S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 63

The Next Big Thing (Week 22)

In a few days, I’ll continue my Japan pop tour with posts on maid and butler cafes, but right now here’s something a little different…

Today I’m part of a blog tag of writers talking about their work in progress (WIP). Last week, I got tagged by my awesome crit partner Alexandra Tys O’Connor. This week I pass the baton to a few other writer friends. All are wonderfully talented and one has just released her first novel! They will blog about Their Next Big Things on November 7, but for now, here’s the scoop about mine.

1- What is the working title of your book? Cynisca and the Olive Crown.

2- Where did the idea come from for the book? I was researching the ancient Olympics for an entirely different story, and I discovered Cynisca, an actual Greek princess involved in the Olympics. There’s not much information about her, but the facts I had were intriguing enough that I shelved the other project to work on her.

3- What genre does your book fall under? YA historical

4- Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Uhhh… dunno. Despite living in LA, I actually don’t watch a lot of American TV or movies. (Blame Japanese anime and Korean dramas).

5- What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? A Spartan princess seeks to prove herself by challenging a political adversary in the Olympic chariot race.

6- Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I have zero instinct for marketing. Meaning that I’m going the traditional route and am on the quest for an agency.

7- How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I tend to revise chapters as I go so it took about a year.

8- What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Shecter’s Cleopatra’s Moon. Both have grand ancient civilizations for settings and relatively unknown and unusual princesses as main characters.

9- Who or What inspired you to write this book? I have a soft spot for ancient Greek history. That and the answer to Question 2 above.

10- What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? A lame Spartan king (yes, there was one!), ancient Sparta beyond the armor and spears, royal scandal, sport rivalries, and horses, lots of horses.

Thanks so much for dropping by! Next up (Week 23) are some of my very talented writer friends. Check out their blogs next Wednesday when it’s their turn to post answers to these same questions about their own works-in-progress!

Riley Redgate

Stacy Stokes

Carrie Arcos (whose debut novel Out of Reach has just been released!)

A Tour of Japanese Pop Culture, Part 2: On the farm with Mother Bokujo!

I mentioned before that my Japan itinerary was “less-than-conventional,” and today’s post is about an attraction most non-Japanese tourists will never hear of: Mother Bokujo!

The only reason we went was because our State Department friends (with whom we stayed our first couple days in Japan) were taking their child and invited us to come along. From their descriptions, I thought it would be a little farm with an animal petting area for kids. It turned out to be a lot more. And a lot bigger.

Mother Bokujo (which translates to Mother Farms) is more like a theme park modeled after a county fair. They do produce their own dairy products (ice cream, cheese, milk) which they offer to visitors and have sheepdog and other animal demonstrations. But they also have a Ferris wheel, human-sized hamster balls for kids to run around in, and a dog-shaped bus that woofs as it goes by.

The idea behind Mother Bokujo is to give city kids a taste of country life. Tokyo being the highly urbanized, technologically advanced place it is, its inhabitants don’t experience much nature in their day-to-day lives (something folks in other major urban centers can relate to). So Mother Bokujo offers a chance to return and connect with rural life in the beautiful Chiba countryside.

Kids preparing for piglet chasing race.

And people come. We visited on a rainy Sunday, but despite the inclement weather, the place was packed with families. And Mother Bokujo definitely caters to kids with children’ programming, stroller parking lots, and a comfortable “family room” where mothers can nurse and do diaper changes.

It wasn’t the sort of place I expected to find, but Mother Bokujo is not unique in Japan. On our way through Gunma Prefecture, we saw a sign for Ikaho Green Bokujo, and though we didn’t drop by, I think I have a pretty good idea of what it’s like.

A Tour of Japanese Pop Culture, Part 1

It’s been a while since my last post, but there’s a very good reason for it. I’ve been on vacation. For me, that means no writing and going entirely offline. And by vacation, I don’t mean an extended weekend. My husband and I celebrated ten years of marriage with a 16-day trip to Japan.

