Heather Heffner's Blog, page 15

Year of the Boar: Tica is Published!

Woohoo! Another book to add to the Changeling Sisters Series!


Goes along well with the Hawaiian Islands travel series, doncha think? Another post on that coming soon.


I ended up having to substitute a grave accent for the Hawaiian ʻokina, because Kindle doesn't support that character. However, it still came out looking like an apostrophe. If anyone has any pointers on that, let me know.

Without further ado, here is the Amazon link . Available in Kindle format on any type of electronic device!

Changeling Sisters #1.5 Year of the Boar: Tica will be released on Amazon 01/17!

Check out Amazon.com on Saturday, 01/17, for the release of Changeling Sisters #1.5: Year of the Boar: Tica!


If you haven't already, take a sneak peek on Wattpad.com here .

To celebrate the first Changeling Sisters novella, The Tribe of Ishmael (Afterlife Chronicles I) will be free 01/17 - 01/18 on Amazon.com here . Happy New Year!

November 2014 Book Review: Prophecy

PROPHECYBy Ellen Oh~Book Review~


IT SUCKS when you are born with yellow eyes and everywhere you go people accuse you of being a “demon!”…if only they knew the truth.
Kira the Demon Slayer sees demons.  They are nasty, ugly, and they can disguise themselves as humans. Kira does her best to fight them, but she’s against other enemies, too—the human kind. As the only female fighter in the King’s army and with her strange yellow eyes, there’s a lot about her that folks don’t understand. Luckily her family, including her cousin, Prince Taejo, are supportive of her. Indeed, Kira may be the only one who can help Prince Taejo become the Dragon King and drive the demons off.
Set in magical feudal Korea, this is an ideal book for younger readers. There is fighting, magic, and cool supernatural creatures who help or hinder Kira on her quest to find the Dragon King’s treasures. Adults will most likely be bored by the simple characterization and unsurprising plot twists. The most conflicted character is Shin Bo Hyun, son of the enemy commander who finds Kira attractive. The tension always seemed to spice up whenever he was on scene.
I am interested to see where this series goes because there aren’t too many YA fantasy books on Korea out there (See my review of Christina Farley’s Gilded here ). However, I’d like to see more soul to the series. I’ve been told that Kira is tough, but I haven’t been shown that unique, endearing side of her that sets her apart from other tough, kickass girls in the YA fantasy genre. If Kira’s fierceness could be developed a bit more to be distinctively Kira rather than cartoon warrior, then this would become a more memorable series. Characters aside, the historical and mythological aspects of Oh’s alternative Korea are a delight.
Recommended for fans of: Susan Ee (Angelfall), Emily Rodda (Deltora Quest), Jay Kristoff (The Lotus War trilogy).
Upcoming Book Review: The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova

Hawaiian Islands Travel Series: Lahaina, Maui

Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina
*Disclaimer: This article is presented as fiction, not fact. Names have been changed for the sake of privacy.
Lahaina sunset 
 THE FIRST PLACE we stopped in Maui was a Krispy Kreme. We didn’t have a choice, really. The “hot doughnuts” sign was on. I am happy to report that the Krispy Kreme in Maui’s main airport city, Kahului, is as good as anywhere else.

Our car rental was from Enterprise. I have consistently been impressed by Enterprise service in the Hawaiian Islands. They are a bit more expensive than Thrifty or Budget, but I have never had any problems with them. They are fast, convenient, and reliable. You get your car and go, with none of that awkward “would you like to upgrade your car? Are you sure? Suuuuure?" sales pitch. Enterprise also has discounts if you have a Costco or AAA membership, and they may offer kamaʻaina deals.

We still hadn’t hit the beach yet. Instead, we drove to the Costco in Kahului and stocked up on food supplies. In case you haven’t heard, Maui is e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e. If you aren’t eating out every night like a baller, than look up department stores around the north central Kahului area and stock up there. I would also recommend filling up gas at this Costco before dropping your rental car back off for the best price.

