Tag Archives: fiction

The Paris Model: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 12, 2020 Leave a comment

50496928

By Alexandra Joel

Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780063031968
ASIN: B083SN921G
ISBN (Audio): 9781799940357
Format: Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
Publication date: September 2020
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Type: Book, Novel, Historical

I received a free paperback copy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Harper Collins and Harper Collins Canada Frenzy!

Introduction:

When I was offered the opportunity to review a historical fiction book for Harper Collins via the Harper Collins Canada Frenzy program, The Paris Model’s cover and title caught my eye. “What is this beautiful, beautiful book about?” I wondered. As I read the blurb, I knew I couldn’t pass this one up. I’m a fashion lover and a huge France fan, so this was the book for me. I knew it! I was so psyched when my request was granted and I received this beauty of a galley in the mail. Huge thanks to Harper Collins and the author, Alexandra Joel, for this jewel!

Now, how about we explore this book together in more details? You’ll see, it’s full of elegance, twists, and travel. But mostly, it’s a humane story full of emotions that will leave you breathless but with a feeling of satisfaction.

Blurb:

Grace Woods, a hard-working woman raised on an Australian farm, moves to postwar Paris to work for Christian Dior as a model after her disastrous marriage. Left with more questions about her past and her parents, Grace tries to go on a normal life, putting the past behind her. As she does so, she meets with colourful characters such as Julia Child and Jackie Kennedy. Yet, she’s still on a quest to find answers, and a young man she meets, Philippe Boyer, will help her in this endeavour. But she’ll have to help him too, and all of France. Will she be up for the challenge?

The Positive Sides:

The first great thing that jumped at me when I opened the book was how the writing is lush, enchanting and elegant, just like the world of fashion and modelling seems like. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quote:

She was in a jurisdiction of her own. Her mind, her very being, was fixed upon a single resolution. No matter the hour, nor the exquisite agony, she would continue until her child was born—healthy, safe, whole.

At last, her body surrendered its possession. Only then did she experience a sweet release. Happiness was her narcotic; she felt intoxicated with pleasure and relief.

It’s from the beginning, which simply grabbed my heart and made me tear up. Also, let’s be honest here: what a gorgeous cover! All those deep colours, the look of the historical fiction, and the cursive fonts used. GOR.GE.OUS! I love the French quotes and words throughout the book; it’s not overwhelming, yet it gives you a taste of the language and culture while being understandable from the context and attitudes of the characters (I speak French, so I always enjoy finding my language in a book—it’s pleasant and makes it even more home to me). Another great point is how this book is divided: sections within chapters and chapters within books for one book. They’re all short too and smooth to read. It’s a breeze! So pleasant.

Speaking of the story itself, there were tense, gripping moments when she was young. I didn’t get why we saw her childhood, but the family relationships are important, and it makes sense as we get bits of the issue at hand through Grace’s eyes. Plus, I love how clothes are important even outside of the fashion storyline; they’re all described in accurate terminology, which is a feat in my opinion (hey, I work with terminology what with being a translator, and this perfect use of terminology makes me glow with happiness!) Personally, I love how Grace wishes to travel, dreams of a life untethered to some place/someone and out and about around the world. I relate so much despite the era! I can feel Grace’s ache to explore.

Something that hit me hard is how the awful realism of the married life before is well depicted along with how women had to shut up and only do “women’s work”. I was so upset I put the book down. It was hard to read, but so true. I applaud the author’s dare. The despicable and awful sex scenes hit my heart hard. So many women suffered that and against their will… and I have strong issues with sex, being asexual myself, and this was a nightmare described in words. Thanks for showing this old reality in women’s lives.
On a more cheerful note, I found so cute the serendipitous way Grace hears about the job and becomes a model! Lovely! Such things happen in real life, too. People’s reactions are realistic and true, so it is charming to read. Outbursts, false beliefs, happiness, dreams… I like how her quest to find Siddy is reinforced by a certain meeting and how the absence of action on Grace’s part is explained right when her motivation is renewed. It didn’t ignore the issue! Great! It’s fantastic to see models and beautiful women in action, to see them being intelligent and not stupid like most deem them just because they “show off” in expensive clothes. They’re women, they’re more than just that! Really loved it, this different perspective.

And if I may add: OH, THE EMOTIONS! The FEELS! I am so invested in Grace! Everything she feels, I feel. Ohhh, the ending got me crying like a poor fountain. I relate so much to Grace’s thoughts about a second set of parents. My grandparents were so close to me, they were and always will be my second parents.

