Esther Spurrill Jones's Blog, page 23

Review of Seaborn by S.A. Bolich

Seaborn by S.A. Bolich

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I feel as if I was carried on a wave of adventure and excitement with Nes as she journeyed with Jetta, Settak, Sheshan, and the others. This book was just as good as the first two, and now I cannot wait to read the fourth in the series.

The world S. A. Bolich has created is so rich and complex, and we learn of it slowly as the series progresses. Seaborn gives us insight into the fascinating world of the Water folk, and a few glimpses of the abilities of the Delvers. The romance here nearly felt tacked on, but I like it anyway. Finally, (view spoiler)[Settak gets a life partner (hide spoiler)].

I highly recommend this book (and the whole series) to everyone who reads fantasy. It's simply amazing.



View all my reviews

Review of Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book opens with the boring cliché of the main character, Kaitlyn, looking at herself in the mirror. Even worse, she's hating herself/her reflection because she's a freak. I don't have a problem with angsty self-hate, if it's done right, but don't just tell me that she hates herself. Show me.

There is so much telling in this book (and hardly any showing), I felt like I was being spoonfed how I was supposed to feel. I couldn't make myself care about any of the characters. I felt like I was being talked down to, like I'm not smart enough to make up my own mind about any of this. This is why showing instead of telling is so important: the reader doesn't want to be treated like a child.

Another thing that really annoyed me was the constant, glaring typos. In one sentence, 'soldier' would be spelled correctly and incorrectly ('solider') within a few words. It seems that the author didn't bother with a basic proofread before publishing.

When Kaitlyn is at the shooting range, we are treated to a long, detailed, boring explanation of guns and shooting and stuff that I don't care about. I skipped over it. I get that the author did a bunch of research and wants to show off her knowledge, but I don't care. It's boring. And then this happens: "She continued to shoot the various drills the instructor set-up and explained. Each time, unknown to Kaitlyn, she performed at a world class level, something that took competition shooters years of practice and hundreds of thousands of rounds." In a third person limited POV, we shouldn't ever be told anything that is unknown to the POV character. It's jarringly unrealistic, because if she doesn't know it we shouldn't know it.

For a cyborg with a computer brain that we are constantly told is amazing and intelligent and beyond any human brain, Kaitlyn is really stupid. She doesn't understand slang until they give her a 'slang chip' and the only reason I can think of for this is that the author thought it would be funny if the robot got confused by idiom. Oh, haha. Spoiler: I'm not really laughing. At one point in the story, Kaitlyn is given an iPhone and this happens: " A small square on the screen said ‘Maps.’ Not knowing what else to do, she tapped it. She was surprised when it opened to a map." Are you kidding me? How idiotic is this girl?

The ending is way too easy and happens way too fast. I felt cheated. And then, Kaitlyn is approached by a douchebag at the bowling alley: '“What do you want?” she asked calmly, wishing Lucas would hurry up. “I’m looking at it.” His hand came forward as if he were going to touch her, and without considering whether she was doing the right thing, Kaitlyn grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder. He hit the hardwood floor hard on his back, and a long, low moan escaping him.' And Lucas, the man who claims to love her, berates her for this! “I promise. Kate, this is serious. If you do something bad, you could get taken away from me.” She needs to get away from Lucas now. Run away, Kaitlyn. Run far away. And don't look back.

This book really desperately needed a good proofreader and editor before it was published. The storyline was pretty good up until that awful ending, so I gave it 2 stars because I can see what it could have been. It's just so disappointing that it fell short of its potential.



View all my reviews

I Miss You

For Patricia Reid-Spurrill.

I miss your baking and your smile.I miss you sitting in your chair.I miss the way you’d sing offkey.I miss the angels you would wear.
Two years today since you were here;Two years, and still it feels so new.Two years without your guiding hand.
Two years. Mom, I miss you.

OctPoWriMo 31 - Halloween

Today is the last day of October and the last day of OctPoWriMo 2014. It's also Halloween. I'm skipping the prompt, because I talked about what this year's challenge was like for me yesterday.

Halloween

Masks disguising friends and strangers;Everyone is someone else.Candy given out to children;Everyone is generous.

OctPoWriMo 30 - The Day Before

This is the penultimate day of OctPoWriMo 2014. Tomorrow, I will write my last poem this month. This is the third year I have done this, and this has been my favourite year. The prompts were great this year; I think I passed on the prompt only 2 or 3 times. Today's prompt is perfect for the second-to-last day of the challenge.

The Day Before

I knew my life would change;But I did not know howThe day before.
Nothing would be the same.I saw it only faintlyThe day before.
We never know tomorrow.Today will always beThe day before.

Give Up the Light

I finally did it. I've been saying for years that I am going to put together a collection of the poetry I've written about vampires and the like, and I finally did it, just in time for Halloween.

If you like creepy, spine-chilling verse, this is the book for you. There are tales here of love that reaches beyond the grave; there are terrifying, twisted, and even comical poems that are perfect for reading on a dark and stormy night with the lights out.

Add it to your Goodreads.

Purchase it on Smashwords.

Purchase it on Amazon: US | Canada | UK

See my other books on Goodreads.

OctPoWriMo 29 - All I Need

Today's prompt is our own personal love story. This ballad is dedicated to my husband Mark.

All I Need

Romeo and JulietWere really rather blind.David and his stolen queenHad no peace of mind.
Cleopatra never knewThe joy of growing old.Lancelot and GuinevereMade Arthur a cuckold.
You and I will never beAn epic tale of love;I don’t care, for what we haveIs greater than above.
We don’t need poison, lies, and murderFor drama in our life.All I need from you, my love,Is to be your wife.

OctPoWriMo 28 - For the Light

Today's prompt is hunger. I'm putting together a book of poems about vampires and other creatures of the night, so that's been on my mind.

For the Light

Now I hunger for the light;As darkness gathers all around meHere I stand in deepest night.
Once, this all was my delight;Once, I thought that I was free.Now I hunger for the light.
I remember day so brightI sheltered ‘neath the rowan tree.Now, here I stand in deepest night.
Sky of blue and clouds of whiteNevermore my eyes shall see;And now I hunger for the light.
Only shadows in my sightAnd the moon glows oh so faintlyWhile here I stand in deepest night.
I chose the night, became the fright;Before me all shall flee...And yet, I hunger for the lightAs here I stand in deepest night.

OctPoWriMo 27 - Sleep

I love and hate today's prompt. Sleep is something I have always spent too much time with—I used to be the teenager (and young adult) who would sleep past noon on my days off. For the past few years, though, I have not been able to sleep past 8am on any day, or I will get very sick: headachey and nauseated. On workdays, I get up at 5:30 or 6am, but I still need somewhere between 8 and 9 hours of sleep to function. Because of this, I go to bed no later than 9:30pm, but I'm still tired all the time.

One of my favourite songs is Riley Armstrong's Sleep. I took inspiration from this song for today's poem.

Sleep
So tired all the time—I never get enoughSleep.Wake up; roll out of bed—I want to go back toSleep.Sometimes, it seems a waste:I want to write, but I needSleep.Early to bed, and yetMorning’s too soon; I just wantSleep.Hold me close; take me.I love you and I hate you,Sleep.

OctPoWriMo 26 - Never Fear

Today's prompt is fear. I wrote this in church this morning.

Never Fear

Guns and bombs and storms and quakes—We hear of these and we all shake.War and terror bringing fear,All the bad news that we hear,None of it should make me worryFor He will always walk beside me.With His help, I will findPower, love, and steady mind.Within His shadow I can hide;Beneath His wings I will abide.I will never have to fearFor He will always keep me near.