E.G. Stone's Blog, page 25

Book Review: Midnight Descending by Lisa M. Green

I read a lot of first books in a series, simply because those are the books for review that cross my desk, and I don’t always have time to finish the rest of the series, even if I enjoyed the first book. So when I do get a chance to finish a series that I enjoyed, I’m always pleased. In this case, Lisa M. Green’s Midnight Descending is the third book in her fascinating, unique and entertaining reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. 

1. Thoughts on the plot

The first two books were relatively straightforward in their plot, even if they did leave a few questions rather unanswered (I’m looking at the end of book two, especially, though it worked very well for the story). This book takes all those questions, and then some that I did not even know I had, and answers them very thoroughly. I think the plot does well in this regard, providing answers while also moving our characters to the place they need to be in order to, well, save the world. 

I will say, though, that this book moves a whole lot faster than the first two books. Each chapter seems to jump from one thread to another, answering questions and then bringing up new questions to be answered later on. This makes for a very fast-paced book that is a little complex. I would say that it worked very well as a stand-alone piece, but in conjunction with the first two books, which were a little slower in pacing, it felt like there was a lot of information that was being presented without prior interaction in the first two books. 

However, the plot was very well thought out, and fit together with the first two books nicely. I, unfortunately, can give no more information than that, because spoilers abound and I would not want to ruin the series for anyone who has not yet read it.

2. Thoughts on the characters

Aurianna is a far more interesting character in this book, in my opinion, than in the first two, and I liked her a lot there. She finally seems to understand the things that have been happening to her, and she is having none of it. Oh, she’ll sort everything out, but let it be known that it was her choice, that she was not acting as a mere puppet to other forces. I think this, in conjunction with her emotional development, and her better understanding of the world, really made her a great main character to complete the series. I like her a lot.

I also think this book did very well in exploring Pharis’s character, as we better understand where he is coming from, what sort of motivations he has, and also his reaction to a certain event involving a certain person from his past was absolutely perfect. I appreciate him so much more, now, and I think he makes a perfect counterpart to Aurianna.

3. Favourite part

The bit about time travel. Well, okay, time travel weaves through the whole series, but in particular the scene where Aurianna must fetch her necklace. I can’t say any more than that, because it would spoil things, but I really, really liked this whole scene.

4. Critique

Mostly, I think my critique is to do with the points mentioned in my discussion of the plot. There was a lot of information presented in this book that was not discussed in the first two books. While this is generally fine, I think that maybe one or two more hints in the first two books that were slightly more concrete than the whispers that are there already would have been useful. Of course, I must take into account that I have read a lot of books between each of the three, and sometimes my memory is a bit faulty, so I could easily have found something in the first two books and then forgotten about it by the time I got to book three. So, take this critique with a grain of salt.

Overall, I would say that this book is a dramatic and entertaining conclusion to the series, and I am pleased to have been able to follow the development of the characters through the whole trilogy. I really enjoyed it, and I must say that it is the most imaginative fairy tale reimagining that I have ever seen. 

Author Interview: Poppy Kuroki

Poppy Kuroki

1. We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

I’m working on origin stories for the assassin characters from Oath. Each short story will tell readers how each character came to be a Black Diamond assassin. I’m also working on a “coming out” Steampunk novel, but that’s going on the backburner for now. I’m aiming to get the first draft done by January.

2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

A Bard’s Lament, my debut, came out in August 2020. It tells the story of a bard named Ella who hides codes in her music for spies. Oath: A Black Diamond novel came out in November 2020 and it’s about a homeless woman who’s forced to become an assassin. Both are character-driven dark fantasy stories that you’ll love if you enjoy sad stories!

3. As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!)

Doing the final check. By then I’m tired of the story and just want to get it out there – and it’s impossible to find all the errors in your own work anyway.

4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?

I love that moment when it all falls into place. You know what you want to happen, but you haven’t been able to make it plausible. Then that final jigsaw piece fits perfectly into place and you know you have a good story.

5. If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.)

Jay Kristoff’s amazing prose. Every one of his sentences sings and he has wit to boot.

6. Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best?

I wouldn’t really blame the protagonist of Oath, Colette, for me ruining her life. She thought she’d find her fortune when she sneaked aboard that ship to Ranigh, but things didn’t go quite as planned.

