Anexis Matos's Blog, page 6

The Rightful Bride Chapter 19

Stella approaches the tower, heart racing. Her face is neutral, but building a clone takes too much time. Time she doesn’t have.

She takes a deep breath and presses the red button.

“Yes?”

She blinks. Princess Eva’s voice is soft.

“Am I using this right?” she says, sounding slightly irritated. “I knew it was a bad idea to get this installed. The old way worked just fine.”

“I’m sorry,” Stella says. “I can hear you, My Lady. I was a little surprised.”

“Oh. Hello, Stella. My staff is off. It’s just me in the tower. Give me a moment to figure out how to let you in.”

“Of course.”

It takes a few minutes for the door to open.

“I’m in my sitting room, Stella,” she says.

Stella finds her way to the sitting room.

“I’m sorry, dear,” Princess Eva says. “I’m not well acquainted with the system. There’s also no tea today. I was not expecting anyone.”

Stella smiles, examining the princess’s face.

“You look very tired, My Lady,” she says.

“I just woke up from a nap,” Princess Eva says. “I’m alright.”

“Did you eat lunch?”

“I’m about to.”

“I’ll make you something.”

“Nonsense.” Princess Eva waves dismissively. “You’re my guest.”

Stella smiles.

“I’ll take care of it,” she says. “Finish waking up. What would you like?”

Princess Eva sighs.

“If you insist, my dear,” she says. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll show you around the kitchen.”

“It’s okay,” Stella says. “I’ll find my way.”

An hour later, Stella and the princess sit across from each other in her sitting room.

“Thank you, dear,” Princess Eva says.

“Of course,” Stella says.

She came with a purpose, but she’s not sure anymore.

“What brings you hear today?” the princess asks. “I’m sure you didn’t come to feed me. You wouldn’t know my staff is off today.”

“I didn’t know,” Stella says. “I assumed you had a weekend staff.”

“The palace does, yes, but I do not. It’s good to have the tower to myself sometimes. There are things I get to do without concern that my staff will gossip.”

Stella smiles, Mom Angela’s words coming to her.

“You must endear yourself to your staff, but there are things that you must not encourage. The main thing is gossip. The staff is practically invisible to the nobles, so they hear everything. They can start rumors that can potentially hurt you. Make certain your staff is discreet.”

Thankfully for Mom Angela, their staff was loyal. They were loyal to her father. When he married her, she was included. Mom Rita was included years later.

“Understandable, My Lady,” she says, “but are you okay by yourself?”

“Of course,” Princess Eva says. “My staff tends to cook for the weekend, but I also know how to cook. I rather enjoy being in the kitchen sometimes.”

Stella relaxes.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Princess Eva says, “you have a day off, too. I thought you would be enjoying yourself. It’s a lovely day. The rain finally stopped.”

Stella smiles. At least in her mortal form, the rain doesn’t affect her.

“I don’t really have many plans,” she says. “It’s very rare when I leave the palace grounds.”

The princess nods.

“Your plan is to visit me then?” she says.

Stella considers her words.

“Part of it,” she says. “I need your help.”

Oh? Is Stella about to tell her the truth?

“What can I do for you?” Eva asks.

“There’s something I want to do,” Stella says, “but I won’t be able to with my current position at the palace.” She pauses, considering. “It involves my safety.”

True. She must be attempting to figure out how to get involved in this contest. Well done, Harald.

“I’m not sure if this will work,” Stella says, “but it’s the only option I have right now.”

“And how can I help?” Eva says.

Stella takes a deep breath.

“Would it be possible,” she says, “to accept your offer, though I will only be able to work for this month? At least in-person. I can still work remotely.”

“What happens after this month?” Eva says.

“I need to arrange a few things to keep myself safe.”

“You’re being rather vague, Stella.”

“I’m aware. This is personal.”

Eva nods.

“Very well, Stella,” she says. “I’ll help you, but you will do something for me.”

Stella knew this wouldn’t be so simple. Why should it be?

“You owe me a favor,” the princess says, “and I expect you to do as I ask when the time comes.”

With no other choice, Stella nods.

“Due to what you have said,” the princess says, “I assume you’re accepting the position for lady-in-waiting.”

“Yes, My Lady,” Stella says.

“Very well. You’ll begin on Monday. When the month ends, do what you must do and I will cover for you.”

She sighs, only slightly relieved.

“Thank you, My Lady,” she says.

“Don’t thank me yet,” the princess says. “You haven’t completed your objectives.”

Stella smiles.

“Right,” she says. “Either way, thank you. Without you, I don’t think I would be able to even start it.”

“I hope it all works out for you,” the princess says.

“Me, too.”

They eat in silence for a few minutes. At least something is working.

“Since you’re here,” the princess says, “let’s discuss responsibilities. I’m sure you know them, but it’s worth going over them again.”

Every noble lady has a different set of responsibilities, but most stay the same.

