Heather Hayden's Blog, page 5

Magic Monday: The Aeonians by J.E. Klimov

Not so long ago, I hosted J. E. Klimov for one of her blog tour stops celebrating the release of her debut novel, The Aeonians. Last month, I finally had the pleasure of sitting down and reading Klimov’s book, and I enjoyed it immensely!

Before I dive into my review, I’d like to share the cover and blurb again, in case you missed the blog tour post.

See those weapons on the cover? They’re sai–the weapon of choice of the heroine, Isabel Deran. An unconventional but neat choice, in my opinion. I always love seeing different weapons used in fiction.

Here’s the blurb:

Isabel Deran only wants to practice archery with the castle guards, and that is the last thing expected from an elegant Princess. Living in the shadow of her late sister, Victoria, she is next in line to receive the royal armlet that is embedded with four stones: an opal, a sapphire, an amber, and a ruby. It is a revered family heirloom with the power of the elements passed down from mother to daughter.

However, an evil, once thought to be sealed away in a prison in which time does not pass, breaks free with an army that swarms the castle and wrecks havoc over the kingdom in search for the magical armlet. They are known as the Aeonians. When they kidnap Isabel and place their hands on it, the precious stones vanish.

Isabel is now trapped in a race against time to locate her stones of power with the head of the Aeonian army, Bence Brechenhad, stalking her like a shadow. With the help of her trusty weapon, the sai, she fights her way through seemingly impossible trials and fearsome monsters in order to restore peace in her kingdom.

The story itself is a fast-paced tale filled with magic, adventure, and a dash of romance. Isabel faces many trials as she tries to regather the gems lost from her royal armlet. Each gem Isabel seeks has an associated element, and Isabel must pass a test before she can reclaim it. Perhaps because I’ve been playing Wind Waker lately, her journey reminded me of that of Link’s–in a good way, of course, as I love Legend of Zelda-type stories!

Along the way, Isabel comes to rely on the help of an unexpected ally with a troubled past. Yes, that’s none other than Bence! Though he’s working toward his parents’ goal (yes, his parents lead the Aeonians!), Bence swears to help Isabel find the stones and not harm her until it comes time for their final showdown. Does he keep that promise? Well, you’ll have to read the story to find out!

Although I liked Isabel a lot, Bence is actually my favorite character–I loved seeing his character develop over the course of the story. Isabel went through many changes as well, and she came out stronger for it. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

If you enjoy a good fantasy, I recommend spending an afternoon with Isabel and Bence. You can find The Aeonians on Amazon.

The post Magic Monday: The Aeonians by J.E. Klimov appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 16: Happy New Year! Let’s Have Some Shiny Month Maps!

Happy New Year!

I hope you’re having a great start to your new year! Today, I’m celebrating the start of 2018 with a shiny new month map for January and a quick list of my resolutions for this year.

What about December’s Month Map? Well, December was a hectic month full of happiness and holidays. I did make progress on my goals, including completing my Goodreads challenge. However, rather than sigh at the goals I’d set and did not complete, I’m looking forward to this month’s goals.

World-building

Before I continue working on Within the Ironwood, I need to nail down some important details about the magic system. Once that’s done, I can dive into both this story and the rest of the series.

Solstice Flames

The final draft is due by the 12th for proofreading. Thankfully, I think I’m almost done with revisions. I can’t wait to share this retelling with you–it will be published as part of the fourth JL Anthology.

Monsieur Puss

This story has been sent to the judges for review. Once I receive their feedback later this month, I will revise it further.

The Sisters and the Dragon

Kristy and I are hard at work with editing. We’re doing a pass through the first draft before we share it with our writers’ group for critique. I need to edit five chapters this month to stay on track with our timeline.

Goodreads Challenge

My challenge this year is to read 37 books. I picked that number because I like prime numbers. It might be raised later this year, but for now, I’m planning to read three to four books a month. I have two book club reads this month, so I think a goal of four books in January is definitely doable.

 

My New Year’s Resolutions

Do I put a lot of stock into resolutions? Yes and no. Some years I’ve set unrealistic ones, other years I haven’t put in the effort needed to meet them. But I have a few for this year.

Writing Goals

Publish Upgrade
Publish Within the Ironwood
Publish three short stories in JL Anthologies

Social Goals

Regularly post on my blog
Send regular newsletters
Continue building my social media presence

Personal Goals

Complete my 2018 Goodreads challenge goal of 37 books
Use my Fitbit to participate in challenges with friends
Continue learning Japanese through Duolingo and other sources

 

What are your goals for January? Do you have any new year’s resolutions?

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 16: Happy New Year! Let’s Have Some Shiny Month Maps! appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 15: My favorite reads of 2017!

