L.R. Braden's Blog, page 7

Colorado Book Award Finalist Readings

Demon Riding Shotgun has been selected as a finalist in the Colorado Book Awards for 2023!

As part of the celebration leading up to the big winner reveal on June 10th, all the the finalists have been invited to read from our selected books at public libraries across Colorado Springs. So if you're a local, or happen to be in the area of Colorado Springs, I'd love for you to join me at the Science Fiction/Fantasy and Thriller Finalists Readings on Saturday, June 3 at 4 p.m. at Rockrimmon Library (5550 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918).

Review: Atomic Habits

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a well-written, fast-flowing text that highlights many key concepts of how people form habits, both good and bad. The basic premise is that if there is a behavior you would like to encourage, you should make it easy, attractive, and satisfying so that you are more likely to repeat the behavior. Conversely, if there's a behavior you want to stop, make it harder to do, unattractive, and unsatisfying. Here's a personal example: I want to drink less soda, so I don't keep soda in the house. If I really want a soda, I have to make a special trip to the store just to get it. Making it more difficult makes the behavior less likely.

I didn't find any world-shattering revelations in its advice. It was more a reinforcement of common-sense ideas that are easily overlooked. I was both pleased and disappointed to find that I was already doing many of the suggested actions simply on instinct and logic. Pleased because I have a good natural sense for how to enact changes in my life, and disappointed because I was hoping for some kind of "magic bullet" to break through the final walls of developing habits for things that I really don't enjoy doing, like exercising. Unfortunately, though not surprisingly, no such magic bullet exists. If you're hoping this book will provide it, it won't. What it will provide are useful case studies, entertaining anecdotes, and real-world examples of how to put basic principals of habit development into practice. Just know that at the end of the day, it all comes down to your willingness to push through adversity. Even the most well-established habit can't make something that is inherently unpleasant seem fun.

View all my reviews

Review: Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s rare that I watch a book adaptation as a show before reading the books itself, but that’s exactly what happened this time. Like many people, I was introduced to the Grishaverse through its Netflix adaptation. As such, I couldn’t help but compare the two. It’s very hard to review just the book since already I had so much depth and scope in my head from watching the show, but I will try.

First off, let me just say that I very much enjoyed both the book and the show. Going strictly by the book: The story is told from the perspective of Alina Starkov, a mapmaker in the Ravkan Empire. Ravka is based on Russia and reflects its culture. Similar comparisons can be made between the book’s other nations such as Shu Han (China) and Fjerda (Norway). These similarities make it easy to embrace Bardugo’s fantasy world because in many ways it feels like home, if only superficially. There are, however, aspects of Bardugo’s world that are specific only to it. Most notably: the Fold or Unsea. This is a swath of land, stretching the length of Ravka, that is enveloped in never ending shadow and populated by terrible, flying, man-eating creatures called volkra. Because the Fold splits Ravka in two, the culture and country are also split. (Think Germany and the Berlin Wall. In order to cross the Fold, the Ravkan king employs Grisha, which brings us to the magic of Bardugo’s world. Grisha are basically elemental mages, each specializing in summoning elements like air or fire, blood-workers who can either heal or kill, and alchemists or tinkers. Beyond these is the Darkling, the only known Grisha to work his magic (or “small science” as Bardugo calls it) with shadows. He is extremely powerful and second in command only to the king, but he is not trusted, as it was a darkling who created the Fold.

Alina starts off as a virtual nobody, a scrawny, clumsy, not very attractive, easily-overlooked cartographer’s assistant, but she (and everyone else) quickly discover that she is so much more than she appears. She is a sun-summoner. More importantly, she is the *only* sun-summoner. This makes her Ravka’s hope for eliminating the Fold and uniting the country. That’s a lot of weight for her tiny shoulders, but she won’t have to carry it alone. Alina grew up in an orphanage with her childhood friend, Mal. All grown up, Mal is a tracker in the king’s army and often works in the same unit as Alina. It’s on a mission through the Fold to which they are both assigned that Alina’s powers first manifest, and Mal is there to see her in all her sun-summoner glory. Mal and Alina have a very YA, girl-next-door meets destined-mates romance.