“Of course, My Lady,” Stella says.

“You’re leaving me, darling,” Celia says.

Stella hugs the older woman.

“I’ll come visit,” she says. “I promise.”

“I know,” Celia says. “You’re also not leaving the palace. I hope you enjoy being her lady-in-waiting. It’ll be a new challenge for you.”

Her responsibilities are not too stressful. They’re the ones she expected.

“I’m sure it will be,” Stella says.

Finally, her certification can be put to good use. That’s a plus. Yeah, everything may go to hell, but that’s something.

“I’m very happy for you,” Celia says.

“I’m happy, too,” Stella says.

Stella picks up her backpack and leaves the palace for her new job.

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

Vows in Name Only by Naima Simone: I Thought They Would Be Married

I wasn’t sure whether to review this book or not. I have a rule to only review one book from a series in this blog. I review the entire series in my YouTube channel, unless it’s Crossfire. I only made one video for it because every review would be repetitive. Subscribe if you want to see more content from me.

YouTube

I decided to write it because, while it’s part of a series, Vows in Name Only can be considered a standalone. Each book follows a different character, so it doesn’t follow an overarching plot. Previously, I reviewed Black Sheep Bargain, the fourth book in this series. Check it out here if you’re interested.

Black Sheep Bargain

I’ll be reviewing the other books soon, so look out for that. As of writing, I just started Secrets of a One Night Stand.

Synopsis

Cain and Devon are pushed into an arranged marriage by Devon’s father through blackmail. Devon wants to keep the community center going. Cain wants to protect his mother’s reputation. With no choice, they agree to Devon’s father’s demands, but Cain makes sure Devon knows what to expect from him, only his name. As they fake their happiness for the public, their attraction and love grows.

Book Information

Genre: Romance
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: No
Explicit sex: Yes
Content warnings I noticed: None
This is the first in Billionaires of Boston.

Review

The prose is good. Easy and accessible to read.

The story is told in both Devon and Cain’s point of views. This is my favorite part of romance.

The pacing is fine. The subtitle is deceptive, suggesting that this romance is a slow-burn. This is not the case. It’s instalove. Granted, it’s done better than in most books, but it’s instalove.

Because it’s instalove, the pacing is much faster than it would be in a slow-burn romance. Slow-burn romances take their time with characters, allowing the love interests to interact more naturally. Most interactions in instalove romances feel forced and contrived in my opinion.

Unlike in slow-burn, the chemistry isn’t always there in instalove. I’m glad to say that there’s a lot of chemistry here. While it’s instalove, their love progression feels natural.

The themes are not as well explored as I would have liked, but they’re okay. They’re given an okay amount of page time. More could have been done to explore the theme of family issues and how it affects the love interests.

The characters are good. They’re interesting to follow and very likable. I would have loved to see more family dynamics between Cain and his mother. I also would have loved to see the same with Devon and her extended family.

While I think the romance is good, it does something I don’t necessarily love. A lot of romances do this, so I tend not to pay attention, but I don’t love this.

In the black moment, the couple usually breaks up. Usually because of some misunderstanding. Cue the miscommunication hate here. For the record, I don’t personally hate this trope, but I can see why others do.

Eventually, the one that messes up realizes what happened. They apologize to the person they love and it’s a big deal. They finally get together and it’s happily ever after.

This is fine, but what I don’t like is that we don’t get to see the in-between. We see the realization, but, after that, time flashes forward. For example, we see the scene where the love interests break up, the scene where Cain realizes he messed up, and, in the last chapter, we’re told that Devon is living on her own. He waits for her to leave her job and apologizes. They leave together after she accepts.

A week passed in between the time that he realizes he messed up and the apology. I don’t tend to like the time skip. We don’t see what happens in that time. I would love to see the work put in to the apology.

In my romance, I didn’t write the couple breaking up for my black moment. They had an adult conversation where they communicated their problems. However, I do want to write the scene where a couple breaks up. I’m going to try to write out what happens before the apology and the happily ever after.

Conclusion

Overall, it was a great story. I enjoyed reading it. It’s light and cute. I rate it four stars. Let me know your thoughtss in the comments.

The Rightful Bride Chapter 18

Rose nuzzles Harald’s cheek. He wakes.

“What time is it?” he says.

“It’s currently 07:00,” Lira says.

He stretches and Rose screeches, nuzzling his cheek.

“I’m awake,” he says. “We’ll have breakfast in a few minutes.”

She shifts closer, settling her head in his chest.

“Are you feeling better?” he says.

She nods.

“That’s good,” he says.

She examines his face. He still looks tired. She’s been waking him up a lot, but the rain is gone now. She’ll be okay for a while.

“Breakfast will be brought in a few minutes,” Lira says.

“Alright,” he says. “Thank you, Lira.”

He sits up, shifting Rose.

“Can you get ready?” he says.