I smashed my Goodreads reading goal of 100 books earlier this month, finishing with a count of 114 books. I’ve reviewed a few through my Magic Monday series, but today I want to highlight my top ten favorite reads, as well as a few books I enjoyed rereading this year.

3 Books I Enjoyed Reading Again

 

3. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Cimorene is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart – and bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon – and finds the family and excitement she’s been looking for.

I loved the Enchanted Forest Chronicles as a kid, and when I found the full series in a used bookstore this summer, I snatched them up to read again. Although I enjoyed the entire series, the first remains my favorite. With plenty of humor, adventure, and magic, this story is sure to capture the reader’s imagination and heart.

2. Birdwing by Rafe Martin

Once upon a time, a girl rescued her seven brothers from a spell that had turned them into swans. But one boy, Ardwin, was left with the scar of the spell’s last gasp: one arm remained a wing. And while Ardwin yearned to find a place in his father’s kingdom, the wing whispered to him of open sky and rushing wind. Marked by difference, Ardwin sets out to discover who he is: bird or boy, crippled or sound, cursed or blessed. But followed by the cold eye of a sorceress and with war rumbling at his kingdom’s borders, Ardwin’s path may lead him not to enlightenment, but into unimaginable danger.

I love the effortlessness of how Rafe Martin weaves fairy tale elements into the story, as well as paints a clear picture of a world where legends are beginning to fade. Ardwin is the perfect character for the story, since he’s balanced between both the world of magic and the world of man–his left arm, the one closest to his heart, is in fact a swan’s wing, a remnant of the curse laid upon his brothers by their stepmother many years ago. Ardwin’s yearning to return to the carefree days of his childhood is one I can empathize with. I loved seeing him change and grow as the story moves along and he overcomes his weaknesses and discovers his strengths. This is a coming-of-age story steeped in myth and lore, perfect for lovers of fairy tales and fantasy.

1. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an “accident,” he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend… and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.

I reviewed The Goblin Emperor earlier this year in my Magic Monday series. You can read my full review here. In brief, I love this book for its beautiful writing, its gorgeous setting, and the main character, Maia. Maia is sympathetic, yet flawed in multiple ways, and he tries his best to overcome his flaws and become an emperor he is proud to be. He strives to do this even when his intentions don’t match up with those in his court, especially those who wish to compare him to his father. I spent the entire book cheering for him as he faced obstacle after obstacle, some more life-threatening than others. I highly recommend this if you enjoy fantasy with a good dose of politics and compelling characters.

 

My Top 10 Favorite Reads in 2017

 

10. Wires and Nerve #1 by Marissa Meyer

When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers’ leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity.

The only graphic novel on this list, Wires and Nerve: Volume I was exactly what I would have wished for if someone had asked me, “What kind of graphic novel would you like to see written for the universe of The Lunar Chronicles?” Iko was one of my favorite characters from The Lunar Chronicles and I loved seeing more of her in this graphic novel! The artwork was lovely, which made it easy to fall into the flow of the story. If you aren’t familiar with this fairy tale retelling series, I highly recommend starting with Cinder.

9. Nightmare Stories by Matthew Dewar

Twelve young teens learn that happily ever afters only exist in fairy tales. Jessica has heard the rumours about drop bears, but are they real? What will Connor see on the prison tour? Whose old boot did Jack catch while fishing with his dad? Will Jane end up with a lump of coal in her Christmas stocking? Find out in these twelve creepy Nightmare Stories.

I reviewed Nightmare Stories earlier this year for my Magic Monday series. You can read my full review here. In short, there’s a ton of fright packed into these twelve short stories, from dropbears to witches to spiders. I read this book in one sitting, and Arachnophobia scared me the most out of all of them. Just as I was finishing that particular story, I glanced down to find a spider spinning a web from my arm. No, I didn’t shriek, but I did jump. A lot. And my heart was pounding for quite a while after. I recommend horror fans read this in the daylight…and beware of spiders.

8. The Aeonians by J.E. Klimov

Isabel Deran only wants to practice archery with the castle guards, and that is the last thing expected from an elegant Princess. Living in the shadow of her late sister, Victoria, she is next in line to receive the royal armlet that is embedded with four stones: an opal, a sapphire, an amber, and a ruby. It is a revered family heirloom with the power of the elements passed down from mother to daughter.

However, an evil, once thought to be sealed away in a prison in which time does not pass, breaks free with an army that swarms the castle and wrecks havoc over the kingdom in search for the magical armlet. They are known as the Aeonians. When they kidnap Isabel and place their hands on it, the precious stones vanish.

Isabel is now trapped in a race against time to locate her stones of power with the head of the Aeonian army, Bence Brechenhad, stalking her like a shadow. With the help of her trusty weapon, the sai, she fights her way through seemingly impossible trials and fearsome monsters in order to restore peace in her kingdom.