In addition to those feelings, I love all the clever historical inserts and references such as the Duchess of Windsor, Vogue (which existed back then), the Viscountess de Noailles, and locations, and news in the paper like Dior’s clothes are “revolutionary” and old laws like how a woman can’t get a passport without her husband’s approval in Australia (what even is this? Yew!) I adore how celebrities of the time in all fields (Julia Child, imagine that!) make an appearance. Some play an even bigger role :). The author even goes all in with historical figures—she writes them closely and often, like a certain friend of Grace’s, Jacqueline. Have fun discovering who she is like I have!

This is genuinely the perfect read to be surrounded by fashion instead of reading only magazines and articles! So many references, allusions and oh, the ambiance.

I thought this was just a novel about fashion and possibly romance, but wow, it is so much more! And the best thing? It’s based on a true story!!

The Negative Sides:

There were a few things that I noticed. Oftentimes the transitions between paragraphs, time, and locations feel clunky or rushed. Alas, I was disappointed that Grace isn’t asexual because I swear she was every bit like me in the first half of the book… This could have been awesome representation, but of course, it ended with her just not being with the right man for her… What’s new? I’m left sour and disappointed after being so hopeful and despite how much I related with her sexuality at first. Also, it’s a bit too telling at some points throughout the book, almost preachy, but with good values and honesty. I can tell the author wants to make a point with good intentions, but sometimes it feels contrite or too much. Lastly, maybe the story is a bit too fairy tale-like in the end to my taste. But hey, it is sweet sometimes, isn’t it? Once in a while, a happy ending doesn’t hurt…

In Conclusion:

Despite its few flaws, and mostly thanks to the sheer engrossing read it became to me, I give this fantastic book, The Paris Model by Alexandra Joel a rating of 5 stars out of 5! I loved it so much I am going to purchase a final copy for my own “favorites” bookshelf at home. Trust me, this is a great and poignant read with lots of historical references and figures. It was delightful! And though it ended a bit soapy to me, we need happy endings from times top times, don’t we? Go ahead and make yourself a favour: read this book!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also add The Paris Model to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Witch’s Jewel: A Book Review

Book Reviews July 8, 2020 Leave a comment

Genre: Urban fantasy, YA, paranormal

Pages: 272

ISBN: 9798613448913

ASIN: B085ZWVJMH

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kindle & Kobo)

Publication date: April 17th, 2020

Publisher: Self-published

Type: Novel, Series

Introduction

When I was offered the chance to review this book, the first in the Kit Melbourne series, not only was I thrilled but it would be nearly a euphemism to say I jumped on it. An urban fantasy with a strong young woman with an intriguing, magical plot, a promise of action and a pretty good time?

How could I say no?

*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Kater Cheek!*

Blurb

A sorcerous jewel. A mysterious uncle. Can a barista keep her magical heirloom safe from murderous crooks?

Kit Melbourne longs to quit her brother's coffee shop to pursue her artistic dreams. And despite the temptation to sell the sought-after enchanted gem she inherited from her uncle, she promises her family to protect it at all costs. But when her brother's tea-leaf reading predicts her imminent death, she's terrified to discover those who want it will kill to make it theirs.

Forced to dig into her late relative's murky past, Kit is doubly shocked when she learns the artifact's mighty power cannot be transferred unless its caretaker is dead. But despite her command of karate and fierce vampiric allies, her attackers show no sign of giving up their relentless lethal pursuit.

Has Kit's vow not to sell sealed her doom?

Witch's Jewel is the first book in the engrossing Kit Melbourne urban fantasy series. If you like strong female leads, high-stakes action, and nail-biting plots, you'll love Kater Cheek's enthralling tale.

The Positive Sides

Oh my God, the introduction! The very first sentence is intriguing, gripping, and full of mystery. That’s the first thing I notice (besides the gorgeous and colourful cover, that is)! The writing is smooth, entertaining, light, and funny but honest and dark at moments. I really enjoyed reading this book—it’s like a nice breeze on a warm summer day. As for the dialogues, they hit me as natural with the real expressions we use to tell things and it flows. It’s rather lovely and engaging.

Moreover, I love Kitley’s honest, friendly, and sassy voice. She injects jokes and cynicism here and there, which are loads of fun to read. Plus, I find entertaining how Kit isn’t always honest because she’s desperate for money as she’s broke. She might not be morally ambiguous, but sometimes she’ll take advantage of others or situations so she can have nice things, you know? Like food, for example. It was different from what I’m used to reading (and sick of as well!), but so refreshing! I really love the main character’s flaws and I can relate to her better. In addition to this, the way the subplots are all there, pushing the main plot is fantastic. This book reads so well!

As for the bindi, the magic jewel, I love how the things Kitley sees with it increase in intensity and clarity. It makes for good twists and turns that made me laugh and smile a few times. I also love that the author, Kater Cheek, uses creatures from foreign folklore like Kappa and Rusalka, which adds a nice diversity to the supernatural. She even explains why there are creatures from folklore and how come they’re here if they’re from overseas and frankly that was priceless. We’d all ask that and the way it was answered made me laugh in a beautiful way: I giggle snorted. Fabulous!