I’d tell her that what she was looking for isn’t so far away, and maybe read between the lines of the rules keeping her in place.

7. You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why?

A pregnant teenager from London? I’d floor her! I’ve never played poker, though, so I’d distract her with a cookie and snatch up the chips.

8. Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.)

I don’t know if I really have an area I’m good at, so I’ll give generic writing advice. Read a lot, especially in your genre. Always know that you can improve. Don’t worry about getting the first draft perfect. Take feedback with an open mind and try not to take it personally. Three-star reviews are a good thing. Drop the adverbs and read about writing; there’s a lot of good (and free) advice out there.

9. Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe.

I also have a travel blog about life in Japan, poppyinjapan.com. I do love chocolate cake; Godiva has been selling their cakes at convenience stores and it’s dangerously good. Looking forward to winter – you can’t beat a blanket, hot drinks, and a nice long gaming session.

(Find the author: https://www.poppykuroki.com/)

Book Review: The City Around the World by Elliot Harper

One of the most interesting things about the speculative fiction umbrella, in my opinion, is the ability to muse on just about everything. Spec fic books can explore societal variants based one one simple change, or they can be as complex as the mechanics of artificial intelligence or space ships. Whether it involves magic or science or something in between, if it can be dreamt, it can be created. In the case of Elliot Harper’s The City Around the World, the familiar becomes the unfamiliar, and wandering is not always a good idea…

1. Thoughts on the plot

I will admit, at first I had no idea what was going on. This book starts out in a fascinating manner; it takes a vague image and follows it through layers of complexity and specifics until we, along with the nameless main character, have as complete an understanding of the world as can be managed.  This phenomenon was done very well, indeed.

This book follows our main character as he wakes from a drug stupor, and then seeks out another hit, just doing his best to make it through the day. In the course of coming off of the high, he finds a mysterious object. Not knowing its purpose, he tries to trade it for more drugs, but this ends up causing more problems than otherwise, until the entire foundation of his world is changed. This book involves a megacity of the Slums, a mysterious city surrounding the equator, a religious order that may or may not be valid, and many other mysteries. 

I think that the nature of the reveal at the end really worked incredibly well when taking into account the means by which the book is first started. The fact that we know so little about the world at the beginning is what makes it so successful. And each successive piece brings just a touch more clarity, until such time as a full understanding is reached. At that point, the story is so gripping that it is hard to put it down.

2. Thoughts on the character

Because our main character is nameless, we only learn a little about him. It is enough to get a general sense of his beliefs and a base line for any character development. But, just as with the plot starting out from a place of vagueness, I don’t think any more than this is actually needed. The focus here is not on the character, though he is obviously important, but on the world and its wrongs and mysterious past and structure. As we follow the main character on and on, he changes some, but mostly he is a vessel through which we understand the world. I see this device occasionally, but mostly more in pieces of literature where the purpose of the novel is not to explore a single mind, but to discover the wrongs with the world, both in the book and without. In that regard, the character is a perfect means to do that.

3. Favourite part

My favourite part is definitely the reveal at the end, where we finally understand what in the world has been going on and why it has been going on. And, unfortunately, I can say no more than that because of spoilers. This is definitely one you’ll have to discover on your own.

4. Critique

Frankly, I don’t really have much of a critique for this novel. The parts that were a little shocking make perfect sense in the context of the story. And the ending left just enough to chance and imagination to really cement the story home. The characters were interesting, and the interludes between the chapter were fascinating once their purpose was understood. The prose was smooth and flowed well. 

Overall, I would say that this dark sci-fi novel (novella, sort of) was expertly done and was really fascinating to read. An excellent example of its kind.

Author Interview: Chris Lodwig

Author Interview Questions for Quill and Pen, curated by E.G. Stone

(please return completed form to: thewriter@egstone.com)

Name, please!

Chris Lodwig

We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

I’m currently working on a short story that has to do with transferring emotion and empathy to other people via a social network. I just sent that off to the editor the other day.

I’m about 200 pages into the sequel to Systemic. There are three main story lines, the first of which picks up Lem and Eryn’s story where Systemic left off. I’m starting to suspect it might actually be two books.

2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

I only have the one book so far, Systemic.