I interviewed J.E. Klimov earlier this year for her blog tour promoting her debut release, The Aeonians. This month, I finally had time to read it. (Thanks, holiday season!) The Aeonians is a fast-paced tale filled with magic, adventure, and a dash of romance. Isabel faces many trials as she tries to regather the gems lost from her royal armlet. Along the way, she comes to rely on the help of an unexpected ally with a troubled past. Though Bence is working toward his own goal, he swears to help Isabel find the stones and not harm her until it comes time for their final showdown. Although I liked Isabel a lot, Bence is actually my favorite character–I loved seeing his character develop over the course of the story. Isabel went through many changes as well, and she came out stronger for it. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

7. Halayda by Sarah Delena White

Betrayed by a trusted mentor, Sylvie Imanthiya hides on the fringes of society, caring for half-fae orphans and trading her alchemical creations on the black market. She lives for the one night each season when she can see her dearest friend—a man whose destiny is far above hers.

King Taylan Ashkalabek knows better than to exchange halayda vows with a mortal. Even their friendship is a risk; love is an impossible dream. Then a brutal alchemical attack poisons his realm, unearthing a dark power within him—and leaving Sylvie with the ancient mark of Faerie’s savior.

Manifesting unpredictable abilities and aided by allies with their own secrets, Sylvie and Taylan journey into the wilds of Faerie to heal the damage and confront Casimir, an invincible star-fae determined to claim the realm as his own. But only their enemy knows Sylvie’s true capabilities—and Taylan’s weaknesses—and how to use them in his vicious schemes.

Her fate is life. His fate is death. With Faerie in the balance, Sylvie and Taylan must stand together before reality as they know it is destroyed.

I loved this story! Not only does it combine two favorites of mine (fantasy and alchemy), but it has a cast of amazing characters (I love Sylvie so much!) and a well-built world (well, worlds, really). I could wax poetic about the world-building and everything else, but to be honest, I’d just start fangirling so I’ll leave it at that. I’m really looking forward to the sequels and I recommend this to lovers of fantasy.

6. Spellsmith and Carver: Magicians’ Rivalry by H.L. Burke

The disappearance of Auric Spellsmith’s mother has strained his relationship with his father to the breaking point. Now, after five years away at the Magicians’ Academy, Auric returns home, determined to prove himself to his father and claim his birthright.

Apprentice Jericho Carver has held Spellsmith Manor together in Auric’s absence. Now his master’s son is back, and if he can’t get rid of Auric, Jericho will forfeit his career and lose all hope of wooing the master’s enchanting daughter.

Neither man intends to back down.

But then Master Spellsmith vanishes into the mysterious Fey Lands. With Fey magic threatening the mortal realm, Auric and Jericho must work together to save the man they both see as father.

I love Burke’s stories and greatly enjoyed this book by her, which features a fun magic system that works in a similar way to coding (you write opening and closing symbols, with other symbols in-between to define the spell.) It’s definite the kind of magic I would want to wield if it were possible. I’d also love a magical, mechanical fox–Jasper’s my favorite character! Rill is my favorite human character, with Jericho a close second. Auric’s better-than-you attitude made me want to slap him a few times, but he grew on me as the story progressed. I especially liked watching the boys’ rivalry develop into something closer to friendship as the story progresses and they face many challenges together. The ending wraps the story up nicely, but leaves things open for the sequels; both of which I enjoyed reading as well!

5. The Martian by Andy Weir

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

People kept telling me to read this because it’s amazing. People were right. I was up until 2 AM in the morning the night I started it because I couldn’t put it down. Loved the main character’s humor, loved the various POVs, loved the science of it all! Weir is an amazing writer, and I need to check out his other stories.

4. Where Carpets Fly by Elise Edmonds

Restless teen Elina is bored of village life. When she starts magic lessons in the city, her only concern is exploring the sights with new school friend Kara. However, life takes a darker turn. Her magic teacher is hiding a secret, and odd happenings pile up, like unsociable Simeon’s shady dockside deals. But Elina’s questions go unanswered.

When Elina and Simeon develop a magical mind link, she suspects his involvement in foreign spy work. But an unexpected ship tour-turned-voyage throws her and Kara right at the mystery’s heart-in the volatile, dangerous country of Pallexon.

Alone and with no ID, things worsen when a terrorist act blows Kara’s cover. With her own freedom at stake, Elina must rely on her wits and magic to save her friend and unravel Pallexon’s secrets–before it’s too late.

I reviewed Where Carpets Fly earlier this year for my Magic Monday series. You can read my full review here and my interview with Elise here. In short, I loved every aspect of this book. The characters, the descriptions, the storyline, and the world-building (especially that magic system!) Everything flows together into a gripping narrative that kept me turning the page until I reached the end. Elina especially made this story shine–she’s a strong heroine who struggles to overcome her flaws. I loved watching her grow over the course of the story, and I can’t wait to read more of her adventures when the sequel arrives.