She nods, nuzzling his cheek. She flies off the bed.

He’s dressed for the day when Rose returns. She flies to his shoulder and they enter the dining room.

“Good morning,” Mother Irina says.

Rose flies to her and nuzzles her cheek. She does the same for Natalie.

“I’m glad you’re better, Rose,” Mother Irina says.

Harald sits and Rose flies to the chair beside him.

“We saw the announcement,” Mother Natalie says. “This should grab her attention. So, do you have the form ready?”

“It is,” he says. “It’ll come out on schedule.”

“Very good. We’ve been taking care of the plans for the ball. Everything’s going well.”

He nods as the dining room door opens. A tray is placed at the center of the table.

“Thank you,” he says.

Rose screeches in excitement when the dishes are uncovered. Irina smiles.

“Yes,” she says. “The kitchen made your favorite today.”

She devours everything she can. She’s careful when she drinks her milk. She moves to Harald’s lap when she’s done.

“Mother,” he says, “are you going to be okay with the amount of recording that’s going to happen?”

“Of course,” Mother Irina says.

“Yes,” Mother Natalie says. “Many have begun to remove their children from the palace.”

“What about Grandmother?” he says.

“She hasn’t said anything yet,” Mother Irina says, “but I think she’ll be alright.”

Harald nods, resolving to see her today.

“We need to keep Rose away from the cameras,” Mother Natalie says.

“We will,” he says. “If it’s not possible, we’ll edit her out or blur her face.”

“People won’t be allowed to record, yes?”

“Correct.”

“Good.”

“You’ve finally come to visit.”

Harald hugs his grandmother, kisses her cheek, and sits beside her. Rose flies to her and nuzzles her cheek.

“Hello, Rose,” she says.

Rose flies to the window.

“So,” she says, “you’re looking for a bride.”

He nods and explains.

“I see,” she says. “The reality show style is to get her attention.”

“Yes,” he says.

Eva nods, smiling to herself. If he only knew his bride has been in the palace for years.

“I believe it will work,” she says. “She knows she’s your rightful bride.”

Rose flies to Harald, curling up in his lap. She lays her head in his shoulder, burying her face in his shirt.

“Are you going to sleep?” he asks.

She nods, closing her eyes.

“In any case,” Grandmother says, “I would have loved to be involved in this plan.”

He smiles.

“I know,” he says. “I’m sorry. It was very last minute.”

“I can still be involved,” she says. “I had a lady’s maid play the announcement. I think you’ll gather a lot of interest. The least I can do is keep an eye on Rose for you during the day. It’s best if she remains away from the cameras.”

“Thank you, Grandmother. I would appreciate that very much.” He shifts Rose. “I’d rather keep her from prying eyes.”

“Lady Elena is welcome to come with her.”

He nods.

“I already warned her there would be a lot of people in the palace,” he says.

“Will they meet her?” she says.

“I’m not sure yet. It’ll depend on the vibe.” He pauses. “I’ll prepare her for staying with you while I find Alice.”

“I’m sure she’ll be alright.”

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanoa: I Need More Cozy Fantasy in My Life

When I first heard of this book, I was immediately interested. Witches hiding in the real world in plain sight? Cool. Sign me up.

I read the book in three days. I was hooked by the first few lines. I need more cozy fantasy in my life.

Synopsis

Witches are not to get together. Only alone can they survive, but, one day, Mika Moon receives a message that transforms her isolated life. She travels to meet an unusual family and be the tutor for three young witches, but one person considers her a threat.

Book Information

Genre: Fantasy
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: No
Explicit sex: One scene
Content warnings I noticed: None
This is a standalone.

Review

The prose is great. Accessible and easy to read. It’s also very funny in places.

The story is told in several point of views. I wish the children had point of views, but they don’t for some reason. It would have been very interesting to see the situation from their eyes. We see it through their dialogue, but we never get to see their thoughts.

There’s a lot of telling. It didn’t bother me. I’m perfectly happy with the amount of show and tell.

The pacing is good. It’s not too slow or too fast. The medium pace is perfect. All the events are built up to.

The themes are explored very well. They’re given enough time on the page. My favorite is the exploration of the difference between being kind and being nice. You don’t have to be nice in order to be kind. I appreciate the difference being highlighted.

The characters are amazing. They’re beautiful angels. I love them so much. Individually, they’re great. They’re dynamic as a family is everything.

The romantic plotline is very well written. I love this romance. When they finally got together, I was very happy.

Conclusion

Overall, this story is amazing. I need more of this in my life. It’s so wholesome and sweet. I rate it five stars. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

The Rightful Bride Chapter 17

Duchess Angela held her first tea yesterday. According to those invited, it was quite the event.

“It was very well organized,” Lady Jane said. “I really enjoyed my time. The duchess is wonderful.”

Unfortunately, this was the only positive comment.