Systemic is somewhere between a eutopia and dystopia depending on who you ask. It takes place several generations in the future. We’ve created a massive AI and for years, it’s been solving all of society’s problems. Of course, now the issue becomes, what happens to us when we don’t have any problems left to solve?

The story itself focuses on three strangers who are each making a pilgrimage to a small town in the middle of the Sagelands called Prower. Maik is hoping to find the woman he loves, Eryn wants to make it home, and Lem is out for revenge against the AI hosted in the town’s data center.

Without giving too much away, no one knows the real reasons they’re headed to Prower, but it has something to do with solving the problem of us not having any more problems.

As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!)

Showing what I wrote to my wife. She always tells me the truth, and that’s pretty terrifying. I’m also pretty uncomfortable selling myself like I’m doing right now.

Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?

So many bits! I love the spilling out, when you let your mind follow its own whims and construct something it finds interesting. Today, I was writing a conversation between 4 kids sitting around the kid table at a banquet. I just got to let them talk and their relationships and personalities just appeared out of nowhere. Those kids, who I hadn’t even known existed two days ago, made my story take an unexpected turn. Totally unplanned. That’s a lot of fun. I also love editing because it feels very tactile to me, sort of like moulding or sculpting.

5. If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.)

Neil Gaiman’s ability to write in a million different genres and make all of them interesting, or funny, or clever, or beautiful. All of his work feels so imaginative and rich. Witches in Startdust travelled by candle. That’s a crazy pile of creativity right there.

6. Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best?

An interesting proposition. I have four main characters in Systemic (my recent book) and—as it turns out—I ruined their lives for the better…So, which to choose?

Lem’s life is already ruined by his own hand, he doesn’t need any help from me.

Maik is tortured enough as it is. I’d feel bad messing with him.

The global AI already knows anything I might want to do, so if I ruined its life, it would have manipulated me into doing it. My time in captivity would consist of the System explaining why my ruining of its life was for my own good.

Which just leaves Eryn. The two things she loves in life are being outdoors and her mother. In fact, she’s been planning to call in sick and play hooky from work so she can hike home through the Prower Valley. So, I imagine I’ve ruined her life by telling her boss that she wasn’t really sick. Now I find myself tied to a wooden chair in her tiny apartment. She’s asking why her boss just called her and offered to send a physician over to check on her. As the author, I’m the only one who could have possibly known her plan. Now she wants to know why I screwed everything up for her.

I do feel bad. I know how much the trip meant to her. Work has been tough, and she’s been feeling inexplicably antsy and unsettled of late. But I try, “Trust me when I tell you it was for your own good.” She just scowls at me. Doesn’t say a word. I know her well enough to know she’s struggling to master her anger and think of a way to salvage her trip. Given time, she’ll definitely come up with something. That would be a disaster, “There’s something you don’t know.”

“About why you screwed up my vacation?”

“No. I mean—in a way—yes. But I didn’t do it because I’m angry or jealous or worried about the old hermit who lives along the trail.”

She wants to appear calm, but she’s breathing heavy through her nose. She’s furious. But she doesn’t interrupt. She just raises an eyebrow in an expression that insists, “This had better be good.”

“You’re happy, right?” She doesn’t answer. “Your happiness is rooted in who you suppose you are, and how you understand the past to be. If you go on that hike; if you find your way to Prower, you’ll learn things—about your past, about your memories—and once you know them, you’re understanding of that past will collapse. And once you lose your past, you’ll lose yourself, and once you’ve lost yourself, you’ll lose your joy. Stay here, delay your trip by a few days. A few days is not too much to ask. A few days will provide you a lifetime of happiness.”

7. You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why?

That would be Horza from Iain M. Banks’ Consider Phlebas. From my book I would choose Lem. Lem is certainly smarter than me, so he’d probably be a better poker player, but as soon as he thought he was going to lose, he’d fold. He’d probably say something like, “This is stupid,” and toss his cards on the table and storm away.

As far as Horza is concerned. I’m pretty sure he’d beat me. He’s gone to at least one Damage game and so he’s familiar with emotional stress, plus as a shape-changer he has precise control of every aspect of his body, so I bet he as an impressive poker face. I’d get my ass handed to me.