3. The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz

Private eye Nick Beasley lives in a world where fairy tales ended a long time ago – where zeppelins now soar the skies instead of dragons, and where the first automobiles have taken the place of flying carpets. He’s made a name for himself across the Afterlands by debunking fake magicians and exposing fraudulent monsters. This is the modern age, after all. Magic and monsters are long gone.

At least, that’s what Nick believes. Until he gets magically transformed into a monster, that is.

The only person who may be able to help Nick is Lady Cordelia Beaumont, one of the last enchantresses in the Afterlands. But in order for her to cure him, they’ll have to retrieve a powerful artifact from a ruthless crime lord – who is also Cordelia’s father.

The fate of the Afterlands lies in the hands of a runaway enchantress and a monstrous ex-detective. What could possibly go wrong?

This book was awesome. To clarify, it mixes action and magic and humor with a good dose of snark and main characters who I’d love to have tea with (provided one is willing to use a metal tankard; I don’t want him breaking my teacups!) The flavor of the world and writing was also quite amazing; I have trouble describing it but as another reviewer said on Goodreads, it has an “old Hollywood feel”. I could totally see this being made into a movie…that would be awesome, in fact. I’d buy it in BluRay and get the author to sign the cover! If you love fantasy, fairy tales, and magic, definitely check this out. It’s a quick read–I read in one sitting because it was so. very. good. The sequels and short stories set in this universe are also amazing!

2. The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doué

Princess Lily, the eldest of twelve sisters and heir to a mighty kingdom, desperately seeks a break from her mother’s matchmaking. Tradition forbids marriage with the man Lily loves, so she would rather rule alone than marry someone who only wants the crown.

Fleeing an overzealous suitor, Lily stumbles into a secret underground kingdom where she and her sisters encounter a mysterious sorcerer-prince and become entangled in a curse that threatens the safety of her family and her people. Lily can free them, but the price for freedom may be more than she’s willing to pay.

This is an amazing fairy tale retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses–Lily and her sisters dance right off the pages, as lively as the antagonist of this story is dangerous. The world-building is amazing; I particularly like how Doué worked dragons into the world in all shapes and forms! This is another story I’ll start fangirling about if I keep talking, so I’ll simply say that if you like fairy tale retellings, definitely check it out, as well as its sequels (which are just as spectacular). I’m currently eagerly awaiting the arrival of book four of this series.

1. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule — but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her — even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

This was the second book I read this year, and it remains my favorite. Why? Well, I don’t normally write super long reviews for books, but I did for this one. Here it is, straight from Goodreads:

After reading Iron Hearted Violet, I picked up this book, without even realizing it was by the same author (I’d gotten them both from a bookstore and had been entranced by the covers and blurbs.) Hours, pages, and many emotions later, I lowered the back cover and stared at this book for a moment. I’d been expecting an upper middle grade fantasy story akin to a fairy tale, with a good dash of magic and adventure. That is, after all, what the cover and blurb advertise.

If I had to guess, I’d say the bookstore I bought it from mis-shelved it. Except that it’s marked as middle grade elsewhere as well. So not mis-shelved. But definitely not what I was expecting. The story was much deeper and more complex than several YA novels I’ve read recently, with characters that come to life straight off the pages.

The writing is beautiful, the story is tightly woven, and I loved the characters–Luna, Xan, Glerk, Fyrian… Glerk might actually be my favorite–the grumpy swamp monster who enjoys poetry and knows more than he lets on. Fyrian’s flightiness is endearing, too (he’s that cute little dragon on the cover).

The magic in this story isn’t simply magic from moonlight–it’s in the love-madness that brings paper to life and the sorrow suffocating a town and the strength of the ancient protecting the young… And it’s in the stories people tell each other, about the witch in the forest and the volcano beneath it and the wizards who once walked through it. Some stories lie, some stories twist the truth, some stories are painful truth…and some stories are pure truth.

Ultimately this story is about love, hope, and discovering who you are. I highly recommend it for fantasy readers, young and old.

 

There are just my top ten favorites; many other stories touched my heart and soul and imagination this year. What were some of your favorite reads of 2018? Any recommendations for me to find in the coming year?

 

 

 

 

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 15: My favorite reads of 2017! appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 14: A Review of 2017

The third Monday of the month is usually reserved for a month map update. However, it’s December, 2017 is nearly over, and I’m suffering a slight amount of burnout from a stressful November.

So today’s post is going to be a brief reflection on how 2017 has gone for me. Last year, I posted a list of goals for 2017. It was an ambitious list, and as things turned out, I didn’t follow it to the letter. Or, really, at all.