We’d been planning this trip for years. Though in the aftermath of last year’s earthquake/tsunami we weren’t sure if we would go. Regarding our decision to travel there, it hinged mainly on a pair of friends who work for the US Embassy in Tokyo. At the time of the quake, they’d just had a baby, and the wife did leave the country with the child within a few days of the disaster. But after several weeks, they returned to Tokyo. We figured that if they felt Tokyo was safe enough for their child, it should be safe enough for us adults to visit.

Having made that decision, shopping for a tour was initially a bit of a challenge. Many agencies curtailed travel to Japan after the disaster, and the boutique anime/manga/otaku packages that we were interested in were particularly difficult to find. Fortunately, tourism to Japan picked up about a year after the quake, and we were able to cobble together the less-than-conventional trip we wanted.

While the areas hardest hit by the tsunami are still recovering, the places we visited – Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, and Atami – were fine. You would never have guessed they’d had a quake. So if you’re considering Japan as a travel destination, I’d recommend going. We had a grand time, and I’ll be posting later about maid and butler cafés, Hello Kitty’s theme park, hot springs, and a visit to a genuine school festival in the Japanese suburbs.

For now, I’ll leave you with photos of Japanese signage. Japanese is a very different language from English, but fortunately, the Japanese have a very visual culture. Plus, they translate a lot of their signs into English/Roman letters, which means English-speaking travelers can generally get around and receive vital information without too much difficulty. Their sense of style, however, is definitely different, which can lead to finding humor in the oddest places.

The warning’s almost poetic…

A flood warning sign (AIEEEE!!!!)

Research Ramblings: Horsey Sound Effects and the American Animal Lexicon

My current work in progress involves chariot racing, and given its substantial equine components, I’ve recruited the aid of horse owners Julie and The Boyz’ Mom to keep it real. (For more about them, read this post.) They love sharing about their horses, and hopefully you’ll get some entertainment out of our exchanges.

Once, during a manuscript swap, someone in my critique group commented on a word I used for a stable scene. The phrase in question was:

Squealing filled the air as thirty horses jostled and fought in the paddock.

He remarked that it sounded odd because “squeal” was a word he associated with pigs.

I certainly acknowledged his point. You’re more likely to see “squeal” in the context of pigs than horses. But I was intentional in selecting that word. Mainly because a couple months before I wrote that section, I was poking around researching at a stable, and an overly friendly pony scared the daylights out of me by running up and squealing at me.

Squealing, not whinnying. There is a difference.

It’s interesting how our lexicon has so many animal specific words to describe the noises they make. Dogs bark, howl, yap, or growl. Cats meow and purr. Sheep bleat. Horses have a larger list than most. They whinny, neigh, nicker, whicker, and occasionally snort. But any stable manager or groom can tell you that the range of noises they make go beyond this vocabulary.

For instance, horses grunt. Again, “grunt” is associated with pigs, but horses do it, too. I first time heard a horse grunting was at a show where one entry kept up a constant grunt-grunt-grunt the entire time she was in the ring. According to a lady familiar with that mare, that was a habit particular to that horse. When I mentioned it to my horse ladies, this is what they wrote back.

The Boyz’ Mom:

Titan grunts when he poops. They both make funny umph sounds when they are swimming in really deep water. Speaking of, when they poop while they are swimming it is hilarious.*Grunt* and in the wake “apples” floating.

If Titan is not in the mood to be bothered (like if it is really hot and someone stops to oogle him), he will grunt and stomp his foot as if to say GO AWAY.

When they are really happy and content, they make snuffy noises. Wrinkle up your top lip and do baby snorts with your nose and that is what it sounds like.

Julie:

Horses make all kinds of noises, so if you have a horse grunt or whine (yes, we have one that has a high pitched whine when he thinks he’s not getting a treat), it’s not wrong.  Steve makes a rumbling noise if you don’t bring his treat quickly enough after his lesson.  JP is the whiner.  Since Steve is next to JP, I always make sure that JP gets a treat, too, because he sounds so pathetic if you ignore him.

Snuffling, whining and rumbling! I guess this means the take-away message is that if you’re doing a story involving animals, it pays to spend time with an actual critter to get a feel for their “lingo.”

So to the animal owners out there, what kind of “out of category” noises do your beasties make?