As far as what we’d play for, not money. Aside from the fact that none of our money would be compatible, both Horza and Lem come from post-scarcity societies, so anything I could ante wouldn’t matter much to them. So, I guess just bragging rights.

8. Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.)

I have two things that are both dangerous for me for the exact same reason. I love imagery and descriptive writing, and I like to geek out on ideas. Induing in either—or worse, both—of these runs the risk of going too deep for the sake of my own entertainment, and at that point I’ll lose the audience.

9. Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe.

Audible: https://tinyurl.com/systemicAudioAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/systemicBookiTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/systemic-unabridged/id1516916890Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisLodwigInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopherlodwig/Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislodwig/Website: http://chrislodwigauthor.com/

I have no plots to take over the world that would not be totally ruined by telling the world about them. So…no. Instead, here is my favourite home brew beer recipe.

Recipe Name: Take 5 IPA – Pliny the Younger

Beer Type: IPA

Ingredients

Grains:

0.6 lb (272 g) Crystal 45 malt0.6 lb (272 g) Carapils (Dextrin) Malt

Extract Sugars:

3 lbs Golden Iight dry malt extract3.5 lbs of Pilsen Light dry malt extract0.75 lb (340 g) Table sugar

Water Agents

Calcium Chloride – 1 tspGypsum (Calcium Sulfate) – 1 tspEpsom Salt (MgSO4) – .4 tspIrish Moss (Need amount!)

Hops

Bittering:3.50 oz (99 g) Columbus 13.90% A.A. 90 min.Flavoring:0.75 oz (21 g) Columbus 13.90% A.A. 45 min.Aroma #1:1.00 oz (28 g) Simcoe 12.30% A.A. 30 min.Aroma #2:1.00 oz (28 g) Centennial 8.00% A.A. 0 min.2.50 oz (71 g) Simcoe 12.30% A.A. 0 min.Dry: #11.00 oz (28 g) Columbus 13.90% A.A. Dry Hop (12 to 14 days total)1.00 oz (28 g) Centennial 9.10% A.A. Dry Hop (12 to 14 days total)1.00 oz (28 g) Simcoe 12.30% A.A. Dry Hop (12 to 14 days total)Dry #20.25 oz (7 g) Columbus 13.90% A.A. Dry Hop (5 days to go in dry hop)0.5 oz (7 g) Centennial 9.10% A.A. Dry Hop (5 days to go in dry hop)

Yeast:

Wyeast 1056 American Ale YeastQuick sheetDoneEventSugarsHopsInstructionsNotes
heat water

1 Gal of water to 165

165f

maintain heat at 165 Add Steeping Grains

30 min steep

Remove and rinse grains with hot water top up kettle (as much as possible) Heat to boil

(boil) 200 fAdd Malt
water additives add Malt Extract Add Dextrose Bring to boil

t- 90
Bittering: 3.5 oz ColumbusAdd bittering hops Set 45 min timer

t – 45
Flavoring: .75 ColumbusAdd Flavoring Hops Set 15 min timer

t – 30
Aroma #1: 1 oz SimcoeAdd Aroma #1 Set 30 min timer Add Irish Moss

t – 0
Aroma #2: 1 Centennial 2.50 oz SimcoeAdd Aroma Hops #2

t – 0

Cool to 67f

67f

Remove all hops move to fermenter Oxygenate top off to 5 gal pitch yeast

Fermenting stops
Dry: 1 oz Columbus 1 oz Centennial 1 oz SimcoeRack beer Dry Hop #1



Dry: 0.25 oz Columbus 0.5 oz CentennialDry Hop #2

Rack + 14 daysPriming
Bottle

bottle + 4 weeks

Drink

Book Review: Princess of Undersea by Leslie Conzatti

I think there’s something fundamental in fairy tales, either in the way they see the world or provide a lovely story that has magic, but also depicts reality. So when I read fairy tale retellings, or explorations into folklore, I am immediately interested. Leslie Conzatti’s Princess of Undersea was like this, grabbing me from the start.

1. Thoughts on the plot

The original Hans Christian Anderson Little Mermaid is not quite the light and pretty story of the Disney movies, and I think that Princess of Undersea is perhaps more in line with the original. However, it manages to combine both versions into something even better, merging a quest for wisdom and strong leadership into a love story that saves the ocean and the sea. 