May I add something? I took this note in my Kobo, directing it personally to Kitley, the main character: “Omg gurl! You’re so oblivious to Fenwick! I ship them!” Isn’t that beautiful?! Come on, it’s sweet. I wanted to throw this note at Kitley’s head so bad, but alas. The romance really drew me in with so many feels and I’m not one for romance in stories. But it was very well laid out with a sad starting point I can relate to too well: too many bad heartbreaks and unrequited love.

Truthfully, I haven’t been this invested in a book and characters for a long, long while. Precisely a year, when my grandparents became ill and my grandma died. So this book is definitely a breath of fresh air—much needed in my case. And I am thankful for it. It made me smile, laugh, and anticipate the reading.

The Negative Sides

The only thing about this book is its middle. It’s not sluggish per se, since most of the subplots come together (and it’s brilliant!), but it was at a slower pace than what I prefer. I’m not taking any star off because of it, it’s more of a personal preference, yet I figured it was worth mentioning. Let’s move on!

In Conclusion

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars for the refreshing heroine, the gripping story, the pleasure I had looking forward to reading it, and the way I continuously thought about the story and its characters—even when I wasn’t reading! It gave me something to look forward to in a hard time, and I am grateful. The author also gave us a thrilling action-filled fantasy book with tastes for everyone, in my opinion. Finally, I loved it so much I am going to purchase the paperback version to place much lovingly into my “favourite books” bookshelf. I recommend it to those who love action, fantasy, different heroines (and quite strong!), and a touch of romance.

What are you waiting for? Go on and read Witch’s Jewel to find out what Kitley’s going to do with the bindi… and what happens to her.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow him on Amazon author page and Goodreads. You can also add Witch’s Jewel to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Complete the Story: My Review and Free Flash Fiction

Book Reviews, flash fiction, Freebies May 6, 2020 Leave a comment

Hi, folks!

Remember the book Complete the Story I told you in this article of mine I'd come back to?

Well, here it is!

Copyrighted Catherine G.V., 2020.

This book gives you the first sentence of a story that you have to complete. I even added the limit of only on one page since there's a new sentence on every page. So, here's to the added challenge! *raises her glass of iced coffee*

As I thought, I simply love this book! Not only is it fun, but it is surprising. The sentences are so varied that you can write a sci-fi story, then fall into romance, historical, and so on. You never know what to expect!

Did I expect the first sentence to turn into a sci-fi flash fiction? Heck no, I barely write in that genre!

Was it fun? YES! Did it make me expand my writing skills and field? YES. Do I regret it? NOT AT ALL.

Here's what I have (you can read it as part of this article further down):

Copyrighted Catherine G.V., 2020.

And now, please enjoy my flash fiction and don't forget to check out Complete the Story at Indigo!

Shine a Light, I Might Accept

It was that fleeting hour of day when the moon and sun are high and bright at the same time. Like many things in my life, these summer nights wouldn’t last much longer. I sat quietly on a fallen tree, staring at the reflections of the sun and the moon on the sparkling purple lake’s surface. A smile expanded on my face as their rays both warmed parts of me while cooling others. I took a deep, satisfying breath with my eyes closed, the chirping of the Lagún birds reaching my ears through the transparent Nhelmet on my head.

Beep ding!

I sucked in my interrupted breath, a bitter disappointment in my chest. Cursing, I pressed on the side of the Nhelmet, just above my right ear.

“Yeah?”

“Kitley, get back inside! School’s tomorrow.”

The shrill voice of my mother echoed in my head. I blinked, defiance boiling in me.

“Come on, they’re out for a few more nights only!”

“That’s very well, but you’ll still come in, Kitley.”

“But dad—”

“Inside.”

The beep sounded and I grumbled. With one last glance at the wonderful moon and sun, I started towards the house. My heart shattered a bit more as I walked to join my breaking family. Maybe it would be better if it ended now.

Enjoyed it? Feel free to leave me a comment!

See you next post, lovelies!

A Flash Fiction in Spanish: Espejismo

flash fiction, languages April 22, 2020 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

As I'm perfecting my Spanish, I took a course in writing what is called "microrrelatos", a.k.a flash fiction. I enjoyed it greatly and figured out you might like reading my first story in Spanish—the first ever!

So, here goes (I'm sorry for those who can't read it, but I really wanted to share it in the hopes of a few enjoying it), y para todos mis amigos y todas mis amigas:

Espejismo

De no haber sido por ella, no hubiera viajado hasta allí. Melisina miró a su hermana y se impacientó

desde lo alto del montículo.

