, Noncommunication of the Cephalopods (2021).

Croix has, of yet, released three singles. A Tenderness of WolvesEyes Touch, and That’s What You Do

Ambient Works

Album Weltschmerz (2024) is the first in a series of ambient works, with L’heure Verte as the next anticipated release.

Music for Film

Croix is credited for the music and sound mix of several films. He has contributed music and sound mixing for several indie films by Matt Hendricks, including Vincent & Vincent (2008) and I’m Not Mine (2017). Hendricks has also directed music videos for two of Croix’s songs, Dreaming and Patricia’s Loose.

Spoken Word

Since 2017, Croix has produced over three dozen audiobooks for publisher Aurelia Leo, incorporating sound effects and narration.

Anorak Arts

In 2020, he launched Anorak Arts Publishing, a subsidiary of Tachisme Records, dedicated to works in the public domain, featuring stories by authors like H.P. Lovecraft and Franz Kafka.

Future Projects

Croix plans to release Mascara, emphasizing classical acoustic instruments and experimental composition techniques, further showcasing his versatility as an artist.

Outsmart Anxiety by Alex Noble

REVIEW

“Inside my head, it was hell, but on the outside it looked better and better.”

“In med school I realized that a lot of our mental problems originate in the body. What’s more, they are of ten two-way linked.”

“Most people don’t have an anxiety problem. Most people have life problems that cause anxiety.”

“You must be fed up with your anxiety. You must be motivated to do it.”

“This is why beating your anxiety is actually an act of kindness to the people around you.”

“Thinking that you’re a peanut doesn’t make you one.”

OUTSMART ANXIETY MAIN POINTS

CLICK NOW TO LEARN MORE

https://www.outsmartanxiety.com/

THE MUSE: A NON SENSE NEED OF ILLUSIONS by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

REVIEW

In The Muse: A Non Sense Need of Illusions, Adrian Gabriel Dumitru delves into the nature of inspiration and its connection to the human experience.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru explores the concept of the muse, not as a divine source of creativity, but as a catalyst for self-discovery.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru suggests that while a muse can ignite passion and belief in oneself, true creative power resides within each individual.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru questions our reliance on external sources for inspiration, proposing that we can access the same wellspring of creativity through introspection and self-connection, much like a monk in meditation.

THE MUSE: A NON SENSE NEED OF ILLUSIONS challenges readers to examine their own creative processes and to recognize the inherent potential within themselves.

While acknowledging the allure and beauty of a muse, Adrian Gabriel Dumitru ultimately encourages us to move beyond this “illusion” and embrace the power of self-belief as the ultimate source of inspiration.

THE MUSE: A NON SENSE NEED OF ILLUSIONS by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru is full of questions and philosophical insights that make it a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the mysteries of creativity and the human potential for greatness.

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On Google Books:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Adrian_Gabriel_Dumitru_THE_MUSE?id=wsYpEAAAQBAJ

On Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/ro/book/the-muse/id6449022070

The Muse.
A non sense need of illusions.
We are looking for inspiration all around … till we find out that the inspiration is just not coming.
We look all around.
We are looking for something or someone that can give us a great vibe … everyday.
And one day … we believe we found that we are looking for.
She … is the Muse.
All great people from history, great artists, politicians, leaders, writers, poets, businessmen … all of them, at one point … they had an amazing muse that inspired them at a great dream.
The muse gave them the confidence of believing in themselves and they always thought that the inspiration came from that person.
But inspiration is actually coming from the Universe, and represent the connection between us and Divinity.
The muse is not … the Divinity … but maybe being in such a story, we understand how we can connect to the Infinite.
But can we, the ordinary people, learn to connect to then Universe, just as a monk does it … without any love story?!
Can we find this power in ourselves … to find that greatness without the help of a loved muse?!
What is her sense?!
Is she the one that reveals the beauty and the huge powers locked in our spirits?!
Can the secret of greatness comes just by having a love story … or we should start studying how a monk is using his powers to understand the laws of the Universe, just by connecting to himself … and then to the Infinite?!
A muse looks like a non sense illusion.
But … all great people used the trick to connect to the Universe this way.
Maybe … the need of a muse is just a preliminary stage before you understand that in fact everything is in yourself.
The muse is only the one that is whispering you the great secret about yourself … that you are an amazing human being and that you can be … whoever you dream to be.
The muse is indeed an illusion … a beautiful one … but one day you will just understand that everything you need is already in yourself.
The real non sense that you should analyze … and focus a lot on it … is why we don’t believe in ourselves?!
… and why we need this adorable person to whisper beautiful words to us … when we can think as a monk?!
Just think about it!

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

https://adriangabrieldumitru.com/

‘LOVE: … the pathless path that goes to your soul’ by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

REVIEW

In Love: The Pathless Path That Goes to Your Soul, Adrian Gabriel Dumitru offers a poignant reflection on the essential role of love in the human experience.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru challenges the conventional, societal path of achievement and success, arguing that true aliveness comes from embracing the often chaotic and unpredictable journey of love.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru eloquently portrays love as a “pathless path,” a deviation from the prescribed route, which ultimately leads to a deeper connection with oneself and the world.

While acknowledging the potential for heartbreak and loss, Adrian Gabriel Dumitru emphasizes the transformative power of love to awaken the soul and imbue life with meaning.

The book’s conversational tone and introspective nature make it an engaging read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of love’s complexities and its profound impact on our lives.

It’s a gentle reminder to prioritize the journey of the heart, even amidst the demands of a structured, goal-oriented world.