Driving around Maui is easy. There are plenty of signs, and once you get out of Kahului, there’s only fields and highway. I should make an amendment here and say that finding your way in Maui is easy; other things, like driving difficulty, varies if you’re going to take the Hana Highway to the east.

However, we weren’t going east yet. We were spending our first two nights in Lahaina on the west Maui coast, about a 30 minute drive from the airport. We cruised along Highway 30, enjoying the coastline and stopping to buy avocados and pineapple at roadside fruit stands. On this trip we really went nuts for avocados. They're so nice and creamy.
Ruins of an old military fort in Lahaina
Lahaina has a reputation for being the touristy destination on Maui. Yes, it is touristy. It is also full of history, because before Honolulu, it used to be the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom. After that it was a main whaling hub. As such, there are still many historic buildings wedged between young hip businesses on the famous Front Street along the ocean. Behind Front Street is a residential area, and overlooking all of Lahaina are great mountains.

Historic homeOf course we were staying in the heart of Front Street. Ha! No, way too expensive. Instead, we decided to try VRBO.com , which lists vacation rentals. I was skeptical at first. Make sure to verify that the person posting a vacation rental actually is the owner and NEVER pay by wire transfer. Protect yourself, people, and do your homework on a listing. That being said, our first experience using VRBO.com was a great one. We found a vacation rental in the neighborhood right behind Lahaina’s Front Street: VRBO Listing #319782.
Private jungle patio Now, I wasn’t too sure about this place because it had all 4-5 star reviews (If you can’t tell, I’m a suspicious sort—surely something must be wrong with the place!). However, “Anna” earned all of those great reviews for a reason. Our studio was tucked right behind the main house in a magnificent garden, and we had our own private patio to cook on and enjoy Maui morning breakfasts outside. Anna came from a French background and was an absolute pleasure to talk to. She made us feel completely at home and offered us a cooler, snorkeling gear, and surfboards to borrow for free. Also, she doesn’t charge a cleaning fee as opposed to most vacation rentals. Overall, our vacation rental was charming, affordable, and had a great location. It was only a 5-10 minute walk to Front Street and the beach; I did not want to leave. If you’re looking for something less pricey than a hotel but more private and cozy than a hostel, then try out a vacation rental.



I still haven’t described the beach: sand as white as flour and an ocean of teal deepening to sapphire toward Lanaʻi across the channel. After taking a dip, we strolled around the start of Front Street. It travels along the waterfront, past the Water Sports harbor, past the Giant Banyan tree(s) park (It looks like eight different trees but they are all intertwined), past restaurants and souvenir shops, to end at a giant strip mall. We were here over Labor Day Weekend, so there were big blow-out sales at Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, and Gucci if that’s your thing.
Water Adventure Sports harborDuring midday, the southern end of Front Street was completely empty. We were super hungry, and we found a small organic smoothie shop called Bamboo Fresh tucked away in the middle of the square. We honestly didn’t know what we were in for: the wraps and smoothies were the freshest, most mouth-watering things I’d ever tasted in my life. Their prices were extremely affordable, considering all of the ingredients were locally grown. The owner was behind the counter that day. After personally making our meals, she chatted with us about her goal to keep Bamboo Fresh this way and make the business grow—although it wouldn’t be easy. The property rental cost to own a business in Lahaina grows steeper every year, and businesses have to work together to keep each other afloat—because the landowning association certainly isn’t sympathetic. I really hope this hidden gem stays in business, because their food tastes so light, flavorful, and rejuvenating. It made me a bit sad, to be honest, that we don’t eat like this every day. Expect a small wait while your food is prepared, but you can taste the love.
You have to look really carefully to find this place.“In one corner, we have processed food! In the other, we have Rosemary Blue Sage with Maui-fed beef, the Ahi Garden Wrap, or a Tofu n’ Spice! Bamboo Fresh: hale of fresh coconut, bananas, starfruit, ginger, pineapple, garlic, baskets of kale, frothy organic smoothies—!” Okay, I’ll shut up and give you the link to pictures: Bamboo Fresh Yelp Reviews .