“It was rather scandalous,” Duchess Olivia said. “She had most of us escorted out of the house for harmless teasing.”

For a new duchess to do such a thing is quite scandalous. She has no idea of how noble society works. She only has her opinions.

High society is a balance of good intentions and sacrifice. Any noble in high society must be able to determine when to do something. They can’t simply do things like this.

Teasing is normal among nobles. Why would the duchess take it so personally?

“She’s new,” Duchess Olivia said. “I would be willing to forgive her, but I would require an apology. I’m certain everyone else would also forgive her and be willing to bring her into our circle.”

A merciful duchess, as you can see. Mistakes are expected when someone new joins high society.

Duchess Angela has not commented on this. We’ve reached out, but a representative stated that she won’t be speaking to us. However, surprisingly, the queen chose to comment.

“I was invited to Duchess Angela’s tea,” Queen Natalie said. “Unfortunately, I was unable to attend. Hopefully, I will be able to attend future ones. She is my best friend, after all.”

It makes sense why she feels comfortable causing scandal. She has the favor of the queen. She has nothing to fear.

“When you are invited to an event,” the queen said, “it’s important to be polite. You’re bound by your host’s rules and decisions. If you choose not to be polite to other guests, you risk the chance of displeasing them. I see no reason for Duchess Olivia to complain. It’s her own fault she was escorted out of the house.”

I predict that this statement will be the talk of court and forums. The queen has actively declared where she stands on the situation, something she rarely does. She doesn’t interact with scandal.

It’s safe to say the duchess’s first impression isn’t good. Hopefully, she’ll learn from her mistakes.

Angela laughs. They think this was a mistake. How cute.

A message from Oliver pops up on her screen.

Oliver: What the hell happened? I just read the article.

Angela smiles, replying.

Angela: Nothing special. I got rid of most of my guests before the hour hit.

Oliver: Noted. Why?

She tells him about the event.

Oliver: Oh. I see.

Angela: The article is hilarious. They think I made a mistake.

Oliver: If they only knew you.

Angela: I know, right?

A message from Lady Jane pops up on her screen.

Lady Jane: You probably shouldn’t read the article. It’s not good.

Angela: I already read it. It’s hilarious.

Lady Jane: What? Did you and I read the same article?

Angela: I’m sure we did. I found it hilarious. They think I made a mistake. I didn’t.

It takes a moment for Lady Jane to reply.

Lady Jane: Okay. If you say so.

Angela: I’m thinking that scandal suits me.

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

Sorry about no chapter last week. I had some weird technical difficulties. Weirder than usual. There should be a chapter next week, though.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

The Rebel’s Redemption by Kira Sinclair: Get Out of My Personal Space! Boundaries!

I was excited to read this romance. However, upon finishing it, I had two opposite reactions. Because this is friends to lovers, I thought the concept was cool. It’s so cute that they’re getting back together after such a terrible event. This reaction makes sense. I love the friends to lovers trope. It’s adorable.

The other half of me was extremely anxious. I had a visceral reaction to the male love interest. I kept screaming for him to get out of my personal space. I’m pretty sure that’s not a reaction any romance author wants. I’m writing romance and I hope that, when I publish it, I won’t get such a terrible reaction from my readers. I want them to be happy by the end.

Synopsis

Anderson Stone is finally out of prison and is welcomed home by his family. He’s also welcomed home by Piper, his childhood best friend and the woman he loves. The one he went to prison to protect.

Book Information

Genre: Romance
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: No
Explicit sex: Yes
Content warnings I noticed: Discussions of sexual assault, discussions of physical abuse, violation of boundaries, attempted kidnapping, and infantilization
This is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Review

The prose is good. Accessible and easy to read. I’m glad the prose is as good as it is. I didn’t continue reading this romance for the plot.

The story is told in Stone and Piper’s point of views. Both point of views are written in third person past. One of the cons I’ve found about writing in third person past is that there’s a distance between the character and reader. While there’s supposed to be urgency, it doesn’t read that way because of the distance.

In theory, this romance would have made sense to me. It’s friends to lovers. They’ve loved each other for some time and it’s clear on the page that their feelings are reciprocated. However, I can’t not acknowledge the problematic aspects of this romance. I think it’s important to acknowledge these issues for readers who may not want to read romance that contains these problems. I’m not suggesting people shouldn’t read this book. Whatever you read is up to you.

The things I want to talk about involve violation of boundaries, breaking in, infantilization, and attempted kidnapping. Take care of yourselves and skip this section if it might trigger you. I don’t plan to go in depth, but keep this in mind.

With all that said, the first thing we need to talk about is the miscommunication trope. I don’t hate the miscommunication trope. Tropes in general aren’t bad. Their execution can be terrible, but tropes are not.