—¿Qué quería mostrarme, Ada? Mamá se preocupará.

—¡Mira! —dijo Ada, señalando a un animal.

Melisina volvió su mirada y vio al majestuoso león. Estaba tumbado sobre sus patas, como una esfinge. Su melena parecía suave, voluminosa y resplandeciente. El león estaba mirándolas con seriedad, como una estatua de mármol. Podría ver la arena alrededor de ellos y las pirámides. El calor fuerte sobre su piel. Melisina estiró el brazo y avanzó un paso hacia la bella bestia.

—¡Melisina! ¡Ada! Les dije que no vayáis al vecino.

Las niñas se sobresaltaron al oír la voz de su madre. Su madre estaba esperándoles en el balcón con las manos sobre sus caderas. Melisina echó un último vistazo a la criatura de su imaginación, después volvió a casa. Y la estatua de la esfinge siguió esperando al sueño de otra niña.

Digame lo que habéis pensado en ese microrrelato, por favor. 🙂 Espero que lo hubierais disfrutado.

¡Hasta la próxima, mis amigos!

Face Your Word: A Book Review

Book Reviews April 11, 2020 Leave a comment

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Goodreads

Genre: Fiction, Poetry

Pages: 162

ISBN: 9780578448237

ASIN: B07NVS6V2B

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kindle)

Publication date: February 7th, 2019

Publisher: Self-Published

Type: Poetry collection, Short story collection

*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to dear Michal Yaccoby, Shmuel Yaccoby, and BookTasters!*

Introduction:

I was intrigued by the concept of words running amok through poems and stories, accompanied by what seemed to be cute drawings. So I decided to give this book a try.

It turned out to be quite unique and an enjoyable read despite its few flaws.

Let’s go over it together, shall we?

The Blurb:

Written words leave their text and become alive. Each has its own expressive face and mysterious personality. Amusing short stories and poems with lessons for those who are forever young. Seasoned with surprising word characters: Stucker and Unstucker, who deal with being stuck in life; the difference between an ambitious one who likes TooBee and another who prefers NotTooBee; the funny virtual MaxiMax-Axe who breaks Box to activate Think-Outside-Box; the Scratch each of us carry through life; Known and None particles that handle our body and Mind within Atoms; the revenge journey of Cancer Cell; and much more. Written by Professor of Medicine, Shmuel Yaccoby (Ph.D.), and illustrated by his wife, Michal Yaccoby. They live in USA with their three children.

The Positive Sides:

For starters, this book is greatly original, unique. It was a surprise with each page and I couldn’t wait to keep reading to find out what drawing and topic was on the next page! Creativity and imagination run wild in this book, that’s for sure. The drawings of the words are so cute and adorable. Plus, these drawings and the play on words are all linked to the actual text in very clever ways. Honestly, I loved the illustrations and their names (and the twists on those!). Also, I liked the Capitalization (see what I did there?) of the names of the drawings/words; it makes you think they’re even more important than usual, just like people. And you start to recognize them as the stories go on like characters, which is a nice bonus.

Moreover, I really enjoyed how the poems could go on for a few pages, like a slow-going story to savour. The humour is fun to read and sprinkled here and there and everywhere.

I must say the last few pages were WOW. The mix of each of the words/drawings telling a story with a small sentence, all in line for a bigger one, just makes for a great and surprising experience. It left me with a sense of amazement and deep contemplation about what had been said, along with my own life. This was the highlight of the book, certainly!

The Negative Sides:

While this book is entertaining and original, I had the displeasure of sometimes stumbling over verses that are confusing—one can’t grasp their meaning quite easily. Even though they make you think, I’m not sure they’re meant to be confusing to the frowning point (which I did a few times). In the first poems/stories, the wording is strange here and there, which doesn’t help understanding.

Moreover, what bothered me was the overall lack of depth in the poems/stories. There are several with depth, such as the one about Atoms (capitalized in respect to the word running free in the book) and the one about Cancer, but the rest is very light and seems superficial. I don’t mind either, but doing both in the same book that’s advertised as “funny” and “for those young at heart”, is kind of against the point. One must choose between the two, and in this case for the promotion of the book, I think more light poems/stories would fit better.

Lastly, I found several poems/stories to be a bit too much on the religious side, which doesn’t fit the lightness of the book. I don’t think religion belongs in a light and funny read, unless you make jokes about it, but this is not the case. However, I greatly enjoyed the medical poems; they were both highly amusing and informative, coming from a Professor of Medicine.