Manga Review: Bakuman Vol. 13

Bakuman is the latest collaboration of Ohba and Obata, the creators of the wildly popular Death Note series. Unlike Death Note, Bakuman is more or less grounded in reality, but it is no less entertaining as it follows the ups and downs of a mangaka duo as they strive to make it big in the publishing world!

This series is a personal favorite of mine, and Viz Media has just released Volume 13. (My reviews of earlier Bakuman volumes can be found here.)

Back Cover Blurb

After being told their current series Perfect Crime Party will not be turned into an anime, Moritaka and Akito start planning on ways to create a second series. Their best chance might be to do well in a new contest where they will compete with their rivals over who can create the best romance story!

The Review

Considering they’re barely into their twenties, Team Ashirogi’s doing extremely well. They’ve gotten a couple titles under their belt and now have a hit series in a major magazine. Many mangaka would consider this success, but for Muto Ashirogi, it’s not enough. Moritaka needs an anime to marry Miho. Having been told that Perfect Crime Party will not be animated, they find themselves in a predicament. If they want an anime, they need to produce a completely new series for publication, but their hands are tied maintaining their current manga. The only solution: figure out how to work on two projects at once.

Ohba’s done a great job of creating new scenarios where Muto Ashirogi have to push beyond their capabilities. This time, Akito is stretching himself writing for artist Shiratori while maintaining Perfect Crime Party. Meanwhile, Moritaka is learning to become an author himself when he takes full responsibility for Muto Ashirogi’s one-shot for the Super Leaders Love Fest. There’s an added level of tension because their additional work forces them to be apart, straining their relationship. It also takes its toll on Akito’s marriage, and Kaya’s reactions to the weird vibe between Moritaka and Akito give readers a heightened sense of how emotionally charged the situation is.

On the other hand, the Super Leaders Love Fest provides fodder for a host of comic moments. Interestingly, it is not a Jump proposition, but a perfect storm of mangaka wanting to tackle romance and Fukuda catalyzing it all at the Jump New Year’s party. By the way, it is kind of cool to see Fukuda convince the editor-in-chief considering all his talk about changing Jump back when he was Eiji’s assistant. Everyone’s motivations for writing romance and their stories vary widely, and the Bakuman creators do a great job of building anticipation for those one-shots. As for the final Love Fest rankings, they are both surprising and satisfying.

Speaking of rankings, this volume includes the results of a character popularity poll taken by Jump. Interestingly, neither Moritaka nor Akito claimed first place, and Hiramaru actually ranked above Akito. For fans of the Otter #11 Creator, they’ll get to enjoy Hiramaru living out his own romantic comedy in Chapter 114. Yoshida’s done a pretty good job of manipulating Hiramaru, but this time Hiramaru turns the tables on his editor by sneaking out for a date with Aoki. Watching Hiramaru man up is hilarious, and although Aoki’s reactions are somewhat far-fetched, the whole scenario is such fun that it doesn’t matter.

In Summary

Bakuman serves up a nice blend of drama and comedy as Team Ashirogi strives toward creating a second series. The tension is reminiscent of when they nearly went separate ways in high school, but now readers get to see them handle the situation as adults with adult responsibilities. But even as Moritaka and Akito strain themselves to the breaking point, there are lots of laughs to be had as the participants of Jump’s Super Leaders Fest tackle a genre that’s a tricky sell in shonen manga – romance!

This title is highly recommended for young teens and up.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Book Review: Spartacus: Morituri

Spartacus is a popular TV series that depicts ancient Rome and gladiators in all their gory, violent glory. Now fans of the franchise can enjoy more of the Spartacus world as Titan Books is releasing novels based off the show, one of which is Spartacus: Morituri.

Back Cover Blurb

Batiatus and Solonius vie with each other for the favor of one Marcus Licinius Crassus, an Equites who aims at the Praetorship. Thrilled by the bloody violence of the fights, Crassus decides to set up his own gladiatorial school. In the arena, the Batiati are ground down by injury and death, while Crassus’ numbers never seem to shrink. Can the ludus survive against such odds?

