Harmony Kent's Blog, page 50

Random Funnies – Because we all need a humour boost… | Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog

A little Friday Fun … for some laugh-out-loud funnies, check out Chris’s blog >>>

How to Restart Stalled Creativity the Easy Way

Check out this great post on getting unstalled by John Howell over at Story Empire today >>>

Hi, SEers, it is John with you again. The last couple of times, I have talked through some of the emotional sides of writing. I did a post on burnout and one on motivation. If you missed them, you …

Source: How to Restart Stalled Creativity the Easy Way

The post How to Restart Stalled Creativity the Easy Way first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

#BookReview: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna @NaminaForna

Hi everyone. Today, I have a book review for you by an author new to me, Namina Forna. I discovered this book via NetGalley and received a free ARC of this book. I enjoyed this read so much that I’ll have to check out her other books.

About the Book:

[image error]The Gilded Ones is the must-read new bold and immersive West-African inspired fantasy series, as featured on Cosmo, Bustle and Book Riot. In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice, perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther. 

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in Otera, a deeply patriarchal ancient kingdom, where a woman’s worth is tied to her purity, and she must bleed to prove it. But when Deka bleeds gold – the colour of impurity, of a demon – she faces a consequence worse than death. She is saved by a mysterious woman who tells Deka of her true nature: she is an Alaki, a near-immortal with exceptional gifts. The stranger offers her a choice: fight for the Emperor, with others just like her, or be destroyed…

The epic fantasy of 2021, The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna. Out 4th February 2021.

Trigger warning: The Gilded Ones includes scenes of violence which some readers may find distressing.

My Review:

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Many thanks to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for a free Advanced Review Copy of this book.

Namina Forna is a new author to me, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The book cover and description appealed to me. What can I say? … I’m so pleased that I gave this book and writer a go. Namina Forna is now on my list of auto-buy authors.

In one word: Brilliant.

I loved this book from start to finish. The world-building, description, and character development were all done wonderfully. The Gilded Ones is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I’ll be looking out for more books by this amazing author.

Though this is a fantasy YA read, it is both graphic and to the point. The storyline reflects the plight of so many women around the world today. This book brings a strong and much-needed reminder of just how much things still need to change. If you love a story of love, courage, and hope, then you’ll love this awesome coming-of-age, African-inspired novel. Even if YA isn’t your usual genre, I would recommend that you give this book a chance. I cannot rate it highly enough.

The Gilded Ones gets a resounding 5 stars from me.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by

Three Literary Elements: Subject

Staci Troilo has a great post all about subject over on Story Empire today >>>

Ciao, SEers.  Last time, we talked about the first of the literary elements—theme. If you missed that post or would like to review it, you can find it here. Today, we’re going to discuss the second…

Source: Three Literary Elements: Subject

The post Three Literary Elements: Subject first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

Leftovers Anyone?

Check out a great post on recycling story ideas by Craig Boyack over at Story Empire >>>

Hi gang, Craig with you again. Somehow, I wound up with Black Friday this year. I struggled to come up with a relevant post. I like the name Black Friday, but I’ve already done naming tricks. I thi…

Source: Leftovers Anyone?

The post Leftovers Anyone? first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

#WhyWriteWrong? – #10 | Story Empire

Another great post from Marcia Meara over at Story Empire today … you get ‘hung’ up on this one! >>>

 

Happy Fall, Y’all! And a Happy Thanksgiving to our friends here in the United States. It’s Marcia back again with another Why Write Wrong post. Quick & easy today: I have a pair of homoph…

Source: #WhyWriteWrong? – #10 | Story Empire

The post #WhyWriteWrong? – #10 | Story Empire first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

Chaos: ‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #26 NEW Image Prompt. Join in the fun! #IARTG #ASMSG @pursoot #WritingCommunity

Hi everyone! It’s that time of the week again … Friday fun flash fiction … on a … Tuesday! … I was, erm … musing, lols. Here’s the short story I came up with >>>

 

Photo by Oxana Lyashenko on Unsplash

 

Chaos

The house falls into deathly quiet. The last of the flames gutter and die. Only the thick stench of burnt timber and scorched flesh, melted from bones, offers any clue to what may have happened here. Helmeted officials pick through the smoking remains, eyes hard and sharp—faces grim. The eventual verdict … faulty wiring wrapped around the deceptively pretty Christmas tree.