In Conclusion:

This book was a wild, unique and informative ride, though it came with a few points to improve in my opinion. For all these reasons, I give Face Your Word by Shmuel Yaccoby & Michal Yaccoby a rating of 3.5 out 5! I recommend it to all types of readers, and mostly to those enjoying twists on formats, poetry and humour! Overall, if you’re looking for a unique reading experience, this is the book for you.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can follow him on his Twitter account. You can also add Face Your Word to your bookshelves on Goodreads.

A Blog Tour For A Noble’s Path

Blog Tours March 8, 2020 Leave a comment

Hello, cherished folks!

So, I've got thrilling news: I'm taking part in a blog tour for the book A Noble's Path by I. L. Cruz!

It's my first ever blog tour, so I am ecstatic!

You'll be able to read an excellent and intriguing author guest post along with an excerpt from her novel on the 14th of March on this very blog.

Also, the blog tour started yesterday. Have fun visiting other blogs and Web sites for the event as they have great content as well!

Here are the blog tour dates:

I can't wait to share what we have in store for you, folks!

Enjoy.

See you next post, lovelies!

Second Star: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 19, 2019 Leave a comment

Amazon.ca

Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Science-fiction, Retellings, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 352

ISBN: 9781948583008

ASIN: B07DH1PJS3

Format: eBook, Paperback

Publication date: March 5th, 2019

Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing

Type: Fiction, Novel (Series), Retellings

*A big thanks to Bleeding Ink Publishing, NetGalley and J.M. Sullivan for granting me this much-loved ARC in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation and reviewed it willingly.*

Second star to the right. Such a beautiful phrase in Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and a brilliant idea for a retelling novel, Second Star by J.M. Sullivan. The title itself is what grabbed my attention, the gorgeous cover held it for a while, and the blurb had me requesting it on NetGalley. Here’s a hint to my review: I loved it!

Positive Sides:

I rarely do this, but I'll start right away with the writing itself because it's note-worthy! Not only is it good and pretty, but it's also action-oriented and all showing, very little telling. I really like her writing! The names of the companions as acronyms for the robots and parts are excellent! Wow!! This made me grin and giggle so much. It's a nice spin on them. Moreover, the author makes creative genius and touchy feelsy uses and explanations of real quotes like "the second star to the right". She uses the quotes brilliantly and they're so faithful to the characters. It made my heart squeeze with so many feels!

As for the action of the story, the book jumps right into the action and lasts a long while which is highly entertaining. Because when action starts, it's action upon action and it's always the worst-case scenario that happens! In my opinion, this is the best reading experience, and it's thrilling. The action scenes had me engrossed and captivated, with my heart beating faster in real life. I have to give kudos to the author for they're fun, well-written, and there is no confusion about what's happening or who's doing what. At some point in the book, things got slow, but I swear the thrill picked back up on the next page or so. It was expertly woven.

That's all very good, but what about the story itself? Well, I thought the setting was genius! It's so different and creative in a retelling, yet so many hints and equivalences are there like Tink and more. In a space academy? Then off onto a spaceship? And landing on the Neverland planet? That's genius right there. Neverland is both stunning and foreign, and I love how everything is beautiful yet tinged or made slightly different. The fact that it's an alien planet has been taken into consideration – neat! Also, I love how there is coding and technical and engineering stuff that appear prominently; that makes it realistic for the future. This might be a silly remark, but it overjoyed me that Peter is a redhead! Often in retellings he is blonde or brown… but I prefer red heads, so it made me squeal as I could imagine him even more easily. Thanks, Miss Sullivan!

As for Wendy, I like that she's at school and one for the elite at that! Plus, the fact she has no brothers and that Johns and Michaels are her besties is a cool way to to reinvent the wheel! Her relationships with her "soul brothers" is so friendly, cute, and platonic (amazing!). In addition, I looooove how Wendy is in charge! She's different, and this makes her complimentary to Peter. And there's this special treat of how Wendy always has to look proper even in most dire situations. This trait reminds me of her mother role to the boys in the original and the era she's from where everyone of status looked dapper. What about Peter? He and Tinc are immensely likable! They're mine, okay? MINE!

And… the villains! Yes, villains are AWESOME. Dangerous, too! I'm so glad the author put in the original good form argument and attitude from Hooke. I'm also quite impressed by the twist and use of Peter's shadow; very surprising and innovative. Can I add that the showdown at the end is marvelous? WOW! Furthermore, I love how science is used in this book as well as the new concepts for devices, ships, and so on. Last, I swear the author made the Mermaids' Lagoon as important as in the original (if not even more), which made me so happy.

On a side note, may I talk about the thimble? YES, she included the thimble! Oh, my emotions! I cried and all the feels and I ship it!

You may now proceed to the negative sides, thank you.