One mistake we made was to stick with a familiar restaurant instead of trying something new. On our last night in Lahaina, we ate at Hard Rock Café, which was all fine and delicious, but after checking with some locals at Maui Built, we realized we should have checked out Cool Cat Café near the giant Banyan Tree park. They have been voted best burger on Maui for 11 years!
The Banyan Tree squareAlways be aware that Maui shops will open late and close early. Make sure you figure out when a place will be open instead of assuming it will be. Overall, I would definitely recommend spending two nights or so in Lahaina. The nightlife was lively, and it makes a good, memorable launch spot to explore northwest Maui, or down south—where great snorkeling awaited us.
Lahaina at night 
Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui

Upcoming: Day 2: Southern Maui: Kihei and Makena

Hawaiian Islands Travel Series: Welcome to Maui

Introduction: Welcome to Maui Image courtesy of Map Hawaiian Islands Map .



Sunrise outside of Wai'anapanapa State Park Campground

THERE ARE EIGHT MAIN ISLANDS in the Hawaiian Island chain and thousands of tiny islets and atolls that stretch far out into the Pacific. The eight main islands in order from youngest to oldest are: the Big Island (Hawaiʻi), Kahoʻolawe (US military zone), Lanaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu (most populated/Honolulu), Niʻihau (Hawaiian ancestry only may live here; others may visit by invitation), and Kauaʻi (some 5.1 million years old!).

Snorkeling near Makena Beach
The Hawaiian Islands are known internationally as a tropical paradise, but each one is unique. On the Big Island, you can find everything from active lava to snow atop Mauna Kea, and on Kauaʻi, you can explore Waimea Canyon, which, I shit you not, looks exactly like a mini-Grand Canyon (located Arizona and Utah).
Waimea FallsMaui is known for its glorious white-sand beaches, epic snorkeling adventures, the notorious one-lane Hana Highway, and the 10,000 ft Haleakalā National Park where the rare Hawaii state bird, the nēnē, and the enigmatic ahinahina (silversword plant) can be found. My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to travel around Maui for about a week. Just one week! We did what we could and have spent the last few months wishing we could go back. 
Wai'anapanapa State Park
 Here is what this Hawaiian Island Travel Series: Maui will cover:
Day 1: Northwest Maui: LahainaDay 2: Southern Maui: Kihei and MakenaDay 3: Central Maui: Paia and MakawaoDay 4: Northern Maui: the Hana HighwayDay 5: Northern Maui: Haleakalā National ParkDay 6: Northeast Maui: Wai'anapanapa State ParkDay 7: Northeast Maui: Hana Day 8: Northeast Maui: Waimea Falls and Ohe'o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools)
Ahinahina: silversword
Haleakalā National Park
Along this journey, we stuck our toes in black, red, and white sand beaches. Enjoy!

October 2014 Book Review: Raised Part II

 RAISED Part II By Sharon Stevenson ~Book Review~

*Minor Spoilers*

IN A NUTSHELL: fast-paced, ghoulish fun and an original take on zombies. I sat down and read this in one sitting. RAISED Part II is the second book in the After Death Series. See my review of RAISED Part I here .

This series continues to delight with its sarcastic humor and twists on the zombie genre. The characters all have unique tweaks that make them exciting to read about. On this alternative magical Earth, dead doesn't mean dead. You may very well be brought back to life as an Animate, an undead slave, such as poor Pete is when he is bonded to the notorious wizard Nick. Or you may be a Clone trying to pull off imitating your original host, as seen in the very well-executed storyline with Clone #9 and Tim who try to cover up a famous rock singer's death. When the womanizing wizard Nicks sets his sights on Pete's past-life friend Kit, then Pete, Kit, and Mickey all find themselves fighting their society-imposed limits in order to save one another.