My writing plan for 2017: Write daily. Release Upgrade. Release two books of a trilogy I’ve been working on for several years. Release a fairy tale retelling.

What really happened: None of those things.

However… A lot of other things have happened.

I released two more anthologies with my writers’ group, the Just-Us League.

And we have more in the works or planned for 2018 and beyond. These anthologies are illustrated by my sister, Heidi Hayden, and are available on Amazon (free to read through Kindle Unlimited).

I co-wrote the first draft of a fun fantasy novella with Kristy Perkins.

Its work-in-progress title is The Sisters and the Dragon, which is as much as of a hint of the story as I can give you at this time. We’re revising it now and hope to release it in 2018.

I started planning (and writing) a series of fairy tale retellings.

My NaNovel this year was Within the Ironwood, which I hope to finish, edit, and release in the coming year. There will be a number of other books in the series, some with recurring characters and others with brand-new ones. All will be set in the same world, a world where magic is on the decline and technology is on the rise. I’ll be sharing more about this in the coming months.

I attended my first writing conference.

The CCWC Conference was an amazing experience. I met so many wonderful writers and learned a lot in the classes I took.

I became more active on social media.

I’m something of an odd introvert-extrovert mix. I need my daily interaction with people, but the level I require ranges from “a lot” to “very little”. This means social media isn’t always something I have the energy for on a daily basis, though I am working on becoming more active on a few platforms.

Blog: I’ve started following a schedule and have been posting regular Month Maps and updates thereof. I’ve also been reviewing a fantasy book each month that I’ve enjoyed.

Twitter: I play a variety of hashtag games depending on my mood and what’s available. I also now co-host #WIPTruthOrDare and #JLbooklove.

Facebook: I’m slowly becoming more active on my FB page. In November, I shared a number of excerpts of my NaNovel. I plan to share more excerpts, perhaps even daily ones, in 2018.

 

While I didn’t complete any of the goals I originally set forth for myself, I made progress on a few and I completed several others–some of which I wasn’t even aware of when the year first began! All in all, I think 2017 has been a good year for learning my limits and figuring out how to set reachable goals. Am I still learning? Yes, every day. And I still love every minute of it.

How did 2017 go for you?

 

 

 

 

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 14: A Review of 2017 appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Magic Monday: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

This month, I revisited The Goblin Emperor, which I’ve read previously on recommendation by a good friend.

I LOVE this book. I’ll get to why in a moment, but first, here’s the cover and blurb:

The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an “accident,” he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend…and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne–or his life.

 

Why I love this book:

This is a slow-burning read for me. The writing is beautiful but dense at times (especially when read in paperback form…someday I want a hardcover copy!) Normally, I can read through a 300-400 page book in a few hours. Re-reading this book took me several days, and I enjoyed every moment of it. The writing alone is enough to pull 5 stars…but it’s also just the tip of why I like this book so much.

I’m not always enamored by politics in fantasy. Sometimes it can become a bit of a yawn-fest for me. However, Maia, the main character, is thrown into the political storm that follows his father’s and half-brothers’ sudden deaths. It’s a whirlwind of fear and struggling to overcome his lack of schooling and the constant pressure to do this or that from everyone around him. The reader is dragged along with him. There are times I wanted to step into the book and give him a hug; he has a desperate need for friendship, and yet has no chance for it as the emperor.

Maia is an amazing character. He’s sympathetic yet flawed in multiple ways, and he tries his best to overcome his flaws and become an emperor he is proud to be. He strives to do this even when his intentions don’t match up with those in his court, especially those who wish to compare him to his father. I spent the entire book cheering for him as he faced obstacle after obstacle, some more life-threatening than others.

The supporting cast is also well-written, from his awful cousin who raised him (I hate that guy) to the amazing courier who becomes Maia’s secretary and somehow keeps his schedule sorted and handles a million other tasks (I love this guy). Not to mention Maia’s assigned guards, his large and rather volatile court, and all the other folk he crosses paths with along the way.

Last but not least…the setting. It’s a steampunk setting, with airships and mechanics with brilliant ideas (I can’t say more on that topic here for fear of spoilers). Much of the story takes place within the huge palace, but Maia does venture beyond its walls a few times to great effect. There’s also the formal language that fills the pages; I mention it here because it’s definitely a part of the setting in the way it affects conversations and characters. My copy is written in English, but Addison does an amazing job in giving the impression of a language with more complexity than English with its informal and formal uses of pronouns, names, and other terms. Maia understands the formal but at times slips into the informal, whether unintentionally or intentionally, and this adds another layer to the story.

In short, if you enjoy fantasy with a good dose of politics and compelling characters, definitely check out The Goblin Emperor.