Salvaged, alone from all the mess, a soft, cuddly teddy bear with nary a mark on his well-brushed fur. Brisk, efficient hands pick him out of the rubble and deposit him in the charity box. Mayhap, out of tragedy there could come love for some small child to whom the world has not been kind.

He bears the indignity of being bound beneath gaudy wrapping paper and ribbon. And when an excited boy holds aloft his very own little toy, the stitched-on smile twitches and then sets in place. But not before the boy’s eyes grow wide and blink … he sees the glint in the bear’s beady eyes.

Wary at this turn of events, the bear sits and stares at the child, who’s dashed them both out of the fray and up to the solitude of the unoccupied boy’s dormitory. Never before has anyone guessed at the secret life that lies within, but Edward knows.

What to do? That’s the question.

Later that night, however, during the witching hour and while the orphanage sleeps, the boy and the bear reach an understanding. Edward nods and smiles around a yawn. “Your name is Chaos.”

Satisfied, the child slumbers. Chaos shares his dreams.

It starts out with a little touch here, a little there. One by one, Edward’s tormentors turn allies—too afraid, now, to oppose. And then comes the happy day that Fall when the orphan finds a home.

The weeks pass, and the secret holds. And then there comes another Christmas tree, all bedecked with ornaments and pretty, flashing lights. In the deep dark depths of night, while the adults snore, Chaos sneaks through the house.

The silly people have left the fire alive in the grate. They make it too easy.

As Chaos sits and plots, Edward stumbles into the room with fresh tears shining on his face. “I’m happy here,” he tells the toy. What a very silly little boy.

Chaos shakes his head. Soon they will all be dead.

Edward’s shoulders slump, weighed down beneath the burden of defeat. Over the child’s bowed head, Chaos laughs. “Whatever I do, they’ll blame you.”

Fuelled by sudden fury, Edward plucks the bear from the sofa and hurls the stuffed toy into the flames. “You’re just a stupid bully!”

Chaos burns.

 

© Harmony Kent 2020

I’d love to know what you think of this short piece … so please don’t be shy and leave me a reply.

Have a great week and Thanksgiving, everyone!

Photo by Oxana Lyashenko on Unsplash

The rules:

Please put your entry (or a link to it) in a comment HERE or email it to Sooz at her email address. by DEADLINE: 4pm EDT on Thursday, November 26th. Subject: Fiction in a Flash Challenge. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to THIS page would be much appreciated.

UPDATE: The response to the prompts has been just wonderful. As a result, Soooz be sharing all entries received, and her own contribution on her blog AS SHE RECEIVES THEM. Rather than posting all of them only over a few days.

 

Find Sooz at …

My author page on AMAZON.

On Twitter.

On Facebook

On Goodreads.

By Email.

 

The post Chaos: ‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge’ Week #26 NEW Image Prompt. Join in the fun! #IARTG #ASMSG @pursoot #WritingCommunity first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.

#NewBook @gmplano The Culmination – from the desk of Gwen M. Plano

Check out Gwen PLano’s latest book … The Culmination! A great read

The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon by @startrailsIV @FreshInkGroup

Hi everyone. I hope you’ve had a good weekend. Today, it gives me great pleasure to host fellow author, Marcha Fox with her book The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon, which she’s co-authored with Pete Risingun. I’ll let Marcha tell you all about it

Announcing my Brand-new #EtsyShop!

Hi everyone! I hope this Friday finds you well and that you’ve had a good week.

While I haven’t been doing much writing of late due to my health issues, I have been playing around with digital stuff. Over the last couple of days, I opened my first ever Etsy shop … https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DigiDelightDesigns

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I only have three products on sale right now, but I’m pleased with the start I’ve made. I’ll be adding more as I can. Apologies that this isn’t writing/reading related, but I’m so excited I just had to share this