Negative Sides:

Besides its many good points, this book has two main issues, in my opinion: cheesy romance and inconsistencies. In my book, romance is not very important in books, but this one was way too cheesy to believe in. I mean, Wendy and Peter just got to know each other for a week or two. I barely buy it, which makes me go rather "bleh" and rolling my eyes or sighing while reading. So, I'm warning you: this might get on your nerves like it did with mine. If only more time had passed, that would have been more understandable. While I know love at first sight might happen for a few people (does it even exist, though?), this was brimming full with insta-love.

The other issue is how regular are the inconsistencies. I noted two of them, glaring ones, but there are a few more. For example, in the beginning, the power is out and in the previous paragraph it is said that the ship Jolly Roger is pitch black, so then how come Peter can see cook’s face and his men like in daylight? The only source of light is Tinc, and it’s not said whether or not she is near him for this scene. Also, much later in the book, there's a scene where the gun isn't working anymore, but two chapters later it does with no explanations how. This is so confusing! I had to reread several times the passages, yet I couldn't make any sense of it, so I figured these were inconsistencies. It's annoying, but mostly because the book is so good overall that you want to understand.

In Conclusion:

So, I got this ARC months ago but only got to write this review this week due to health issues, BUT what I'm about to say still stands strong: Second Star is one of the few best retellings I've ever read and the best book I've read in 2018, clearly. Heck, it's the end of 2019 and I'm still thinking about it a lot, remembering all those charming characters, engrossing action and enticing world. Thanks to all of this, I give Second Star by J. M. Sullivan a rating of 4.5 out of 5. I didn't take a point for the cheesiness of the romance (which is still cute), but I took a .5 for the (unfortunate) inconsistencies. All the rest is amazing! I'm eager to read the sequel!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads. You can visit her publisher, Bleeding Ink Publishing. You can also add Second Star to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Vault of Verona: A Book Review

Book Reviews September 4, 2019 Leave a comment

(Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2019)

The Literature Factory

Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 282

ISBN: 9780648127918

Format: eBook, Paperback

Publication date: July 5th, 2017

Publisher: Marissa Price (Literature Factory)

Type: Fiction, Novel (Series)

*I received this free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to BookTasters and Marissa Price!*

Introduction:

I was browsing the selection of books by BookTasters when I stumbled upon this gem: a Romeo & Juliet retelling! You have to know that it's my favorite love story, ever. And yes, I know it's not realistic (don't care) and it's a tragedy (exactly why I love it). I read the blurb and… a modern girl who goes back to 14th century Verona?! As Juliet?!

You guessed it: I chose The Vault of Verona as this month's book. Let's be honest here: I couldn't have possibly scrolled past it. Not with my love for the play, retellings, AND such a good idea with a modern girl facing the Middle Ages as one of them!

The Blurb:

Harriet Hunter, a modern Australian and teenage student, has to write a homework about Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Harriet's feminist personality doesn't like this story, nor weak Juliet much, and she draws a picture of what she'd look like if she existed. Overnight, Harriet is transported back in time to Verona with Paris, Romeo, Friar Lawrence, and other play characters… but she finds herself as Juliet! And so the race begins to try and end the play (or is this real life?) in another manner than the original and to find a way back home.

The Positive Sides:

For a start, the MC, Harriet, oozes feminism and equality as the pop references and the story itself do. This story has strong beliefs and stands up for women. I enjoyed how it paints women from earlier times just like us but without the means and rights to be who they were, as well as how other people aren't magnified, but simply human and humane (for the most of them, that is). Also, I love, love, love Harriet's feminist interventions with the ladies in Verona. It's so funny and empowering! In summary, it's undoubtedly a novel written by a woman for women and lauding their strength.

Speaking of Harriet more precisely, I loved her! She's intelligent and cultivated. She thinks quickly. All these elements are so hard to pull off. Her intelligence and the deft writing that shows it believably. I so rarely see this in books that I read—I'm just awed! FINALLY that's a smart character and not one-whose-author-tried-to-make-them-like. The three only other intelligent characters done well (in my opinion) are Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and Thomas from the Maze Runner, and Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson. So, cheers to the author for this feat! Moreover, I loved how Harriet cared about saving Juliet and the lives of those around her in the 14th century. Her gradual understanding of Juliet's character and own strength by being in her shoes is beautiful and inspiring.

On a character side note, I love the Nurse character. Her love for Juliet is clear to see and so heartwarming. I also appreciated the switch of POV to Paris and other characters we either saw very little of in the play, or not at all. It allowed us to explore their thoughts and personality as well as situations.

As for the realism of the Middle Ages, I liked the details of life in that time such as the velvety black sky with twinkling stars that is so much different from the one we see in cities nowadays. Also, the short breaths because of corsets and the very pale lights due to only the moon and a candle. Nice ones!