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Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 13: November’s Final Update and December’s Month Map

Time for a quick look back at November, which was much more successful a month than I had expected!

NaNoWriMo! — WON!

This year NaNo was a struggle for various reasons. You can see by the graph below that I spent most of the month trying to catch up.

That huge jump at the end was my final push to finish–I wrote over 9,500 words on November 29th. Though there were many highs and lows over the course of the month, ultimately I managed to finish for the eleventh year in a row, and that counts as a successful NaNoWriMo to me.

Will I be participating again next year? You bet!

Solstice Flames (JLA #4)

I haven’t had a chance to begin the next round of revisions after the judging results came in, but that task is one I will be tackling during December.

Monsieur Puss (JLA #5) — DONE!
Cooperative Writing Project — DONE!

Kristy Perkins and I have finished the first draft of our amazing fantasy novella! Next up: revision time…

Goodreads Challenge — 88.9% DONE!

I managed to read eight books for my challenge, despite how crazy the holidays were and the fact that I was behind on my word count for NaNoWriMo for most of the month. That leaves me 10 for December…

Other things that happened during November

I attended Carnage Con for the second year in a row. I learned several new games (Clank!, Mysterium, The Resistance), painted miniatures, played a rebel spy in a Star Wars-themed RPG, and met a lot of cool people!
I helped host one Thanksgiving dinner and attended another the next day.
I discovered Thai tea thanks to a friend–it’s now one of my favorite drinks.

 

All in all, November was a stellar month for me, even if I didn’t quite finish all of my goals.

 

Now, it is time to reveal December’s Month Map!

Within the Ironwood

Part of the reason NaNo was a struggle last month was that this particular novel was not as ready for writing as I had thought. I started hitting speed bumps and finally, after a conversation about world-building with a friend, I realized that a little more work is needed before I dive into this story fully. During December, I’ll be polishing out the rough spots in the world-building and creating a chapter-by-chapter plan for the novel; something Kristy and I did for our co-author project, which really helped us stay on track while writing it. Come January, I hope to be able to dive back into this project with a keen muse and a solid plan.

Solstice Flames (JLA #4)

With the judging results in and the publication date (late February) approaching, it’s time for me to finish revising this story!

Monsieur Puss (JLA #5)

I’m getting feedback on the current draft and will be revising this one more time before it goes off to the judges in January.

Cooperative Writing Project

It’s revision time for this project as well. Kristy and I have agreed that with the holiday hustle, we should start off slow, so we’ve set a minor goal of revising four chapters this month.

Goodreads Challenge

My challenge is almost complete! I need to read 10 more books before the end of December. Thankfully, I’ll be doing a lot of traveling this month, so there’ll be plenty of time for reading.

 

How did your November goals turn out? What are your plans for the last month of 2017?

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 13: November’s Final Update and December’s Month Map appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 12: Excerpt from Within the Ironwood

It’s Monday again already? I’ll admit that I almost forgot about today’s post… It’s been quite the hectic week. Two Thanksgivings, painting a hallway, catching up on NaNoWriMo…you get the drift.

Today’s post is brief but enjoyable–a sneak peek at my NaNovel, Within the Ironwood!

This excerpt is from a point a few chapters into the story. Please note that this is a raw, unedited snippet that may change before the final draft.

Within the Ironwood — Excerpt

She’d walked for hours. Long enough for blisters to gather on her feet, for rocks to scuff and tear her slippers that had never been made for walking in the woods, for her stomach to begin to growl from hunger, then stop, then start again.

Another flash of lightning—they always made her jump. Branwen squinted in the light and sought for any sign of potential shelter. Nothing. All she could see were trees, stretching on in every direction like tall, dark sentinels of the night. Then they vanished, only to reappear again in another lightning streak. The storm was directly over them, every rumble of thunder thumping against Branwen’s chest.

“Chirp.” The little mech-sparrow fluttered his wings, sending droplets of water splattering against her cheek. “Chirp.” He had been growing more agitated for the past hour.

“You won’t rust,” Branwen assured him. “We’ll get you dried off… If we can ever find a place to build a fire. And the right materials for one.” She flinched at a crack of thunder. Theoretically, she knew how to build a fire, but she’d never had to do it in a rainstorm with no flint and steel on hand. “Maybe the lightning will start one for us.” The joke fell flat on her quavering voice. Ironwood didn’t burn, and even if it did, forest fires were dangerous.

“Chirrrrp.” Aeden pecked her ear.

“Ow!” Branwen jerked away. Only the sparrow’s claws digging into her dress kept him on her shoulder. “No! Bad bird.”

