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Songlight by Moira Buffini: A Book Review

Book Reviews September 13, 2024 Leave a comment

by Moira Buffini

HarperCollins's Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

Storygraph

LibraryThing

Hardcover.app

Genre: Dystopian, Sci-fi, YA
Number of pages: 384
ISBN: 978-0063358218
Format: Hardcover, Audiobook (Audible, CD), eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook)
Publication date: September 3rd, 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type: Book, Novel, Series

Series: The Torch Light

Huge thanks to HarperCollins CA for a physical ARC of this book. I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.

This review contains MILD SPOILERS.

This book caught my eye because of the title which I find beautiful and positive, as well as the stunning cover. But what really decided me to give it a read was the strong female friendship promoted! I’m always on the lookout for more female friendships that are great, positive, and not toxic or mean. So, I had to request it, and I’m so thrilled HarperCollins Canada granted me a copy!! It was one of my most anticipated reads of the YEAR, and it did not disappoint.

Care to know why?

Come with me for an excursion into Songlight’s world and my love for it.

The Positive Points

I HAVE to start with what surprised me positively when I started reading this book. It clearly mentions a girl’s menstruation and I couldn’t be happier for this! Oftentimes, the YA genre overlooks this simple fact, like it’s taboo or bad when it’s only natural. However, I love when it gets acknowledged, because most of us readers and writers agree that literature should speak the truth… Well, menstruation is a girl’s truth, specially taking into account we start our periods as young teens. I always find it ridiculous and unbelievable when the girls are NEVER on their periods, and can go fight or go out on quests like there’s no worries about that… I’m sorry, are you a teenage girl or a cardboard character made to fit the plot? Yeah, that’s what I thought. So, thank YOU, Miss Buffini, for writing a teenager’s menstruation into your book. It pleased me, as it needs to be more talked about if we’re to reflect reality in truthful ways in our literature. Thus, teenage girls can see themselves and their reality in the books they read.

Now, on another topic, I must admit this book ALWAYS has action. There’s always something happening. The characters are complex, determined, and all intriguing in their own way. I never figured out if I sensed them in the room with me while reading or if I felt transported next to them. Either way, that’s some powerful character creation right there.

Moreover, I love that there are many points of view. We can explore more of this dystopian world as well as grasp diverse perspectives.

While I do love both Nightingale and Lark, I am rather fond of Lark (Elsa Crane) for her boldness, her caring, and her strength of character. I really like Heron Mikane as well. They have a similar way of caring about people and situations. They’re also very interesting and complex, multi-layered. However, Nightingale is as sweet as a dove. In my mind, that’s how I picture her. I nicknamed her “Dove”. 🙂

And I have a suggestion for renaming this book! How about The tale of twists? Because honestly, I’ve never read a story with so many twists that twist into subtwists and so on. It’s wonderful and mind-blowing! It’s like each and every twist is twistin’, and I love it!

Plus, when you think the characters’ situations can’t get any worse, it DOES! It’s incredible, wow. I had a few doubts sometimes but I didn’t think the author would dare take it into those directions… yet she did! This a book that just keeps on giving you twists and situations, as well as a few, heartfelt and hopeful moments. Miss Buffini doesn’t shy away from any difficult situations or decisions; she tackles heartbreak, betrayal, feels, pitting family and friends against each other, good and society against evil and selfishness… It’s all so beautiful and wow, the feels I had! I’m thoroughly impressed!

Honestly, this book is a thrilling read! It’s been a very long time since I haven’t read a book as thrilling and entertaining as this. I love the books I read, but while they’re thrilling at certain moments, Songlight is thrilling on every page! Such a feat, wow. Like, I. could. NOT. put. it. down! Impressive!

Lastly, I never thought I’d feel for this character, Piper Crane, but I did at some point. I hate him generally because he betrayed someone important to him and his views are very narrow and limited… However, he hasn’t it easy either. It’s actually quite terrible, because he’s gay in a terribly brutal society that treats gays as less than sh!t and he believes deeply he’s unnatural… Poor Piper is a typical example of what it’s like being brainwashed and afraid to be gay because of society. He wants to prove himself, to be important, and everything. But where he lives, being gay means the exact contrary… So, I have compassion for him and I think that’s a feat, because like I mentioned, his betrayal marked him irredeemable to me, as well as his bootlicking behaviour (although I can see why, he’s been brainwashed and he wants to fit in but he’s really blind and deaf to everyone who loves him, urgh). Yet, I feel strong emotions and sadness for him. Well done, Miss Buffini!