The friendships were on the spotlight in The Vault of Verona. I loved the talk of equality between one of the main characters and Harriet and her interest about marriage equality as well as the truth of women's equality and how it had to be fought for. It filled me with pride and hope for women and other marginalised people.

As for her writing, the vocabulary is well chosen and not childish, but often literary. Admirable. Indeed, she has good writing, mostly in metaphors and comparisons (as well as her literary words). For example, "against the hunger of the dark" (I find this beautiful, poetic and poignant.) The descriptions of her settings are precise and gripping without being overwhelming. Also, the transitions are smooth between thoughts, actions, events and chapters. The hooks at the chapter ends are awesome and make you want to find out the famous "What happens next?"

But what about the rhythm and coherence? Well, the tension and action imposed by the situation and Harriet's actions are fun and engrossing. You feel the ticking bomb. Something else that pleased me was how every little thing or mention finds meaning at some point in the story. It's beautiful. Another thoughtful thing is how the author talks about all the characters' new situations at the end. There is a real satisfying closure.

All in all, this book messes up with your expectations and there's an excellent middle plot twist!! It was a long time since I was so hooked to a book, thinking about it even when I wasn't reading, while doing banal chores (I'm looking at you dishes and showering). I had a blast!

P.S.: There is such a good hint about where she's headed next towards the end.

The Negative Sides:

Now, there were a few mistakes that I can't just toss away such as how the dialogues are a bit too revealing about information the characters should already know. Also, the Harriet's main setting (Wineglass Bay, Australia) was hard to grasp before a good thirty pages. The author gives such small crumbs of info it was hard to piece them together until she mentioned the name of the city later so I could google it. This was more annoying than a real mistake per se, mind you.

Also, I found a few spelling mistakes ("focussed", for example), but the real problem was the editing. Let me explain with examples. There is an instance where Juliet's father is called "Lord Montague" instead of "Capulet". Wrong family. Moreover, there's this part where it says "Taking a deep breath (…), she took a deep breath." in the same sentence! And such other editing issues appear throughout the book. Has this been edited? Because I'm sure an editor would have caught them and it would have made this already awesome book into a perfect one.

Lastly, Romeo doesn't seem to care about the murder of his best friend, Mercutio—he only has eyes for Juliet. And I noticed a bit of head-hopping, but it's always introduced with the name of the following head-hopped character in a sentence right before it. So this doesn't really count as a mistake, but more of a technique to improve, I think?

In Conclusion:

Seriously, this read was captivating and thrilling! Like I said, it's been a long while since I was so hooked to a book. Despite its editing flaws, I think this book is a gem in terms of historical fiction, retelling, and feminism; it makes you care. I took out a point for the editing, but I can't give The Vault of Verona any less than a rating of 4 stars out of 5 for how fun reading this book was and how many emotions it made me feel.

I'll gladly recommend this book to everyone I know, mostly if you have tastes in these genres! Also, I'll keep myself updated about the author and her books because this is certainly not the last of hers I will read! In fact, I'm staring at the second volume. I'll try to get it as a review copy (because more promotion for this great series!), but if I can't it's a sure purchase!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site and The Literature Factory. You can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads. You can also add The Vault of Verona to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Woe of Self-Esteem and Confidence (And How to Beat It!)

Tips July 11, 2019 Leave a comment

Hello, everyone!

This week's writing tip is all about self-esteem and confidence… two hard concepts to keep when they grace you with their magic. However, I have a tip and a real story to share with you about how to get confident and raise your level of self-esteem. Ready?

Let's get started!

The hardest thing to do when one wishes to write is actually sitting down and writing something. But let me tell you that

a) you will NEVER grow your confidence if you don't write. At all.

b) in order for your self-esteem to rise, you need to stop making excuses and find the time to write – you shall feel much better afterwards. You'll see. It's a step in the right direction.

I know, I know. Life is crazy fast. So how does one sit down to write when we have to wash the dishes, etc.? The answer is as simple as it's hard to apply: Make writing your priority. I kid you not. I've been reading how-to books on writing and they all say the same thing. Guess what? They're right. I've been trying it the past few days and my NaNo Prep improved. 🙂 I am now into world-building. It's quite impressive being at that point taking into consideration that I only had a concept for the story two weeks ago. If you don't make it your priority, you'll feel bad and guilty for not writing, which is the exact opposite of how you should feel for your self-esteem to rise!

As for confidence, I have a little story to tell you: This week, I wrote a flash fiction for a contest and posted it on Scribophile for reviews. For the second time in my life, I received a terribly negative review, which came as a shock to me (I'm not used to receiving poor feedback, my stories usually being great). I was hurt. Sincerely. My confidence in my writing took a step back… but then, something awesome happened. Three other people reviewed it afterwards. Their reviews were good and constructive. It made me feel better and more confident.