The Review

Spartacus: Morituri is based off the Starz TV series, but familiarity with the show is not necessary to read the novel. I haven’t watched any TV episodes, but the bits of backstory in the narrative were sufficient for me to grasp the larger Spartacus arc. What did trip me up was some of the terminology and dialogue. It being a Roman period piece, Morris uses Roman terms for everything from rooms to gladiator weapons. While this should please enthusiasts of that era, not all the terms can be figured out from context, and the book provides no glossary. In addition, the characters speak in a kind of dialect. For example, this interchange takes place before a party between Lucretia and Ilithyia:

“Gods smile upon husband this day. He responds with raised voice in gratitude.”

“Spirits raise to hear the gods show generous heart,” Ilithyia said with a tinkling laugh. “But such bleating calls to mind sacrificial pig awaiting slaughter!”

I assume their speech is meant to reflect Latin sentence structure, but it does take some getting used to.

As to Morituri’s plot, it’s not so much an epic adventure as it is a tale of intrigue. The novel begins shortly after Spartacus has defeated Theokoles and become Champion of Capua and Batiatus’ ludus. But the focus, especially for the first half of the novel, is not so much on Spartacus and his fighting prowess, but the wheelings and dealings of his owner Batiatus, whose household is sliding into debt. The new lanista Hieronymus has come to Capua to debut his gladiators, the Morituri, and once Batiatus learns Hieronymus’ patron is the wealthy Roman nobleman Crassus, he’s desperate to curry Crassus’ favor. Batiatus comes off as a vulgar politician as he kisses up to his betters (often with little finesse); treats his lessers with contempt; and spews profanity within his home.

The intrigue ramps up once Batiatus and Hieronymus agree to a match with Batiatus’ fortunes weighing in the balance. A strange malaise falls upon Batiatus’ gladiators, affecting not only their bodies, but their minds. Nightmares afflict them, and the stable scenes are less about men training (though there are a couple passages about Spartacus perfecting his new two-sword technique) and more about the discord caused by their hallucinations. Making things worse is Mantilus, Hieronymus’ gladiator trainer, who exudes a demonic aura. With the ludus in disarray and the Morituri’s white-eyed, tattooed overseer lurking around, rumors of witchcraft run rampant, terrifying gladiators and Batiatus’ household alike.

Spartacus, though, is the notable exception. Despite his own eerie visions and sapped strength, he refuses to believe Mantilus possesses magic powers, with seemingly superhuman stubbornness. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is the one with enough presence of mind to figure out the truth behind Mantilus and the plague affecting the ludus.

Once the mystery is solved, what follows is a predictable plot for revenge. It is interesting though to see Solonius, Batiatus, Oenamus, and Spartacus working together, the lanistae to crush the one who’d nearly ruined them and the gladiators to avenge their fallen brethren. The three-way match in which they exact retribution turns the spotlight on the gladiator arena with intense, if harrowingly graphic, fight descriptions. For those wanting to read about blood on the sand, they will find it in those pages.

By the way, the cover blurb advertises Morituri as a “tale of blood, sex and politics.” There’s definitely politics with all of Capua trying to cozy up to nobleman Crassus. Morituri also delivers blood, though much of it comes in the form of nightmares and gladiators having crazed episodes in their stable. Regarding sex, there is sex aplenty with an orgy scene and Batiatus availing himself of his slaves, but it never comes into play as a tool for love or power. It just serves as part of the tawdry Roman background.

In Summary

Morituri is not epic but does provide a glimpse of Capua at its depraved worst with its citizenry vying for wealth and power on the backs of slaves, gladiators included. Pages abound with the machinations of Batiatus and his rivals, and although there are only two major gladiator tournaments, the story grips readers in a different way by besetting the city’s fiercest fighters with an enemy they cannot cut or even pinpoint.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Dengeki Daisy Vol. 10

Bad boy/good girl love stories are popular in shojo manga, and for those who enjoy a dash of cyber intrigue in their romances, Kyousuke Motomi’s Dengeki Daisy is worth checking out. Volume 10 has recently been released, and you can read on for the review. (Also, for those who are interested, you can click here for my reviews of earlier volumes).

The story centers on orphan Teru Kurebayashi, who, after the death of her beloved older brother, finds solace in the messages she exchanges with Daisy, an enigmatic figure who can only be reached through the cell phone her brother left her. One day, she accidentally breaks a window at school, and as  a result winds up becoming a servant for Kurosaki, the delinquent school custodian. Although brusque and rude, he somehow always shows up in her time of need, and Teru finds herself increasingly drawn to him.