Once her power is revealed, Alina is swept away to the “Little Palace” by the Darkling for Grisha training, and Mal is left behind. A good portion of the middle of the book is just Alina failing at being a Grisha and feeling like she doesn’t fit it, but it’s all well-written and believable. Alina forms friendships and rivalries among the Grisha, and a dangerous romantic bond with the Darkling. I’ll admit, this section might have felt a bit lacking if I didn’t have the TV-show knowledge to flesh it out, but I can’t say for certain. Regardless, Alina eventually learns to control her powers and is eager to strengthen them with the help of an amplifier. But not everyone wants the Fold to come down. Some people want to kill Alina before she can fulfill her destiny, others want to use Alina as a puppet. This is very much a coming of age, coming into her power story that forces Alina to make some hard decisions and face some unpleasant truths.

Overall, Shadow and Bone was a riveting, page-turning adventure that sank me deep into Bardugo’s world. I’m eager to read the next one.


And now a bit of comparison for those of you who want to know if the book and show match. Be aware that this section may include SPOILERS.

The biggest difference, which was apparent right away when I started reading, is that Alina is the only narrative character. That means no side quests with Mal, no insightful Darkling flashbacks, and no quirky group of Crows. The loss of the Crows was the hardest difference for me to wrap my head around. They were my favorite characters in the show, so I was very sad when I realized they didn’t even exist in this book. I’m still hoping they’ll turn up later in the series. At the very least, there is a follow-up book called Six of Crows, which gives me hope.

There were other, smaller differences as well. Alina is not part-Shu in the book, just a sickly-looking Ravkan, so there isn’t that extra layer of discrimination. The trip to the Little Palace takes more time and involves a lot more people than what’s implied in the show. Alina knows full well that the Darkling is hunting the stag, she encourages him to do it because she wants the amplifier. There’s no kidnapping side-story (that goes with the Crows), Alina just runs away on her own, and she intends to leave the country. It’s Mal who finds her and convinces her to hunt the stag before the Darkling finds it. Alina’s stag necklace is not fused into her body, and there’s no second piece of bone to control her. Alina doesn’t just leave the Darkling in the Fold to die. She makes a conscious decision to end him, sacrificing a bunch of other people in the process. And finally, Alina doesn’t get to imagine the Darkling dies. At the end of the book she already knows he survived and will be coming for her. Those few differences aside, I was astonished at how closely the adaptation followed the original story. Well done all around!

View all my reviews

Review: Mishap's Heroes: Magic and Misrule

Magic and Misrule by K.M. Merritt
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This was a fast and entertaining read that took a bunch of social outliers no one thought much of and turned them into heroes. The main protagonist is a half-orc hoping to become a paladin in a D&D-style world. She sets out on a quest with a rag-tag party of similarly overlooked beings that include a klutzy wizard who's also a runaway noble, a hafling monk, and a non-gendered ranger with a wolf companion. She is also joined by her trainer, Henri, who will observe the quest and make the call on whether or not she's fit to be a full-fledged knight.

I had a little trouble getting into the story at the beginning. I think I just didn't quite click with the MC, Vola. There were a lot of aspects about her that I really liked, but I also found her a bit irritating. However, the other party members were able to round out the cast for me in a satisfying way.

The story was a classic D&D-style quest - find and defeat an evil culprit to save the townspeople. The first leg of their quest was a bit slow, but once the group reached their first goal (and the first plot twist) the pace really picked up.

This was definitely a character-driven story, with the main focus being on interpersonal relationships. Merritt used external conflicts like the swamp through which the party slogged and a rival group of heroes to highlight the internal struggles of the characters, and especially Vola. I would even go so far as to call this a coming-of-age story as Vola struggles to find her place in the world. As such, I recommend it for fans of light YA fantasy adventure.

