Ry Herman's Blog, page 3

Coming Soon!

My book This Princess Kills Monsters comes out in just over a month AAAAA I’m so excited!

Favorite Books — April 2025

The standout book of the month for me was…

THE RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar

In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, dwells the mysterious Hawthorn family. There, they tend and harvest the enchanted willows and honor an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None more devotedly than the family’s latest daughters, Esther and Ysabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the ancient trees.

An exquisitely told fairy tale. Sometimes, that’s all I want. Quite often, actually, now that I think about it.

Other fabulous books I read this month included A MOST AGREEABLE MURDER by Julia Seales, A DROP OF CORRUPTION by Robert Jackson Bennett, GLORIOUS EXPLOITS by Ferdia Lennon, FAITHBREAKER by Hannah Kaner, DIMENSION OF MIRACLES by Robert Sheckley, RAVENSONG by Cayla Fay, and THE NARROW by Kate Alice Marshall.

Yay!

This Princess Kills Monsters got a nice review from Publishers Weekly!

“This charming, comic take on the Brothers Grimm’s ‘The Twelve Huntsmen’… takes readers on an irreverent tour of fairy tale tropes through the eyes of a wonderfully snarky princess… Herman zeroes in on the hilarious absurdities of fairy tales writ large while crafting a queer heroine full of heart and self-confidence. Readers are sure to be won over by the cleverly deployed archetypes, snappy prose, and rollicking adventure.”

Favorite Books — March 2025

There are two fantastic books I want to highlight this month:

THE WINGS UPON HER BACK by Samantha Mills

After twenty-six years of service, Zemolai is disillusioned with her role as an enforcer in an increasingly fascist state. Following one tragic act of mercy, she is cast out, and loses everything she worked for. As Zemolai fights for her life, she begins to understand the true nature of her sect, her leader, and the gods themselves.

Abusive relationships, cults, organizations, and political leaders all share the same tactics. Isolation, love-bombing, demonization of others, intermittent reinforcement, high exit cost, physical and emotional abuse. Because those tactics work very well. In this stunning debut novel, Samantha Mills explores the process of this kind of programming and ultimate, difficult disillusionment, all set against the backdrop of a fascinating sff world. If you couldn’t tell, I really liked this one.

STAR EATER by Kerstin Hall

Elfreda Raughn will avoid pregnancy if it kills her, and one way or another, it will kill her. Though she’s able to stomach her gruesome day-to-day duties, the reality of preserving the Sisterhood of Aytrium’s magical bloodline horrifies her. She wants out, whatever the cost. So when a shadowy cabal approaches Elfreda with an offer of escape, she leaps at the opportunity. As their spy, she gains access to the highest reaches of the Sisterhood, and enters a glittering world of opulent parties, subtle deceptions, and unexpected bloodshed.

This one was really stunning. A fantastic book for anyone who likes being thrown into a strange and fascinating world with little to nothing explained. And I’m definitely in that group.

Other great books I read included COMPOUND FRACTURE by Andrew Joseph White, THE BLUEST EYE by Toni Morrison, LUDLUDA by Jeff Noon and Steve Beard, THE PASSENGER BY Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, SUNBOLT by Intisar Khanani, and ONE BILLION YEARS TO THE END OF THE WORLD by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky.

Three months’ worth of late-night notes to myself on the first draft — a poem

Humans have blood, right?
Winifred offered windows, but I couldn’t see the point
more crowd response
delicate porcelain cups
fist on table
Orchids
Castle
Rewrite fairy stuff
“If princesses were given“
Snaking
Yelped
Wet squelch of mud
Set her sleeve on fire
using its knuckles
energy? magic?
Rabbit
Spotted quicksand thanks knows swamp wary oh fumbled ring off finger held out
chronic bronchitis
I really did love flowers when they weren’t trying to kill me
Joyous at being chosen?
Dwindled
Even so
In search of
Swear wizard approached them about the assassination
Grandiloquently
Swooned with rapture
Took hand held tightly
I know, right?
Heartbreak
In the dark?
Terrifying
Canter dandelions gallop nothing at all
Paces
Marsh tarantulas
Sleeping
Not tarantulas; funnel-web spiders
Old-fashioned
Low chair
crackling
Ring
Things will work out with him or they won’t
Roses instead of blackberries?

And It Only Took A Year

First draft is DONE!

Favorite Books — February 2025

I don’t read a massive amount of horror, but sometimes I find one that really works for me. This month’s standout book was:

FEAST WHILE YOU CAN, by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta

Angelina Sicco was born and raised in Cadenze, and for many generations, so was every member of her family. On the night of a family party much like every other, Angelina runs into her brother’s ex, Jagvi. Perhaps enticed by Jagvi’s arrival, an ancient evil lying dormant in the caves is awakened, and soon Angelina’s small, contained world begins to shatter.

This one was a must for any fan of thoughtful and steamy queer horror thriller romance. How many people is that? I’ve got no idea. But I’m definitely one of them, as it turns out.

Other great books I read this month were ON VICIOUS WORLDS by Bethany Jacobs, THE VEGETARIAN by Han Kang, ABSOLUTION by Jeff VanderMeer, MEET ME AT THE SURFACE by Jodie Matthews, THE AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING by Amanda Montell, and THE SEA OF CLOUDS by Sheila Jenné.

It Makes Sense, I Swear

I need to stop leaving writing notes for myself after I go to bed.

Note #1, in its entirety: rabbit

Note #2: spotted quicksand thanks knows swamp wary oh fumbled ring off finger held out

Just FYI

Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members get 25% off on all preorders from Wednesday through Friday —

It’s a wonder I ever know what I’m talking about

Editing notes I leave for myself:

Spill some more stuff

Orchids or castles

Humans have blood, right?