The story follows Ylaine, a mermaid princess, who is trying to prevent a war. She grows curious about the humans and seeks the help of her godmother, Nayidia, to let her spend time amongst the humans to better understand them. In the course of this, she meets Nathan, prince of Overcliff, who is being prepared to step forwards and rule. There are threats, though, to both their realms and they must work together to prevent these terrible things from happening. 

I really like the way that Ylaine and Nathan move the plot forwards without it seeming contrived. There is more to this story than the pretty undersea princess trying to win the heart of a human, and this features in the story to a point where the love story is almost secondary, but not enough to dismiss it entirely. The combination of these two motivations and plot lines really works well, I think, to create something deeper than the original fairy tale while still holding to its origins.

2. Thoughts on the characters

I really like the fact that the merpeople are not just humans with fish tails. They have their own culture and way of life, anatomy and practises, and I think Ylaine is the perfect example of this. She is very devoted to her father, and by extension, the wellbeing of her people. But she is also curious about the humans and the things that they might offer the undersea kingdom. As far as characters go, I think she is certainly the most interesting. There were a few points when she was first interacting with Nathan that I thought her a bit silly, but I think most of that comes from being, literally, a fish out of water. It did not detract from her at all.

I will admit, though, that I didn’t much care for Nathan until the latter half of the book. At first, he seems a bit…shallow. His attitude is dismissive and he doesn’t really seem like someone who Ylaine would find interesting or worthy. However, this changed dramatically in the second half of the book. In fact, a good portion of the plot was centred on his development, and I think this works really well. So, while I didn’t immediately like him, I did find him a good character in the end. 

3. Favourite part

I think my favourite part is probably to do with the culture and lifestyle of the merpeople. I found it quite fascinating and enjoyed the descriptions of their life, their thoughts on fish and sharks and such, even the way that they bowed. It really managed to make them seem like a distinct people rather than just humans with tails who live in the water. It was also really nice to see the interaction of that culture with the human culture.

4. Critique

I think my only real critique is that parts of the love story seemed to move a bit quickly near the end. I understand that this was meant to be the moment of realisation, rather than an insta-love situation, but it moved a touch quickly for my tastes. However, given all the other plot points, I would say that this was not really a terribly big issue and that the story did not suffer at all for it.

Overall, I would say that The Princess of Undersea is a very good retelling of The Little Mermaid, only with intent and depth as opposed to the original (and later interpretations). The story managed to be both entertaining and poignant, while still retaining the connection to the original and providing the familiar ground that comes from fairy tale retellings and reimaginings. Very good.

Book Review: The Hunter’s Rede by F.T. McKinstry

There is something intrinsically magical about exploring the worlds of books, regardless of whether or not they actually have magic themselves. I think anyone with the desire to create a world from the ground up, building cultures and languages, pasts for characters and religions, all of it is highly impressive and reminds me of first exploring the world of Middle Earth. In the case of F.T. McKinstry’s The Hunter’s Rede (and subsequent books, though I will only talk about the first one here) the level of intricacy and completeness is really quite fascinating. To be able to dive into a world with such depth and with characters who both reflect and transcend real life, is a wonderful thing indeed.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This first book in the series follows Lorth, an assassin in a land that is not his own, as he is called back home and faces the consequences of his decisions, and the scheming of the world around him. While he is not a wizard, he has many of the same talents, and these talents get him into rather a lot of trouble. He must unravel a plot by an invading army and gets caught up in two murders which have been laid at his feet. To make matters worse, it seems as though the gods themselves are involved.

This story is one of those that weaves together individual threads to create something magnificent. I really enjoyed seeing the pieces come to light and the final picture revealed, especially in light of the worldbuilding. I think the plot plays a variation on a theme of reluctant hero returning to face his past, and while I am generally fond of such stories, this one seems to transcend many of the one’s I’ve read in the past to stand on the level of some of the greats.

2. Thoughts on the characters

As far as heros go, Lorth is probably one of my favourite. He is a slightly-grumpy lone wolf sort who chafes at arbitrary rules placed on him, but also has a very firm sense of doing things that do not violate the dictates of his god, the Old One. Lorth is, I think one of the better developed characters I’ve read in a long while and I find his many facets fascinating. He manages to convey all the traits of a real person such that he jumps off the page when reading him. This book is the perfect introduction to him, and the subsequent books really flesh him out, though he doesn’t actually need it. 