This book is told in multiple viewpoints. Usually one of my biggest pet peeves is to read a multi-viewpoint book, because I'll often find myself groaning every time it's so-and-so's chapter. This book avoids that because every character's perspective contributes toward advancing the plot in a swift, no-nonsense manner. The novel deals with cloning identity issues and enslaving the dead very subtly and with humor, which leaves the reader with quite a lot to think about. The characters grow with each installment, and I'm very excited to see what will come next! 

Recommended for fans of: Monty Python (that kind of humor), Kim Harrison, Terry Pratchett
Upcoming Book Review: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Merry Christmas (late) and Happy New Year! ~2015~

FIRST OFF, I apologize I have been extremely MIA.
I didn't even know this was going on: Legend of Korra Book 4 .
But I have graduated! And I will have a theoretical article coming out in the political science journal Alternatives about the South Korean middle class in 2015. The journal will also feature some neat articles from my colleagues about middle classes in India, Palestine, and Denmark, so I'll keep you all updated on that; it's cool stuff.

Anyway, New Year's Resolutions for 2015:

-O'ahu, Maui, Kauai'i travel blogs

-The first free Changeling Sisters novella published on Amazon: Changeling Sisters #1.5: Year of the Boar: Tica

-Afterlife Chronicles #2: The Staff of Aaron excerpt

-Changeling Sisters #3: Year of the Dragon to be published in 2015. Exciting news about the Changeling Sisters Series: there will be 6 books in all. Adventures will continue in South Korea as well as in near and faraway countries as the Alvarez sisters learn the extent of the evil they're up against. There will also be 6 free novellas in all taking place between novels from time-to-time featuring supporting characters' perspectives.

-Book Reviews! I joined up with #DiverseReads and look forward to having time to read some great upcoming fantasy books that push boundaries and screw up all sense of normalcy :D

Happy 2015 Everyone! What are your New Year's Resolutions?

September 2014 Book Review: The Fire Wish

THE FIRE WISH By Amber Lough ~Book Review~


Warning! Spoilers!
WHEN ROBIN WILLIAMS RECENTLY PASSED, I had flashback childhood images of a man wearing a woman’s wig and grandmother clothes, a crazy bat, a bangarang Peter Pan, and of course a big blue genie. I have always been curious about genies, their interpretations, and the mythology behind them. I’ve read Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus books starring a very clever djinn and loved them. What wonderful tale would Amber Lough spin about the warring humans of Baghdad and the mysterious beings made of smokeless fire, the jinni? A human princess captures an enemy jinni and orders her to switch places with her to avoid a marriage? What can’t go wrong with this set-up?
The execution, I’m afraid. The heart of the story was missing because there were no memorable characters to win the readers’ hearts. The world-building was there, the imagery crept up and absorbed you, but as you looked around for the characters to bring this classic “switch places” story to life, there were none to be found. Zayele, the human betrothed to Prince Kamal, and Najwa, the jinni spy who can break through human wards, are more alike than just appearance—their first person voice sounds too similar as well. The girls had rather bland personalities; Zayele was vaguely a rebellious princess trope, and Najwa seemed as invisible as the Shatabispell, and not in a good way. I kept questioning how someone who seemed as weak backboned as her would be enlisted for a high-pressure spying mission on the enemy. What really irritated me about her was that she kept getting distracted from her mission by a certain hawt prince in the Baghdad Palace. Really, your people are at risk and you’re busy thinking of a human guy you’ve barely spoken to? Being “jinni” by itself isn’t a personality; for an example, look at Bartimaeus in Jonathan Stroud’s books and how easily his humor, cowardice, and clever usage of weapons of the weak makes him memorable and beloved by readers.
Zayele is marginally better, but she just seemed like a slightly more outspoken version of Najwa. It doesn’t help that the supporting characters are forgettable tropes we’ve seen in fantasy books before—evil vizier, brooding prince, wise teacher, bitchy girl rival, ect. I was being told a story, and I was being told about the chemistry between the characters, but I didn’t feel it. However, do read this story for how to do prose. The imagery is gorgeous, and for the first tenth of the book, I was really excited for how this story would turn out. An excerpt describing the jinni’s home, the Cavern:
“The Lake of Fire swept along the side of the Cavern, lapping at the crystal spears on the edge. Unlike in the human stories, it wasn’t a lake of molten rock. It was decorated in fire. Gases bubbled to the surface, where they caught fire, sending licks of flame dancing across the shallow waves. The flames were blue-hot, but harmless. Wishlights lined the streets and the crescent wall that curved along the lake…”(Chapter 5).
Oh, and in the human palace:
“I felt too many eyes on me. I looked up to avoid them and found myself beneath a sky of glass lanterns. They hung from the mosaic ceiling like spiders from their webs. Glowing, smoking spiders.” (Chapter 35)
I don’t know about you, but spiders have never sounded so beautiful. Also, the story’s pace does pick up toward the end, and things are wrapped up neatly. You could read this book and be done with the series, or you could read on in the next installment. I don’t know whether I’ll continue, since sympathetic characters are a large part of why I fall in love with a series. Maybe Lough won’t play it quite as safe in the next one.
Recommended for fans of: Laini Taylor, Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff Upcoming Book Review: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Three Reasons Why I’m Signing Up to be a Diverse Book Tours Blog Host