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On Amazon:

On Google Books:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Adrian_Gabriel_Dumitru_LOVE?id=oBglEAAAQBAJ

On Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-the-pathless-path-that-goes-to-your-soul/id6449023995

LOVE … the pathless path that goes to your soul.
Is really love a necessity for our lives?!
Why can’t life be much simple, mathematical, with very clear rules to follow?!
Why we need to fall in love?!
We should spend our lives only following the path the society taught us about … finish school, get a job, make money, try to be successful, retire … and then die.
Why we need this complicated story of studying what love is about?!
Well … first all of you have a heart inside of you … to feel the life … and being in a love story everything becomes more “real”.
Following just the paths the society told you about should be boring.
This is why lots of poets and writers … wrote so much, trying to define the meaning of love in our lives.
When you are the kind of person that look at life in a logical and rational way … falling in love looks like useless, like a pathless path.
But discovering the love feelings, in a time when everything looked like boring in your life … redefines everything.
Is never a good moment to fall in love, cause you will always need to do something in the real life … and looks like there is no time to loose for those silly feelings … but one day … when the feelings become so strong inside of you … you realise that you just started to feel ALIVE.
You always did what other taught you to do in life …. the parents, friends, teachers or people you know … but no one came to you to whisper the secret of life … IF YOU WANT TO FEEL ALIVE … JUST LET YOUR HEART TO FALL IN LOVE.
You might loose your soul, your heart, your mind … but you will feel being alive.
No other path gives you those feelings.
Yesss … truth be told … LOVE … is the pathless path … but it goes to your soul.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

https://adriangabrieldumitru.com/

‘PHILOSOPHY OF NOTHING: Had everything, but I actually had nothing …had nothing, but I actually had everything’ by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

REVIEW

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru’s PHILOSOPHY OF NOTHING: Had everything, but I actually had nothing …had nothing, but I actually had everything offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of relationships and the elusive nature of happiness.

PHILOSOPHY OF NOTHING: Had everything, but I actually had nothing …had nothing, but I actually had everything challenges conventional notions of romantic love, suggesting that fulfilment can be found even in the absence of traditional structures.

Through a collection of essays, Adrian Gabriel Dumitru explores the paradoxical idea of having everything yet nothing, and vice-versa, within the context of a relationship. He argues that true happiness lies not in material possessions or societal expectations, but in cherishing the present moment and the connection shared with one’s partner.

What I specifically loved in that book was the lack of a rigid structure that allows for a more organic exploration of the central theme.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru’s writing is introspective and relatable, making Philosophy of Nothing a worthwhile read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of love, relationships, and the pursuit of happiness.

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On Amazon:

On Google Books:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Adrian_Gabriel_Dumitru_PHILOSOPHY_OF_NOTHING?id=VfIWEAAAQBAJ

On Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/philosophy-of-nothing/id6449022861

The book “PHILOSOPHY OF NOTHING” is a collection of essays that are trying to send the message that in a relationship you can be happy even if you don’t have a real relationship togheter, in a clasical way, but also be unhappy when you have everything togheter.
Having everything, but actually having nothing … having nothing, but actually having everything is an idea that we should meditate on it.
We live in a world of unhappy marriages, that should be totally redefined, but actually are dying little by little, day by day … with no change from any of the 2 partners.
Wainting for NOTHING for years, doing NOTHING … but expecting everything from the other side.
Love is not math and will never be.
Love is not a business and will be never be.
Philosophy of NOTHING is trying to define the beautiful side, but also the dark side of the love stories.
The book does not have any architecture and is just a collection of essays.
And maybe the only message of the book is quite simple: to be happpy you probably need NOTHING, but enjoy the present moment with the person you are in the story.
Daring to do it … you don’t need anything, cause you actually have everything, the love story itself.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

https://adriangabrieldumitru.com/

‘THE HUMAN BEING … an actor having so many contradictory roles: philosophical essays’ by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

REVIEW

In THE HUMAN BEING … an actor having so many contradictory roles: philosophical essays by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru presents a compelling exploration of the multifaceted nature of human existence.

The central metaphor of the human as an actor playing contradictory roles resonates deeply, prompting introspection on our own ever-shifting identities.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru skilfully navigates the complexities of good and bad, angel and devil, highlighting the inherent duality within each of us.

While this book delves into weighty philosophical concepts, it remains accessible through the author’s candid self-reflection and straightforward prose.

The fragmented sentences and informal tone create a sense of intimacy, as if the reader is engaging in a personal conversation with the author.

THE HUMAN BEING … an actor having so many contradictory roles: philosophical essays by Adrian Gabriel Dumitru is a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery, encouraging acceptance of our inherent contradictions and embracing the messy, beautiful reality of the human experience.

It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

DOWNLOAD NOW

On Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/HUMAN-BEING-actor-having-contradictory-ebook/dp/B0CZK4MLHW

On Google Books:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Adrian_Gabriel_Dumitru_THE_HUMAN_BEING_an_actor_ha?id=Q1D-EAAAQBAJ

On Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-human-being-an-actor-having-so-many-contradictory-roles/id6480400488

We have the chance … but also the duty … to play lots of roles during this life time.
We like some of those roles… and maybe even adore it … but also dislike many of the things we have to do .. as actors on the stage of reality.
If i would analyse myself into an honest way … i would even dare to say that i played one million roles …. being an angel … but also many times … a devil.
Like all the others …. i’ve played so, so contradictory roles … that into the end … i would not even know how to define myself ….
So … was i a good person?!
Or was i … a bad person?!
Hmm …
The most ridiculous conclusion was that most probably i was a positive … but also a negative character on the stage of reality.
I was just dominated … by duality.
I had to accept it …. and also that there is no real definition for myself.
I was good … bad … neutral … and …
Every definition… could be true … or false … for myself.
And all i had to do was to accept that as part of the scenario called … my life.

Adrian Gabriel Dumitru

https://adriangabrieldumitru.com/