View all my reviews

Review: The Dragon Reborn

The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Dragon Reborn is the third book in Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time series, and so far it is my favorite. There was a decent amount of action and some more world building. There were several interwoven threads of plot that wound through the book as each character group tackled its own tasks before eventually coming back together. The writing was smooth and descriptive, though I admit those descriptions sometimes dragged on to the point where I found myself skimming. I also noticed quite a few more typos in this book than I had in the previous two. I would not consider this book to be much of a stand-alone, but it isn't meant to be. This series definitely needs to be read in order.

As always, the narration is shared among a large cast of characters, though there was very little from Rand's perspective in this book. Perrin continues to be one of my favorites, though I am looking forward to him embracing his wolfish nature somewhere in the future. I enjoyed Mat's chapters much more than in previous books as his personality seemed to get a little more rounded out. He's still a rascal and a gambler, but he's not such a jerk in this one. Egwene remains my least-favorite character to spend time with since she's childish, hot-headed, and arrogant, and Nynaeve's not much better. I'm once again left with the impression that almost all the women in Jordan's world are self-righteous nags whose sole purpose in life is to belittle and browbeat those around them. *sigh* I hope they grow up some day. Still it was a fun adventure and definitely worth the read. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

View all my reviews

Reader Survey

Have you ever heard the term "target audience?" It's a term I've heard a lot since becoming an author. Basically, it's the idea of reaching the right customers with the right message at the right time in order to increase you product's visibility in the most effective way. In the case of authors, that translates to identifying the readers most likely to appreciate your book(s), then finding out where they are so that you can show them your book(s).

This may seem like a simple enough concept, but in actuality it's really, really hard. I've spun my wheels about identifying my "target audience" for quite a while, and I've decided the best way to figure out what kind of people like my books is to ask the people who've already read them. (Brilliant, I know. :D) To that end, I'm asking anyone who's enjoyed reading one or more of my stories to fill out this short survey that will help me get to know you better, and will hopefully get me one step closer to defining my target audience.
Thank you! Loading… In case the embedded html doesn't work... here's the link.

Review: Mis Spelled

Mis-Spelled: Book One of the Stellaluna Chronicles by T.H. Leatherman
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This was a fast, fun, fantasy read that revolved around found family, unlikely problem solving, and humor.

Evan is a normal high school kid from Earth who escapes one sticky situation at school only to find himself in another world--a world of elves, goblins, and magic. The only way back is a magic spell, which the elf queen will only teach him if he can perform three impossible tasks. I love that Evan isn't a charge in, guns blazing kind of character. He's considerate and clever. He uses his head to find solutions that won't get him killed.

As Evan clears each quest, he finds more friends and develops stronger bonds that leave him wondering if he really wants to go home. One the one had, he misses his dad and grandma, but on the other, he's made a family of sorts in this new world that it would break his heart to leave--Sina, a pretty she-elf warrior princess who's engaged to marry a jerk but likes Evan better. Gemma, a massive green troll who wants to learn to cook. Pi, a juvenile dragon looking for loot. And Geezer, a fellow Earthling who found his way to the other side decades ago and has since become a powerful wizard.

The pacing is quick, and Leatherman squeezes a lot into each short chapter to keep the story racing along. And of course, being the author of several joke books, Leatherman seasoned the story with an ample peppering of puns that will have you laughing, groaning, and rolling your eyes alongside the characters. If you're looking for a lighthearted fantasy adventure filled with humor and out-of-the-box heroics, this is your book. My only real complaint is that it could have used a touch more editing, as there were several instances of my getting knocked out of the story by typos or formatting errors.

View all my reviews

Review: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A hilarious romp that turns traditional fairy tales on their heads.

