Anna Tan's Blog, page 28

#bookreview: Indigo Inquest | Azriel Johnson

Indigo Inquest by Azriel Johnson


Indigo Inquest, book 4 in the Dragon's Bane Series, follows the life of Plato Kingsley, a Drackne and key leader of the Humankin in Bellato. Whilst the book can be read as a standalone, it does get a little confusing at times, especially if you start with the last chapter of Book 3 that's included as a sort of prequel/prologue. I'd recommend skipping this chapter snippet until later if you're reading this as a standalone; it doesn't really add much to the...

#musicmonday: Wrap My Words Around You | Daniel Bedingfield

Blast from the past as I'm sorting through all the old CDs in my car.

#bookreview: The Last Mystic | Susan Kaye Quinn

The Last Mystic by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, so I went back and read everything in the series ALL OVER AGAIN. I mean, The Illusory Prophet released in 2017, which is really long ago... and I really hate when authors take forever to finish a series, but this was... this was worth the wait, I think. Yes, definitely worth the wait. Though, technically you don't really need to do that. There's enough back info in this one to help you remember what happened in the previous three...

#musicmonday: Movements | Rend Collective

#bookreview: On Far Malayan Shores | Tara Haigh

On Far Malayan Shores by Tara Haigh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's perhaps fitting that I read most of this on my flight home from London to Penang--it certainly increased my longing for home!

When Ella Kaltenbach's father dies, he reveals a long-kept secret--her adoption is not as straightforward as it appears, neither is the annual stipend he receives an inheritance from his late brother. Driven to discover the secret of her birth and her real family, Ella sets off on a long voyage to Malaya...

#musicmonday: The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore | James Morrison

It's time to surrender
It's been too long pretending
There's no use in trying
When the pieces don't fit anymore
The pieces don't fit here anymore

---

On returning to say goodbye.

#bookreview: Dear Author: Letters from a Bookish Fangirl | Laura A. Grace

Dear Author: Letters from a Bookish Fangirl by Laura A. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you've ever had a down day, wondering whether anything you've ever written is worth the paper it's printed on (or the screen it's... pixeled on...?), Laura's "Dear Author" is sure to put a smile on your face--or some tears on your cheeks.

Accompanied by extremely cute illustrations, this book is a welcome pick-me-up for beleaguered authors everywhere.


Note: I received an e-ARC of this book from the author....

#guestpost: 5 Exercises to Help You Craft Compelling Fictional Characters

It can be difficult to create a believable and relatable character, but I have a few tips and tricks that you can use to help you create a unique and memorable character.

1. Make a mini-biography The easiest way to create a compelling fictional character is to match their life details. Whether it's fantasy adventure or teen fiction books for girls, if you've noticed in literary works, the main characters are well established with small nuances that make them more credible. To do this, you wil...

#bookreview: Tess of the Road | Rachel Hartman

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This took me a very, very long time to get into and I nearly stopped reading at about the 30% mark. Actually, I did stop reading and then go on to read other more exciting things, and then I ran out of books in my luggage except for one I didn't really want to read, so I went back to this one and then I finished it off and it wasn't so bad.

...I think it was just a matter of the wrong book at the wrong time. It deals with weighty, important...

#bookreview: Harvest & Resistance - Stories of Singularity | Susan Kaye Quinn

Quinn is back with more Stories of Singularity! While I'm waiting for that final novel to drop, here are the last two short stories she's sent out.

Harvest by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one didn't captu...