Back Cover Blurb

A powerful organization that was after Kurosaki’s “Jack Frost” virus suddenly falls apart, but Kurosaki can’t rest easy since Akira was somehow involved. Furthermore, Akira tells Kurosaki that Teru is still a target! Can Kurosaki protect Teru from Akira’s menacing schemes?

The RevieW

Fans who prefer lighter high school fare will enjoy the first part of Volume 10. Chapter 45 is reminiscent of the early Daisy-looking-out-for-Teru-the-bullied-scholarship-student chapters. Chapter 46 entails a bunch of shojo silliness as Teru’s female friends try to guide her in getting her relationship with Kurosaki to progress. But although neither of these arcs involves Akira, the threat he poses constantly lurks in the back of our heroes’ minds, and not surprisingly, the focus returns to him in the second half of the book.

I mentioned in my review of Volume 9 that with so many issues settled, Motomi-sensei would have to shake things up to keep this title interesting, and she does that with a shift in Kurosaki’s attitude towards Akira. Just before Akira reenters the story, Kurosaki comes to term with everything Soichiro did for him. In one sense, he’s able to put to rest the guilt he’s been carrying, but in another sense, he comes to see Akira with new eyes. Whereas Akira was simply the enemy before, Kurosaki now wants to save him, but given the elevator stunt Akira pulls in Chapter 48, redeeming Akira will be a significantly long project. By the way, Motomi-sensei admits in an author’s note that Kurosaki’s rescue of Teru is improbable even to her but offers the justification that her editor gave.

Another thing Motomi-sensei does to increase tension is introduce a new element of romantic angst. In the spirit of unlikely shojo romances, she throws together Teru’s two friends that fit that bill the best: Rena and Kiyoshi. The attraction forming between the pair feels forced, and to be honest, I’m less interested in how things will play out between them and more interested in the third person involved in their romantic equation, Rena’s fiancé. He injects a new bit of mystery into the story with his connection to Akira, and I look forward to seeing how he might manipulate Rena to achieve his goals.

In Summary

Volume 10 serves up a couple of fluffy chapters where Teru’s main concern is high school finals and perfume before reverting back to cyber-related intrigue. While Akira’s psycho bad attitude is getting old, Motomi-sensei livens things in the intrigue department with Rena’s mysterious fiancé. Between him and the budding relationship between Rena and Kiyoshi, Dengeki Daisy looks as if it could go on for at least a couple more volumes.

First published at the Fandom Post.

50 Page Critique Giveaway!

Hey all, the awesomeness is building up in Deana Barnhart’s Gearing Up to Get an Agent (GUTGAA) Blogfest/Pitch Contest.  For those needing an extra pair of eyes on their manuscripts, GUTGAA attendee RuthAnne is giving away a 50-page critique! For more details, go to her website here.

By the way, the big agent pitch contest is coming up soon. It’s not too late to join in on GUTGAA so head over to Deana Barnhart’s site and sign up!

Gearing Up to Get an Agent (GUTGAA) Meet and Greet!

As mentioned in my earlier post, Deana Barnhart is hosting the Gearing Up to Get an Agent (GUTGAA) Blogfest/Pitch Contest this month. This week she’s kicking it off with the Meet and Greet Bloghop! For those participating in the bloghop (or just wanting to get to know me better), here’s my mini-bio:

Once upon a time, I was an engineer who spent my days writing dry technical reports in passive voice. Then I chanced upon anime fanfiction and decided to give it a try. That was my first foray into creative writing, and I’ve been writing fiction, mostly YA, ever since.

So far I’ve had three short stories published (you can find links to them on the side bar) and have just finished my second novel-length manuscript, a historical about the ancient Olympics. I still write non-fiction, mostly in the form of book and manga reviews for The Fandom Post. When I’m not writing, I’m usually spending quality time with my extraordinary husband in a Korean-style spa, cosplaying (hooray for anime conventions!), or plotting ways to make LA County a better place.