Moral of the story? Believe in what you can do and share it. If you don't share it, how can you know people will actually like it? You can't grow your confidence by keeping it a secret… Yes, sometimes it hurts like hell, but other times (and those are the important ones) it's as sweet as honey and crucial (as they give you constructive reviews).

You see, confidence isn't a straight line. It's more like a roller coaster. Aim for the climb at the summit, though be aware there will be hurtful going down. When you're at the top of the roller coaster, analyze what got you there. Then cherish it. Write it down, if necessary. This way, during rough times, you can look back at it and know how to work on your confidence.

Did you know that James Patterson, bestselling author of 76 novels, got rejected 31 times when he was starting out?! It's not because a certain someone, professional or not, dislikes your writing, that it is bad. Other people will see something good in it; thrive on this! And improve what you can. It's the only way you will grow your confidence. By sharing your work and becoming vulnerable. It's unpleasant, I know. But it's worth it in the long run.

Self-esteem and confidence are friends of your writing and sharing. It comes hand in hand with them.

I wish you all the best with your writing.

If you have questions about today's tip, ask me in the comments below!

On this: Just write!

Writing Apps on Android: A Review

App & Software Reviews July 5, 2019 Leave a comment

Hello again, folks! I promised you a review of two free writing apps available in the Google Play Store. Well, here it is! Let's start with World Scribe, my favorite of the two.

World Scribe by Averi Studios

Just like its name says, this app lets you build a world along with all the connections, concepts, characters it must have for it to be believable and great.

Positive points:

It is cute but simple and easy to navigate and create new files (or even worlds). There's a big ''+'' button for that need and it's quite hard to miss.
We can add pictures!!! (I cannot stress this enough as I am one who loves casting my characters or even add a picture that resembles the place I am creating.)
There is a space for general information, the possibility to create memberships and roles to groups YOU create, residences (worlds), various connections such as relationships to one another or with a certain item, and snippets of information that do not fit in the bio.
A fact I particularly liked: it can backup to Dropbox! So even if you lose the app or it doesn't work anymore for whatever reason, you can find all you need in Dropbox (if you backed it up once or more, of course).
There are different app themes which consist of five colors and even a night mode (the background then becomes black).
You can create as many worlds as you wish!
There is a search function in each tab (or category) if you ever have too many characters or else.
You can even create concepts about your worlds, items, characters, or whatever it is you want the concept to be about. It is fun to have this possibility because we know that there are many concepts in a world in order for it to feel real…
Last but not least, no ads!

You're probably wondering where the negative points are… I am as well for I couldn't find any! For an app, it is quite interesting and worth the downloading and installing bits. Now, you can have your worlds and basic character descriptions at your fingertips, wherever you are. Doesn't this sound magical? It is!

So, I give this cute and useful app a rating of 5 out of 5. I recommend it to everyone who writes! Even if you're not worldbuilding, you can just enter the basic information of the real place your characters are set in and then expand on the relationships, groups, concepts, etc. Thus, you'll have all you need to start writing on a whim on the subway or on the bus or anywhere, really!

Writing Prompts by Datamix Soft

This app gives you writing prompts for when your creativity fuel is running low or only to exercise your writing skills.

Negative points:

There are ads, which is annoying.
The interface is dark (bleh) and the pixels show; it doesn't have a nice and beautiful finish feel to it.
There is a tab titled ''Writing Guides'', but when I click it, it tells me to download another app from them in which there are all of their writing guides. This would have been very interesting if it were integrated in the Writing Prompts app. Otherwise, one must use more download in order to get to them…

Positive points:

The prompts are fun and diverse. However, they are not precise enough with ideas – they're more about techniques.
Easy navigation.
The ''Online Writing Communities'' tab lists the 7 most popular writing communities you can find online along with short descriptions and direct links to them. I even discovered a few! This is, by far, the best point of this writing app.
The interface's main screen is a fun space – it mimics a corkboard with the prompts written on a small piece of paper pinned to it. If only it weren't so pixelated…

Unfortunately, I don't really recommend it unless you want to explore the various online writing communities, that is. I give this app a rating of 2 out of 5 for the easy interface and the discovery of online writing communities. Next up will probably be a book review or my review of K.M. Weiland's outlining software!

P.S.: I'm so glad I re-read my last post because I had completely forgotten about my sci-fi short story… Don't worry! I'll get to it and share it with you in due time. Once the research and writing parts are done, of course.

P.S. 2: Also, if there are apps or sites you want me to review or anything you'd like to know, just comment and tell me! I'll do my best to help you.

Will you try one of these two apps? If so, what did you like and dislike about them?

As always, thanks for sticking with me and see you next post!