TWINJA BOOK REVIEWS hosts Guinevere and Libertad have teamed up with book blogger and founder Sasha to bring us Diverse Book Tours! These three have already established a meaningful online presence by fostering literary communities dedicated to discussing and discovering books with a commitment to diversity. They are critically honest, welcoming, and ask the necessary tough questions to help readers and authors alike grow! Their latest endeavor, Diverse Book Tours , offers a platform for authors to connect readers to books that put pressure on the idea that society’s status quo is natural and unified.
I’m looking forward to participating as a Diverse Book Tours host. Here are a couple reasons:
       1. A personal desire to explore new worlds—or worlds that have always been there, but are often white-washed, dismissed, or demonized. There are many mythologies out there that I’m completely unfamiliar with or have a lot of misconceptions about, like from African or Southeast Asian nations, so I’m hungry for an experience outside of Western European-style mythology. I want to read more books that take on complex histories (like how would you approach a fantasy story set in a place so incredibly ethnically diverse as India?)  and learn more about the world in the process. As a Diverse Book Tour host, I’ll have the opportunity to do just that.
      2. To challenge our literary community to grow stronger with differing, dissenting voices. They say every story’s been told but it’s the way it’s told that makes it come across as new, creative, or unique. Many diverse stories already exist but they haven’t gained traction, sometimes because they don’t feature “normal”—white, able-bodied, straight—protagonists, and they don’t follow “normal” Puritanical, patriarchal, nuclear-family type lifestyles. Diverse stories make us more aware of the power dynamics in our own communities and underline how much of history depends on perspective. Helping readers live an experience from a different angle is a crucial gift of storytelling—let’s not pretend there is one way to live and one person to be.              3. Free Stuff. Good free stuff, not like bookmarks or a box of pencils. To celebrate the countdown to Launch on September 1st, you can enter a giveaway to win Amazon/Barnes and Noble Gift Cards & hot diverse books like The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K.  Jemisin and The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.
So I trust I will see you there, eh? (Virtually) Check it out!
Official Diverse Book Tours Website: http://diversebooktours.com
Twinja Book Reviews: http://twinjabookreviews.blogspot.com/
So Bookishly Blog:
http://sobookishly.net/ 

Year of the Boar (Changeling Sisters #1.5) is complete!

Hi Everyone,

You can read Year of the Boar: Tica (Changeling Sisters #1.5) online for a limited time here at Wattpad.com. This is a rough draft, and I appreciate everyone's comments and votes! I plan on adding a glossary soon after consulting with friends on Hawaiian phrases/terminology. Mahalo! 

~Heather~