I’ve talked about how the miscommunication trope can be a very plot convenient way to keep love interests apart. This is especially the case in a friends to lovers romance where it makes no sense. They’re very close friends, so why wouldn’t they be able to communicate about their feelings? It also doesn’t help that the reason given is flimsy at best. This is why it makes sense to me that a lot of readers hate this trope. It’s usually not written in a way that works.

I didn’t think the miscommunication trope could be written in a worse way, but I was wrong. I don’t know why I thought this was the case. I’ve read Twilight. Fifty Shades of Grey. I’ve been exposed to terrible content.

The miscommunication here has horrifying implications. Piper communicates her boundaries from the beginning. What does Stone do? He ignores them and does whatever he wants. He refuses to listen to what she wants and, on page, it’s very clear that he thinks she doesn’t know what’s best for her. That he knows better.

This slowly evolves into him telling her what to do and she agreeing, supposedly because he’s right, something the narrative presents to be the case. He warns her not to speak to a reporter and she does, only for it to blow up in her face. Since she didn’t listen, he breaks into her house when she refuses to open the door for him and attempts to kidnap her. She eventually agrees to go with him because of the reasons he gives, but she’s rightfully angry.

This is so infantilizing. As I said, the way Stone thinks about Piper is like she doesn’t realize what’s best for her. Most of her decisions are presented by the narrative as mistakes. It doesn’t help that the author seems to be trying to give Piper agency. Instead of presenting a confident character, the author constantly infantilizes her through Stone, removing her agency.

Stone makes a terrible love interest because, even when he takes accountability, it feels like it doesn’t matter. He continues to disregard her wishes and can’t seem to understand what he’s doing. He is very irritating. Throughout the story, he does things like grab her wrist and force her to talk to him when she tries to leave a conversation she doesn’t want to be in. When she agrees with him, it reads like he’s slowly breaking her down.

I felt very uncomfortable reading this romance. I thought it would be cute, but it turned into a horrifying nightmare. I finished reading this book because the prose is great and I really wanted to review it.

In the horror, I found something hilarious. I find a lot of writing in romance to be really weird. Descriptions are especially strange. Romance is mainly written by women, so, of course, men are written through the female gaze. Sometimes, it’s so obvious like when, in the man’s point of view, a woman is described looking like “Pure sex.” I don’t know what that means. She’s wearing a short dress and looking great. Why do you have to sexualize her like that?

This is more obvious to me in category romance. I notice it less in fantasy romance, but I’m sure it’s there. Most of the fantasy romance I read involve fae and other magical creatures. In category romance, men specifically are written in a way that presents them like beasts. It reads like a very stereotypical way of presenting men.

With all this said, I don’t know what to think about this line. The line is, “The hot cradle of her sex settled over the hard ridge of his desire for her.” This is one of the things that I can’t stand when I read romance novels. It’s so hard to take it seriously.

This is a very fast-paced romance. Nothing is fully built up. Everything happens so quickly and there’s no time to breathe. This is not always a problem with category romance, but it can be.

There’s one theme that comes up in the story. Unfortunately, it reads like it’s mostly added for shock value. Some of it can be blamed on the writing, but a lot of it can be blamed on the style of category romance.

A content warning for sexual assault and physical abuse. Take care of yourselves and skip to the conclusion if this might trigger you. I don’t plan to discuss this in depth, but keep this in mind.

It’s revealed in the first few chapters that Stone went to prison for killing Piper’s stepbrother. He walked in on him sexually assaulting her. It’s also revealed that her stepbrother was hitting her at random moments.

It’s possible to write romance without exploring difficult subjects. If the sexual assault and physical abuse was mentioned and never touched on again, it would have been fine. It would have been a great romance where they’re trying to move on from what happened. However, it’s not that. The sexual assault is added for shock value. For drama. This is what soap operas tend to do.

This is very insensitive. It takes away from how traumatic the experience actually is. This is horrible. I have a hard time enjoying a romance that does this.

I fully admit that I’ve enjoyed very problematic content. Very insensitive representation of trauma and other things. However, I can acknowledge the problems while still enjoying this content. It’s hard to enjoy something like this in romance because of the way it’s written. This looks like it’s supposed to be a healthy romance, but it tiptoes very close to dark romance. If you’re going to write a dark romance, go for it, but don’t add these unhealthy elements to a healthy romance.

The story also makes it seem as though the assault made her stronger. During the romance’s black moment, Piper thinks, “Before, she’d been a scared, damaged girl who hadn’t known how to fight for what she wanted. Now she was a strong woman, certain about what she wanted and determined enough to do whatever it took to get that.” This feels so mishandled. This reads like she wouldn’t have grown if she wasn’t assaulted.

Unfortunately, this is a common problem in category romance. Category romances are short. Stories are compressed to fit a specific word count, usually 40000 to 60000 words. It doesn’t allow for exploration of difficult themes. When authors attempt to explore difficult themes, it’s rarely executed well in a category romance. Single-title romances are better for this.