Ever notice how the princes get overlooked in the classic stories? Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty.... Those stories are all named after their princesses. Well, this book takes a look at the princes of those tales. Namely, the Princes Charming.

Prince Frederic is a dandy afraid of any and everything that might scar, mar, or otherwise dirty his princely perfection, but he's loyal, kind, and good with his words. Gustav is a burly brute with anger management issues and a massive inferiority complex, but he's brave and cares more than he wants to admit. Duncan is a dunce of the highest order, but his childlike innocence carries him through challenges will infectious optimism. Liam is too good for his own good. A noble hero who will do what is right even if it means turning his entire kingdom against him and living in exile.

Each of these princes failed to find renown in their princess's stories, but they're writing their own tales now. Against pint-sized bandits, house-sized trolls, and angry ex's, they will learn to rely on each other's unique strengths (and make up for their many weaknesses) to save all their kingdoms and finally be recognized for the heroic princes they are... or die trying.

This book had my whole family laughing out loud. The plot is fun, tight, and fast. The characters are well crafted, with more depth than I expected. The humor is non-stop but subtle enough not to come across as heavy handed. The book includes cute illustrations that really bring the characters to life. The writing is smooth and the voice is perfect. I really can't find fault, and I can't wait to read the next one!

View all my reviews

Review: Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a super fast read filled with tongue-in-cheek humor that pokes fun at all the traditional tropes found in cozy mysteries set in the English countryside. I saw this sitting on my library shelf and the title made me chuckle. I just had to pick it up. :) I read it within an hour there in the building; it's that fast!

Each page has a charming illustration and a short, witty sentence or paragraph describing why a given person or place is best to avoid and how/why you will end up dead if you ignore the book's warnings. Meet the vicar, you're going to die. See a vat, you're going to die. Taste test for the local bake-off, you get the idea...

My favorite part was the "quiz" at the end of each of the two sections. These were basically "choose the least bad option" questions with no good answer, but the rationale behind the scenarios was hilarious.

I recommend you give this book a read if you enjoy dark humor and want a quick laugh. It's sure to put a smile on your face.

View all my reviews

Review: Emerald Blaze

Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the kind of story I love to find when I open an urban fantasy novel. Magic, intrigue, multifaceted characters, intense action, and just a splash of romance. Andrews' masterful world building creates a colorful and rich history for a world not unlike our own. Because I did not realize when I picked this book up that it was part of a larger series, I was definitely missing some information, especially where the characters were concerned. That said, I had no problem following along and inferring the events of the previous books. It was still a wonderful and satisfying read.

This book is written from the perspective of the main character, Catalina Baylor. She's a Prime, meaning super-powerful magic user, and the head of a House, a magical family with political sway. Having missed the first 5? books in this series, I can't guess if she was the protagonist of the others or not, but she was fierce and intelligent, and I found it easy to relate to her from the very beginning. Her backstory is revealed in pieces throughout the book, so I was never left in the lurch.

My only complaint would be that there were so many characters thrown at me so early on. Again, this may be an effect of starting mid-series. Perhaps all these characters were introduced more slowly in earlier books. I don't know. But I did stumble several times in trying to keep track of who was who in the large cast of people both present and referenced.

The action/mystery plot was fun and fast-paced. Catalina uses her head as much as her swords to solve her problem, and while the climax might come down to an all-out battle of strength and will, I enjoyed puzzling through the twists and turns with her.

On the romance front, I found this book to be *almost* the perfect amount for me. I'm not a big romance reader, so while I enjoy romantic arcs and interactions, I don't like that to take center stage over the story. Catalina clearly had some serious history with Alessandro, the love interest in this book, and that creates a wonderful tension between the characters. I *think* these two got together in a previous book, but I don't know for sure. I was given just enough backstory to paint a decent picture of their past interactions, which got me invested in their present and future.

Overall, highly recommended. It was a very enjoyable read, and I'm definitely going to get the rest of the series.

View all my reviews