Lightning flashed again, and she looked around, too weary to keep going. Maybe she could just curl up against a tree and sleep—trees were a safe place to shelter during a thunderstorm, right? She couldn’t remember. Her father had insisted she be taught wilderness survival when she was young, but as she grew older, too many other necessary subjects like etiquette and dancing crowded out those lessons.

…her father. The memory scorched her mind like a lightning bolt, setting fire to every hope and dream. His body, lying there… Clarinda’s look of triumph… Her workshop, her life, torn to shreds like her dress.

Choking back a sob, Branwen took another stride forward. “I can’t freeze to death out here. I can’t.”

Three bolts of lightning shot across the sky in almost perfect unison, nearly blinding her despite the veil provided by the ironwood’s thick canopy of leaves. Blinking away the black streaks the light had left, Branwen rubbed her hands together. The wind was picking up, blowing rain into her face and chilling her further. “We have to find shelter, Aeden.” She took a deep breath, then stopped. Was that…smoke?

When the next streak of lightning came, Branwen was ready, her eyes shielded with one hand as she peered through the trees in every direction. It took a few flickers of light to catch sight of her quarry, but there it was.

A house, more a cottage really, given its size, sat nestled among the trees. The wind had carried a faint whiff of the gray smoke rising from the cottage’s stone chimney.

“A fire!” Branwen darted forward, fresh energy surging through her limbs now that shelter, real shelter, was in sight.

It was a small cottage, built of thick stone, with round windows and a door that only reached Branwen’s chin in height. Odd, but it didn’t matter to her. Her knuckles rapped on the wood until she was certain they’d be bruised.

No one came.

“Hello?” she called, continuing to knock. Maybe they couldn’t hear her over the storm. “Is anyone home?”

Still no answer. Branwen hesitated, then peeked through one of the windows. There was a fire burning quietly in the hearth, casting just enough light to see that there was no one inside. At least downstairs—a staircase spoke of a second floor squeezed into the short height of the cottage.

She couldn’t bear to wait any longer. Whoever lived here, surely they wouldn’t mind her borrowing a little warmth from their fire. Branwen tested the door and found it unlocked. She walked in, closing the door firmly behind her.

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! I’ll be sharing more in the future as the story continues to develop. This is, however, the final scheduled post of the month, so I hope you have a wonderful week and I’ll see you in December!

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 12: Excerpt from Within the Ironwood appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 11: Mid-month Month Map update!

I can’t believe how fast time is going by. The month’s already half over… Almost three quarters, in fact! Time for a mid-month update of November’s Month Map!

NaNoWriMo!

My project this year is Within the Ironwood, which is technically already started, but I only have a few chapters written so far and this will be the perfect way to get the rest of the first draft down on paper. I’m sharing excerpts on my Facebook page as the month progresses.

Earlier, I tried to design a mock cover but failed miserably. Thankfully, I was rescued by Agape Author Services, who designed me a lovely mock cover!

 

Branwen has spent most of her life in her castle tower, building beautiful, intricate constructs. Her favorites are the birds, who can fly freely in the sunlight, unlike their pale-skinned creator. When her new stepmother orders the destruction of her birds on the eve of her father’s death, Branwen realizes she is no longer safe in the castle. She flees into the Ironwood, a dangerous forest within which many wondrous and terrible things lurk. In the home of a family of dwarfs, Branwen finds welcome refuge, but as her stepmother’s preparations for war begin, the princess must choose between her own safety and protecting her kingdom.

 

 

If you also participate in NaNoWriMo, you can find me under the username shark13.

Solstice Flames (JLA #4)

The judging results are in and apparently I made a few of them cry. That’s a good thing, I think? At any rate, it’s now time to grab my red pen for the final revisions before the upcoming release in February!

Monsieur Puss (JLA #5)

When I say this got revised this month, I mean it got revised. Heavily. I cut over a thousand words (including a beloved epilogue scene which I’ll likely share with my newsletter at some point!), added in more stuff, and did some preliminary polishing. It still needs more work, but the deadline got pushed back to November, so I think I’m doing well on this front.

Cooperative Writing Project

I’m working with Kristy Perkins on an amazing fantasy project involving magic and dragons! I’ve already completed two of the three chapters I had left to write, and once Kristy finishes her last chapter, it’ll be up to me to write the final one! Then we have a brief epilogue to compile. After that, we’ll have a beautiful first draft! And by beautiful, I mean in desperate need of editing…

Goodreads Challenge

Surprisingly, I’m doing quite well this month! I’ve already read six books for my challenge, which means I only need to read three more. My favorite so far has been The Red Dragon Girl by Lea Doué; I also enjoyed the nostalgia of revisiting the first Ranger’s Apprentice book, The Ruins of Gorlan, with one of my book clubs.

 

All in all, November is going well for me! How are your November goals progressing?