The characters aren’t very layered. They’re pieces for the author to move around as the plot requires. I’m more irritated with Stone, but Piper irritates me, too.

Piper is written to have agency. She’s supposed to be very independent, but the author takes away her agency by making her agree with everything Stone suggests. She first puts up a fight, but inevitably agrees. It doesn’t prove she has agency. It proves she’s easily influenced.

I’ve mentioned how badly sexual assault was handled as a whole, but there’s still one more aspect. Instead of making the trauma about something that affected Piper, the author made it affect Stone. In one scene, Piper asks him why he doesn’t want her to reveal the truth to the reporters. He tells her that he needs the last 10 years he spent in prison to matter.

I’m sorry? What the fuck? This isn’t about Stone. This traumatic experience didn’t happen to him.

Yes, situations can be traumatic for multiple people. However, it’s not fair to take someone else’s trauma and make it yours. It’s not. You may have gone through something, but the person who suffers the situation is the one who has to deal with the consequences, not you.

The assault is also used as a tool for Stone’s guilt. He feels guilty that he couldn’t protect Piper, so he cut her out of his life the moment he went to prison. He’s also about to cut her off again by the end.

The black moment is, of course, a misunderstanding that makes it seem like they’re going to break up. I didn’t feel any tension because they’ve had misunderstandings throughout the entire story. The one thing I like about this black moment is that it was resolved immediately. The one thing I hate is that Piper went after Stone and he didn’t apologize for any of the things he did. It’s not even acknowledged.

There’s one more storyline in this book, but it’s barely worth mentioning. It’s a sort of mystery. The reporters get a picture and Piper and Stone are thrust into the spotlight even more than they already were. This story line focuses on finding out who is giving information to the reporters.

I won’t spoil who it is, but it makes no sense. The character’s motivation is not established. Nothing is foreshadowed. It’s stupid by the end.

Conclusion

Overall, this story wasn’t great. It was uncomfortable and not romantic at all. I rate it two stars. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Author’s Note

Hey, everyone! I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Do you have any other books you’d like me to review? Let me know in the comments.

If you’d like to support me, there are two ways you can do so. First, consider getting my debut book. It’s available in eBook and audiobook format.

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Thanks for reading! I’ll see you soon.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

I’m surprised I didn’t hear about this series on YouTube. Bridgerton is very popular and I’ve watched at least a few videos on it. I believe I found it while browsing Netflix. I put it on my queue after Queen Cleopatra. It took me about two days to finish the six-episode series.

I don’t think I’ve talked much about Bridgerton, but I’m a huge fan. I’m not a fan of the books, but the show is great. So far, I’ve read two of the books and both were terrible in their own way. I’ve watched both Bridgerton seasons and they’re a lot more interesting.

Bridgerton is very diverse, as is Queen Charlotte. However, the books are not. From a clip of an interview I heard, Julia Quinn says that they didn’t make the books diverse because they would have to explain how, say, a white woman fell in love with a black man during the period of history they’re writing in. Um… no. I get that Bridgerton is historical fiction, but that’s no excuse. It’s still fiction and if this is the excuse you use, then it proves to me that, as an author, you fail to use your imagination.

This is the one thing that bothers me. Julia Quinn is making money on diversity they didn’t create. It’s irritating because, in my opinion, they don’t deserve it. They didn’t put in the work, but they’re earning money from it.

When I review, I separate authors from art. I plan to do that here, but I wanted to mention this in case it bothers anyone else. Also, I know that there are people who don’t or can’t separate the two. Since I found out this information, I feel it’s important to share it in case others don’t want to consume this series for this reason.

Synopsis

Married against her will to King George, Charlotte attempts to secure her new position as England’s queen. In this Bridgerton prequel, we follow the queen’s love story as well as following a present story where she attempts to secure an heir from her children so their line may continue.

Series Information

Genre: Drama
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: Yes
Explicit sex: Yes
Content warnings I noticed: Graphic child birth and torture

Review

The writing is great. It’s very well paced and events are built up to. The two main storylines are balanced. However, there should have been more time spent on the storyline happening in the present. At least two more episodes would have helped the series.

As a Bridgerton fan, I’m not very happy with the romance. Bridgerton’s first season didn’t present a great romance, but we saw the second season. The second season of Bridgerton is the standard for what we should expect. It’s better than the first season and, if Bridgerton becomes a franchise as I believe it may, season two so far has the best writing.

I find the romance comes out of nowhere. For most of the series, Charlotte and George are attracted to each other. Their main reason for having sex is to produce an heir. Eventually, it evolves into mutual pleasure, but that’s not enough to make a romance.

This could have been fixed if George spent more time with her. It has all the elements of a forced proximity romance. The arranged marriage with the goal to produce heirs is perfect for this. They have no choice but to spend time together until the child is conceived or is born. This element is introduced, but they keep Gorge away for the majority of the series, so the execution doesn’t fully work.