The other characters in this story are equally three dimensional. They go about their lives as people with true desires and motivations, with no need to explain their actions beyond a reasonable level. The characters have mystery and they have purpose, and I really like them all. Though, I will admit that Lorth, Eaglin and Leda are most certainly my favourites.

3. Favourite part

Ooh, this is a really hard thing to choose, since I really did like this entire book. I think perhaps, if i had to choose my favourite bit, I would say that the confrontation between Lorth and Eaglin probably rises to the surface. Not because I like seeing our protagonist in such dire straits, but because it displayed his personality in the most perfect sense. His and Eaglin’s I think. The potential for things to be much worse was definitely high, but Lorth turns it into something more or less par for the course, without rolling over and giving up. Eventually Eaglin admits his mistake, but even that really makes the scene what it is.

I can’t actually say a whole lot more than that because of spoilers, but it is the sort of thing that evokes a great deal of sympathy for the characters.

4. Critique

Honestly, I think the only critique I have is to do with the various geographies involve. Mostly, I had a hard time following some of the names of places, but that doesn’t actually have much to do with the book, since a map was provided, but my own brain being completely incapable of determining anything remotely close to a direction. So, it’s not really a critique and more of a comment on my own brain being severely navigationally challenged. I did like the names of all the places, though. Very fun, from a linguistic perspective.

Overall, I would say that The Hunter’s Rede is probably one of my most favourite fantasy novels of all time, which is saying something because I have read rather a lot of fantasy novels. The language, the characters, the plot, it is all really wonderful and I am likely to be reading them again, and again, and again. Excellent book!

Author Interview: Aaron Hodges

(This is the first in my new author interview segment on the blog. These will post, generally speaking, on Mondays and be archived on the Author Interview page.)

Aaron Hodges: https://www.aaronhodges.co.nz/

1. We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

I am currently finishing off the third book in my Descendants of the Fall series, titled Age of Gods. I’m really enjoying how the two main characters in the story have developed since I first conceived of them back in March during quarantine, although they’ve definitely made life tricky for me at this book! I just hope I’ve done them justice for my readers!

2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

Well this series I’m currently working on is about a fallen world where two species of human exist, one that takes after our own peoples, and another called the Tangata who possess inhuman strength and speed. And the two species are in the middle of a decade long war—one which humanity is losing. They will need a miracle to emerge victorious, or perhaps some divine intervention from the mysterious Gods who rule this world.

3. As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!)

Haha is this not editing for everyone? I certainly find it exhausting, but also very rewarding as my first drafts are usually VERY rough, so its nice to see how polished and complete the final product is afterwards.

4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?

I actually really like outlining. I generally spend a week brainstorming different scenes and characters that will feature in the story, and while I don’t use every idea that pops into my head, its still my favourite part, probably because it really gets the imagination flowing.

5. If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.)

Hmmm, I’d probably say Ian Irvine’s world building skills. I really enjoy creating backstories and geographical features in my books—I’m an environmental scientist by trade so I generally have a good understanding of that sort of thing. But the Ian Irvine takes it to another level, his maps are down to the minutest detail, and his histories make you believe this world actually exists!

6. Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best?

Haha considering some of the stuff I put my poor characters through, I’m not sure I’ll get out of this one alive. I guess I’d pull the whole God card and say there’s a reason behind everything that happens!

7. You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why?

Haha the main character would be Erika, princess of the broken kingdom of Calafe, and Archivist to the Queen of Flumeer. She’s extremely shrewd and cunning, and up against her is Jon Snow (I’ve been rereading GoT this week), who might be a great swordsman but lets face it, probably not the greatest poker player! As for what we’ll win…I’d say both would be pretty happy with a dragon, don’t you think?

8. Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.)

I think probably my number one advice for any writer is not to get held up in the early details/editing of your manuscript. Until you finish the first draft, you don’t even know whether you’ll be able to finish and it is so easy to get bogged down reediting what you’ve written before you even reach the end. So my advice is always: finish, then edit. At least for your first book.

9. Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe.