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 11: Mid-month Month Map update! appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Magic Monday: The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz

Welcome back to another Magic Monday book review! Today, I have an awesome fairy tale-inspired story to share.

I love the cover, and the blurb is even better:

Private eye Nick Beasley lives in a world where fairy tales ended a long time ago – where zeppelins now soar the skies instead of dragons, and where the first automobiles have taken the place of flying carpets. He’s made a name for himself across the Afterlands by debunking fake magicians and exposing fraudulent monsters. This is the modern age, after all. Magic and monsters are long gone.

At least, that’s what Nick believes. Until he gets magically transformed into a monster, that is.

The only person who may be able to help Nick is Lady Cordelia Beaumont, one of the last enchantresses in the Afterlands. But in order for her to cure him, they’ll have to retrieve a powerful artifact from a ruthless crime lord – who is also Cordelia’s father.

The fate of the Afterlands lies in the hands of a runaway enchantress and a monstrous ex-detective. What could possibly go wrong?

Set in a world similar to our own, but where fairy tales really did happen once upon a time, affecting history forever, this story stars a snarky detective who finds out quite suddenly that magic really does exist…and it just turned him into a monster.

Nick is my favorite, but his brother and Cordelia are awesome as well. The story plays out in a snappy pace, and it is as tightly woven as a freshly made magic carpet.

 

The flavor of the world and writing is also quite amazing…almost like an old detective movie, but it isn’t a detective story. It’s a fresh spin on the Beauty and the Beast tale, with the beast being a former detective who is quite disgruntled about his sudden change of looks and the fact the world might be coming to an end. However, I could totally see this being made into a movie…that would be awesome, in fact. I’d buy it in BluRay and get Kyle to sign the cover!

If you love fantasy, fairy tales, and snark, definitely check this out. It’s a quick read–I read in one sitting because it was so. very. good.

The Beast of Talesend is available on Amazon.

The post Magic Monday: The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz appeared first on Heather Hayden.

Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 10: NaNoWriMo is HERE!

November is one of my most favorite months of the year. Why? For one, it’s an autumny month–not quite winter yet, but summer has passed, the leaves are changing, and the air is crisp and cool. There’s also the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving, a time to celebrate family and friends. However, the writer in me has another reason to celebrate November’s arrival: National Novel Writing Month.

A lot of writers have heard of this challenge. Some like the idea, some don’t. It’s not for everyone, anymore than any writing method is for everyone.

For me, NaNoWriMo is a cornerstone in my life as a writer. It offers me the freedom to dive into a new idea with abandon, the challenge of completing that novel within 30 days, and the encouragement of many, many other writers who are all facing the same task as I am: 50,000 words in one month.

I have been participating since 2007; 2017 will be my 11th year and hopefully my 11th win. With that in mind, I decided to keep my other writing goals for the month small.

Here’s my November Month Map:

NaNoWriMo!

My project this year is Within the Ironwood, which is technically already started, but I only have a few chapters written so far and this will be the perfect way to get the rest of the first draft down on paper. I’ll be sharing excerpts on my Facebook page and in my newsletter as the month progresses.

I tried to design a mock cover but failed miserably. Instead, here is the blurb:

Branwen has spent most of her life in her castle tower, building beautiful, intricate constructs. Her favorites are the birds, who can fly freely in the sunlight, unlike their pale-skinned creator. When her new stepmother orders the destruction of her birds on the eve of her father’s death, Branwen realizes she is no longer safe in the castle. She flees into the Ironwood, a dangerous forest within which many wondrous and terrible things lurk. In the home of a family of dwarfs, Branwen finds welcome refuge, but as her stepmother’s preparations for war begin, the princess must choose between her own safety and protecting her kingdom.

If you also participate in NaNoWriMo, you can find me under the username shark13.

Solstice Flames (JLA #4)

This mash-up retelling of A Christmas Carol and The Little Match Girl is currently being judged by our amazing group of judges. I’m a little nervous about how it will be received–I won’t know until the 14th, when the results are available. Once I have their feedback in hand, I’ll be revising Solstice Flames at least once before the end of the month.

Monsieur Puss (JLA #5)

I’m going to heavily revise this short story this month, as judging for its anthology is coming up fast and this story, as much as I love it, needs some serious editing.

Cooperative Writing Project

I’m working with Kristy Perkins on an amazing fantasy project involving magic and dragons. We’ll be wrapping up the first draft this month; I have three chapters left to write. These words won’t count for NaNoWriMo, but they’re still important.

Goodreads Challenge

I need to read nine books for my challenge again this month, but we’ll see how it goes–NaNo must come first!

 

What are your goals for this month? Are you doing NaNoWriMo, too?

The post Lieutenant Junior Grade’s Log, Entry 10: NaNoWriMo is HERE! appeared first on Heather Hayden.