The romance feels more like instalove. Both characters have chemistry, so it helps. This could have worked if maybe they were not fully in love by the end. Instead, they start to have feelings for each other and choose to try to build a life together. As the years pass, their love grows.

It feels like instalove, but it’s obvious it’s supposed to be a slow-burn romance. I just didn’t work out that way. By the end, they choose to build a life together, but they’re already in love, not just having feelings for each other. I don’t know. I love them, but I don’t love this.

I love Lady Danbury’s arc. Like Charlotte, she’s trying to find a place in this new society. Both find themselves women in a place that doesn’t allow women to be who they are. That doesn’t allow them desires, so they make sacrifices for even a bit of power.

While this seems to be a Bridgerton prequel, I recommend watching Bridgerton first. There’s a present storyline that takes place after season two of Bridgerton, so some things will make more sense if you’ve watched it. I don’t think it’s completely necessary to watch Bridgerton before this one, but it might give you more context.

Because we spend more time in the past, the second storyline doesn’t have a lot of time to shine. Charlotte is older in the second storyline and is forcing her children to produce an heir. The most interesting part of this storyline is that she understood the one thing that Augusta did years ago. She’s forcing on her children what was forced on her and George for the greater good. What happened in the past is repeated in the present and she now has to deal with the consequences.

The one thing that’s touched on is how Charlotte’s children feel about her. However, while it’s addressed, it’s never resolved. It’s touched on in one scene. This is why I think at least two more episodes would have been great.

I love Lady Danbury’s present storyline with Violet. It does what Charlotte’s storyline attempts to do much better. It reflects on younger years and the differences between their past and present selves.

I really love the ending. Remember how I mentioned the idea of love growing? This is an element that’s introduced in the present line. Seeing the older Charlotte and George in the last few scenes is so cute.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a great story. I have my issues with it, but I ultimately enjoyed it. I can’t wait for Bridgerton season three. I rate it three stars.

Audio Description

This section will focus on a critique of the show’s audio description. For those unaware, audio description is a separate audio track added to visual media that describes visual aspects. It’s mainly intended for blind and visually impaired audiences, but it can benefit and be enjoyed by anyone.

I’m very excited to discuss this audio description. It follows a similar style to Bridgerton, but there are certain elements that it either applies better or the same way.

Review

The writing is good. I believe International Digital Center also wrote the Bridgerton audio description, but I can’t be sure. The word choice fits the audience it targets. The language is very similar to Bridgerton.

The descriptions are very good. For the most part, I enjoy the amount of detail. However, I didn’t enjoy the character descriptions. The only physical feature mentioned is skin color or ethnicity. I don’t find that to be enough. Maybe mention hair color and age category as well. Bridgerton did something like this when describing characters.

Clothes are described very regularly. However, attention is mainly paid to Charlotte’s gowns. George’s clothing doesn’t get as much attention. If clothing is going to be described, pay attention to all main characters. In a lot of the audio description I’ve critiqued, I’ve noticed that there seems to be a lot of attention paid to women’s clothing. Men’s clothing is less likely to be described.

There is some setting description. I would have loved a little bit more. Because the series is based on historical events, it would have been really interesting to know what places looked like.

I’ve mentioned before how audio described sex is extremely boring. Most of the time, describers sound like they’re reading a technical manual. In one of my critiques I begged for audio description writers to read romance novels. The wording is usually the same.

All this said, I enjoyed the descriptions of sex scenes in this show. They’re a lot better than Bridgerton from what I remember. While a lot of the same words are being used, more detail is given. In one scene, Charlotte’s body is described as “pliant.” These are details that I haven’t seen in the audio described sex scenes I’ve listened to.

When it comes to audio described sex scenes, the bar is low. It’s in hell. You have to crawl right under it to find something even worth listening to. Considering how low the bar is, this is the bare minimum for good audio described sex scenes. At least it has details, so it’s enjoyable.

The describer’s vocal performance is engaging. They have a very neutral voice and are not distracting. They’re not so neutral that they’re forgettable. The same describer narrates Bridgerton.

I’ve been consuming audio description since 2017. Most of the performances are the same. I’ve noticed that some describers make small changes depending on tone, but the performance is standard. I would like to see more creativity on performance. There are tense moments in the show, but the describer doesn’t change his tone even slightly to signify a change in mood.

The audio description is edited well. The describer doesn’t interrupt dialogue. They allow the viewer to appreciate music and silence.

Currently, Netflix offers the series audio described in English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. As the series is not audio described in all the languages it’s offered in, Netflix is excluding viewers.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a good audio description. I very much enjoyed listening to it. I’ll rewatch the series in Spanish and let you know what I think about that audio description. I rate it three stars. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

The Rightful Bride Chapter 16

Angela smiles at Lady Jane.

“That good, huh?” Lady Jane says.

Angela laughs.