I wrote a dystopian in 2016 titled ‘The Evolution Gene’ (originally the Praegressus project). It ah…predicted a civil war after the 2020 election, plus a plague. I’m a little concerned how closely its mirroring real life at this point…

Book Review: Through Dragon’s Fire by A.N. Miller

Since childhood, stories about dragons—either as a force for good or evil—have fascinated me. While I am perhaps biased towards stories where these massive, fire-breathing, dangerous flying reptiles are closer to benevolent than malicious, I do enjoy a traditional world-against-dragon story. A.N. Miller’s Through Dragon’s Fire is a perfect example of this sort of story.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This story reminds me a lot of the Tamora Pierce books featuring Tortall; the protagonist is a girl trying to find herself and her purpose. Our main character Amara flees from a home that ostracises her, and discovers a past that she didn’t know she had. In trying to understand this past, she joins the BouldAras, a rank of elite warriors charged with protecting the kingdom. The only thing is that there is far more to becoming a BouldAra than simply learning how to wield a weapon. Amara must face her forgotten past and the monster that set her on her past before she can truly become who she was meant to be.

I think the plot is well done and well thought out. There is a decent amount of time spent on each of the important pieces of Amara’s journey and you can easily see how each piece of the puzzle fits together to create something new. The story is entertaining to follow and I think it works very well.

2. Thoughts on the characters

Amara is a good main character to follow. She has mysteries to solve, not the least of which is discovering who she is and what her purpose is moving forwards. I think that she reacts very well to the various challenges set in her path and I like her overall. She is definitely worth reading about. 

The other characters, though, I think could use a bit more exploration. Primarily, her mentor in the BouldAras. You see some of his personality and motivation, but most of it is simply left as a sort of standoffish person without any real reason why until the very end of the book. While the ending scenario does explain his motivations nicely, I think the pieces leading up to that point could have been expanded just a touch more, giving more of a clue as to why, rather than just presenting the information at the end. 

Otherwise, I like the characters; they’re not stereotypical and they are perfect for the story, acting more like real people than sometimes is presented in traditional-style world-vs-dragon stories.

3. Favourite part

I think, actually, that the whole situation regarding Amara discovering her past and figuring out where she was meant to be, as well as reconciling what happened, is my favourite bit. It is a thread that winds through the whole story, interspersed with pieces of other events that temporarily distract Amara. However, it is not the entire world that Amara involves herself in, just a significant piece, which I think works really very well.

4. Critique

I think my only real critique for this book is that some of the secondary characters (see point 2) need just a touch of further exploration, in regards to motivations or personality. This is not really a huge thing, as Amara does not require this for her journey, but it would serve to really illustrate the story very well. As it is, though, I think this story does well with characters; I just want a touch more.

Overall, I would say that Through Dragon’s Fire is a story remnant of those I read when I was younger, with characters trying to discover themselves and the world, trying to right the wrongs of the past, and taking a stand with what abilities they possess. It was an entertaining read, and I would say that it is a good book.

Book Review: Princess of Beasts by Joanna White

In the world of Princess of Beasts by Joanna White, all is not well. Sahri is a princess controlled by her family so that her gift of talking to animals belongs to them alone. Her bodyguard, Jekre, perhaps the only person she truly trusts, is controlled by her family also. His Rune of Obedience requires him to protect her and obey her at all costs, and it is distinctly possible he hates her for it. When further disaster strikes the kingdom and Sahri is the only one who can help, how far will she go to make things right?

1. Thoughts on the plot

Generally speaking, this plot follows a fairly standard set of expectations. You have your princess, her bodyguard, and a disaster that only they can fix. This is a familiar—and for good reason—fantasy plot that has wowed people for years, and will likely to do so for years to come. It is a quest novel, following a pair as they discover who they are and what really matters. In this instance, I was not disappointed even a little bit. 

The plot moves quickly enough that you are not left wondering when things are going to happen. There is enough intrigue to provide questions about how things are going to turn out. And there is most certainly enough drama to keep you enthralled as you follow the main characters on their quest. I quite liked the plot, from beginning to end and have no complaints. Even when the ending tugged at the heartstrings. A lot.