And here’s the answers to Deana Barnhart‘s questions:

Where do you write? In the kitchen, dining room, or community college library, whichever is quietest.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see? The microwave.

Favorite time to write? Whenever it’s quiet.

Drink of choice while writing? Hot water.

When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence? Silence.

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it? A footnote in history texts about ancient Olympic victors when I was researching ideas for another story.

What’s your most valuable writing tip? Keep a pen and paper handy in all rooms and wherever you go. Can’t tell you how many times inspiration has struck while I was in the shower.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #06

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has recently released the sixth volume of this series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous volumes).

Back Cover Blurb

As Holo and Lawrence begin the final leg of their journey, Lawrence decides to accompany Holo to her ancient home of Yoitsu, if only to forestall their parting just a bit longer. Boarding a ship from the port of Lenos (much to the chagrin of the wisewolf, who is none too fond of water!), the pair’s fate becomes entangled with that of a boy named Col, whose tale of his circumstances – combined with the gossip of the sailors – leads to a shocking revelation about Holo’s homeland!

The Review

Volume 6 is very much a transitional novel in this series. Previous volumes contained standalone business type stories under the larger arc of Holo’s journey home. So when Volume 5 ended with Lawrence swindled by Eve, I anticipated Holo and Lawrence cutting their losses and moving on to a new location and venture. Instead, Volume 6 continues the fur scheme with the two going after Lawrence’s former business partner, and even by the end of this book, the matter of Eve remains to be resolved.

This installment is also transitional in that this is the first time Lawrence and Holo have deliberately detoured from their search for Yoitsu. Up till now, they’ve been traveling steadily north, but having gotten so close to Holo’s homeland, something new has to arise for their journey together to continue. That change comes in the form of a new mission they seize upon after hearing rumors of suspicious Church activities and in the shift in Lawrence and Holo’s relationship.

I should note that Yen Press makes a critical (in my opinion) bit of rewording in Lawrence’s dialogue. In Volume 5′s epilogue, Lawrence kisses Holo’s cheek and says, “I like you,” which felt rather wishy-washy. But in Volume 6, that phrase (which comes up in a moment of reflection) gets translated as, “I love you.” That changes Lawrence’s confession into something much stronger and passionate, which is definitely necessary as the two engage in a not-exactly-lovers’-quarrel in Volume 6. As to the source of the quarrel, it is not surprisingly Lawrence’s fault, and like a new boyfriend blundering through his first relationship, he spends half the book trying to figure out why Holo is mad at him.

Another thing that sets the story apart from the others in the series is that the economics element isn’t as strong. There’s a kind of accounting mystery and some talk about coinage, but it’s more along the lines of a scammer’s tricks than business strategy. Plus, Lawrence isn’t directly involved in this scheme; he’s just trying to puzzle it together to while away the time as he and Holo travel downriver. The really annoying thing is that Hasekura-sensei doesn’t reveal the secret behind the extra chests of copper at the end. (And no, I haven’t been able to figure it out on my own.)

What Hasekura-sensei does give us is a new character in the cast. Originally from the north, the boy Col has his own mission, but he’s the type that’s book smart and street stupid. Lawrence and Holo come across him when he’s at the end of his rope, and when his plight arouses their sympathy, we get to see a hitherto unseen gentler side of Holo. Lawrence, for his part, has fun playing “master” to his “apprentice.” Also, Col, despite his desire to study Church law, has pagan roots and provides an interesting new perspective on the Spice and Wolf world.

This light novel includes the title page, three two-page spreads, and the table of contents printed in color as well as eight black-and-white illustrations. It also comes with a dust jacket that doesn’t match but mimics the cover illustration. (Ayakura’s cover illustration depicts Holo in peasant clothes, and the dust cover features a Holo cosplayer.)

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei mentions in the afterword that this volume “had fewer economic elements,” which I found to be the case. There is a bit of an accounting mystery, but our traveling duo’s lives and funds aren’t directly impacted by that scheme so the story lacks the energy and urgency other volumes have. Still, fans of the series will want to pick up this volume as Lawrence and Holo become entangled with the waif Col, and from the looks of it, he’s going to be a regular in the series.

First published at the Fandom Post.