“Yes,” she says. “It was a beautiful whirlwind romance.”

Lady Jane nods.

“I’m happy for you,” she says. “I hope you continue to be happy.”

“Thank you,” Angela says. “I appreciate your good wishes.”

They talk for an hour, slowly going through all the food. Lady Jane is happy to tell her about court.

“I don’t attend court often,” she says, “but the queen is very kind to me. She includes me in her social events when I’m there and sends me an invitation for anything she plans. The rest of the court is hit or miss. It all depends how they feel about tradition.”

Angela nods.

“I assume,” she says, “the older members believe tradition must be maintained.”

“Some,” Lady Jane says. “Not all. Most believe tradition should be maintained in certain areas, but not all.”

“How do they feel about you? Other minor nobles?”

“They treat us well. They don’t distinguish between themselves and minor nobles. The main traditions they want to maintain are arranged marriages and their titles to be passed to their heirs once they abdicate or die. However, they make exceptions. If a family member does not consent to an arranged marriage, it doesn’t go through. If a family member doesn’t want the title, they pick another heir or relinquish it to the crown.”

They both follow court forums. They discuss the latest gossip.

“You should probably attend court soon,” Lady Jane says. “From what I’ve been reading, they want to meet you.”

“I will eventually,” Angela says. “Maybe next social season.”

Angela accompanies Lady Jane to the door when their tea is over.

“Call on me any time,” Angela says. “I’d love to see you again.”

“As would I,” Lady Jane says. “Come visit me.”

Lady Jane gives Angela her address.

“We’ll make plans,” Angela says.

She assures herself that Lady Jane gets into her runner before closing the door.

“Well,” Kala says, “you’ll definitely make an impression.”

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

Child of Death Volume 1: Daughter of Death Audiobook

With my book being live, I wanted to share my audiobook. I made it available for free on YouTube in order to offer wider access to my debut. For those who haven’t checked out my book yet, find it below.

Audio Description of Next in Fashion

I wasn’t sure I would watch this show, but it came up in my Netflix feed and I was bored. By the end of the first episode of the second season, I realized it was a good idea. Maybe it’ll give me some ideas for clothing descriptions in my stories.

I watched this show in two days and was somewhat surprised by the audio description. It was a lot more detailed than I expected it to be. There was also something I didn’t expect. For those unaware, audio description is a separate audio track added to visual media that describes visual aspects. It’s mainly intended for blind and visually impaired audiences, but can be enjoyed by and benefit anyone.

Series Premise

Designers enter this contest for a life-changing opportunity. Their designs are judged by the hosts as well as special guests.

Series Information

Genre: Reality TV
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: No
Explicit sex: No
Content warnings I noticed: None

Review

The writing is very good. The language fits the adult audience it targets. I could be wrong, but I think the word choice is similar to Queer Eye. It’s been some time since I watched it, so I can’t be sure.

The descriptions are very detailed. People are not described, but all the clothing is. Every look on the runway is described in a lot of detail while maintaining simplicity, making it easy to follow. I’m very impressed. Well done, Descriptive Video Works.

Okay. So, I’m going to nitpick here. This may not bother other people, but it does irritate me. I’ve seen it in other shows, but Netflix tends not to do this on their original content, so I’m not sure why this is a thing.

The describers’ vocal performance is engaging. Yes. Describers. There are currently two seasons and each is narrated by a different describer. I’ll explain why I don’t like this in a moment, but, first, let’s talk about the individual describers.

Season one is narrated by a male describer. Their performance is engaging while being neutral. However, while I was engaged, I didn’t enjoy this narration style. The engagement feels forced. It feels as though he would have been invisible and distracting, had it not been for the kind of show this is. I don’t think he was the right choice. Performance should feel natural.

Season two is narrated by a female describer. Their performance is extremely engaging and it fits the show’s tone so much better. Their performance drips with excitement. It flows so naturally. I love it so much.

The problem with having descriptions narrated by different describers is that the performances are hit or miss. It lacks consistency, so the viewer is never sure what kind of narration they’re going to get. Criminal Minds has this problem for the first 11 seasons. I’ve watched it twice and, with such different styles of narration, it can be a bit shocking going from one describer to the other. I started Next in Fashion with season two and assumed the female describer would narrate season one, but was shocked when the first episode of season one began and there was a male describer.

If possible, it’s best to remain with one describer. There will be consistency, whether the performance is good or bad. There will be less of a shock and, if it’s a show, viewers know what to expect.

The audio description is edited well. The describers don’t interrupt dialogue or commentary. Viewers are able to appreciate music and silence.

Currently, Next in Fashion is audio described only in English. The series is offered in several other languages. Netflix, stop it. You continue to exclude viewers by doing this. We pay money. i’m tired.

Conclusion

Overall, this audio description is good. I enjoyed half of it, but I didn’t want to quit, so we’re fine. I rate it three stars. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.