2. Thoughts on the characters

Sahri is a wonderful main character to follow. She does not have any serious weapons skills. She does not seem to care about politics. She is simply smart, capable, and kind, and I honestly wish there were most characters like her. She has enough questions about her place and roll in the world to make her development intriguing to follow. Her family and the rules placed on her by them are the weight that could potentially ruin everything; Sahri must come to terms with them and how she feels about them. Oh, and how she feels about Jekre, too.

As a bodyguard bound by magic, I think Jekre’s backstory and character traits fit the roll perfectly. He is infuriated at the binding placed on him, so that he does not even have free will. Yet, he seems to recognise that Sahri is worth protecting, and there is enough of a push-pull factor there that watching the two of them interact is almost as pivotal to the plot as the actual quest itself. 

I think my only real critique for the characters is that the villains of the piece feel a little too villainous without having a well-developed cause. I won’t say a good cause, because the reason given does make sense (if you’re a terrible person). But it is only mentioned a few times and feels a little flat. Otherwise, I love the characters.

3. Favourite part

The ending. I can’t tell you much, because that would involve spoilers, but I can tell you that it was dramatic and poignant and, despite giving me all the “oh, no!” feelings, fit the story perfectly. That’s as far as I can tell you, sorry. (Not sorry.)

4. Critique

The ending. While it does fit with the story nearly perfectly, I think the final climax that leads into the very last image with Jekre and the afterwards bit moved just a touch too quickly. I would have liked to have seen the true consequences of that, and where it might lead, as well as make sure everyone else in the story understands just how significant the events were. Still, I think it was a good ending. Even if it was really terrible of the writer to do that to me… (As a writer, I appreciate this so much. As a reader, less so.)

Overall, I would say Princess of Beasts is a really charming and entertaining book. It has great characters and a plot that is both familiar and fun in the best ways. Even if you disagree with me about the ending bits, I would say this book is absolutely worth a read. Very good.

2020 Reading Summary

Well, we made it through this mess of a year. And by mess, I mean, mess. I don’t know about everyone else, but this year was definitely a very difficult one for me. I got a lot less done than I intended, thanks to things completely outside my control.

But you know what? We made it. That is something to be grateful for, most definitely.

Last year, I read, I think, some 300 – 305 books or so, which apparently is quite a lot. (I didn’t know I was a speed reader until someone pointed it out to me. So, there we are, I suppose.) According to my logs, this year I read slightly less, at 286. Given all that went on this year, I am still sufficiently pleased with the effort.

Now, I’m putting together my list of books that I really liked this year. Do note that a good portion of these books were NOT published in 2020. I read whatever comes across my desk, either for review or for simple enjoyment. That means that not all of them were published in 2020, just because that’s how things work out. So this list is just a list of books that I quite enjoyed reading this year, regardless of their publication date. I am also not including traditionally published books on this list, because that’s a whole different kettle of fish.

Anyways. In no particular order, here are a bunch of books that I really enjoyed this year:

Dragon’s Trail by Joseph MalikThe Atomic Sea by Jack ConnerFate of Wizardoms: Eye of Obscurance by Jeffrey KohanekDevouring Dark by Alan BaxterBlood of the Lunacorn by Alexzander ChristionShattered Dreams by Ulff LehmannSomeday I’ll be Redeemed by Kelly BlanchardThe Wakeful Wanderer’s Guide to New England and Beyond by Jim InfantinoSpider in the Laurel by Michael PogachThe Wolf Lords by F.T. McKinstryVile by Keith CrawfordTides of Mana by Matt LarkinNight Latch by Anela DeenDusk Mountain Blues by Deston J MundenThe Lost War by Justin Lee AndersonThe Alehouse Rebellion by Michael Evan and JMD ReidStranded by Rosalind TateRiley Thorne and the Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

A goodly number of these books are in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, simply because I was asked to review a lot of them this year. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the books; I am always happy to read anything.

Next year, I hope to not be bogged down quite so much by the pandemic, and by my own health issues, which really threw me for a loop and took a whole lot of time that I had hoped to devote to other things. I also hope to read a lot more books in a wider range of genres. So, yes, I’m quite pleased with how the reading for this year turned out.

I have many plans for next year regarding my own writing and marketing and such, but I also hope to enjoy just as many great books.

Happy New Year, everyone. May this next year be better than your last.