The Negative Points

There are many point of views, but they follow no order whatsoever, which is really confusing. For example, the first character has three chapters, after which the second character has one chapter, and then it’s one we didn’t know before that has two chapters, then it’s back to the second one, and right after the author introduces us to a fourth character, then it comes back to the first point of view…

It’s slightly annoying and very confusing, which diminishes a bit the reading experience. I love that it has many point of views, but the lack of order to them mind boggled me a lot of times.

In Conclusion

Songlight is a marvelous, thrilling and feelsy read! I recommend it whole-heartedly to lovers of dystopian books, of female friendships, LGBTQ+ readers, and those who crave feels and thrills and drama in their books like I do. I will genuinely read the two other books in the trilogy; it’s now high on my dystopian book list. For all these reasons, despite the point of views that are a bit messy and confusing due to their order, and for all the sheer fun and thrill I had reading this book, I give Songlight a bright rating of 5 stars out of 5. I hope this will be a big sensation, because I feel like it deserves to be!

Thank you for reading, as always.

If you want to learn more about the author, Moira Buffini, you can visit her HarperCollins Canada's author page, her Goodreads author page, as well as her IMDb page. Don't forget to add Songlight to your wishlist or your cart as well as your bookshelves!

How to Choose Your Next Read: Mood Reader Edition

Reader Edition June 13, 2024 Leave a comment

As a mood reader myself, these are methods and techniques I experimented and found success with. I recommend using this article like a method bank because the same method won't always work. It hasn't for me because each "reading slump" brought by the end of the previous book is different and unique related to the story, characters, and the emotions and feelings it left me. So, I have to use either this one or that one at some time, and another time I have to try the other two again.

But the good news is that there's always one method that works—the trick is finding the right one at the right time for us, mood readers.

What I noticed is that this state of indecision and generalized bleariness towards each and every book seems to stem from boredom and routine.

So, let's explore my favourite methods to stave off that state and win over it!

Ready?

Okay, scroll!

Go with the Season

Okay, this one sounds like a given, but have you reeaaally tried it? I mean, not only with the holidays it includes, but the season and moods themselves. If so, a bit of reviewing the pros of this technique will help! If not, get ready to find a few new ideas.

Your Favorite Genre

Here's my favorite one: choose a book of your favorite genre which either fits the mood, the ambiance, or the holidays of that season.

For example, I was in October (Fall), and I loooove fantasy! I wanted something Halloween-like (holidays), yet familiar and cozy. So, I went with Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw (you can see my bookstagram and read my review here), knowing Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite Halloween movie (it's a tradition!), it's not that scary, and it fit all the boxes for the season all while being in my favorite genre.

Something You Love

Now, I mentioned this tip with the previous paragraph, but it's: choose a topic you love (like a TV show, or a book series), and try to find a book that is either set during the season in question OR that has the ambiance and vibes. Some will do special season books, or one of them is set during winter and that's what you're looking for, for example.

For me, it was during the month of December, and as a big Doctor Who fan, I wanted to read something about that TV show, yet I wanted to feel Christmastime and winter.

I looked up Doctor Who books and I stumbled upon Doctor Who: The Twelve Doctors of Christmas, and it was an instant purchase!

It did checked my favorite topic and seasonal boxes. The stories are warm and wintery, and perfect for Doctor Who fans!

Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone

This one is an old trick, but it is tough for a reason: it works. Not always, but it helps shake the routine and boredom.

For this one, I have two different methods: trying an unfamiliar genre and looking for a different trope.

Try An Unfamiliar Genre

More often than not, we read what we love most and what we're familiar with. For example, I'm all about fantasy and romance, as well as documentaries. But, if I wanna shake up my world and try a different genre, I will choose a memoir, or a travel book written by someone who went to that country. See?

The first travel memoir—or memoir, for that matter—I ever read was Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes because it's about Italy. Enough said. No, but, truth is, I love the Italian culture and I speak Italian as a self-taught language since I was 14 years old. So, it was meaningful to me. And, thanks to this book, I found another genre to read sometimes: memoirs.

So, if you read mostly fiction, try a non-fiction by a researcher, or a writer you like, a memoir by a celebrity of some kind, something other than fiction.

If you read non-fiction instead, try a light novel, or a poetry book. Something that can grip you instead of always giving you information to feed on (which is awesome, I love that too, but you know, to shake things up a bit ;)).

Look for a Different Trope

A trope is a certain pattern that comes back so often it's common. For example, in Romance books I always go to enemies-to-lovers, but once in a while, if you're like me, try a friends-to-lovers, perhaps? Ok, not the same stakes, but that's what we're looking for here. These are both tropes, but since I'm quite the enemies-to-lovers gal, changing it up to friends-to-lovers will shake up my perspective and routine.

Another example is how I love morally grey characters (*cue April Jay's bookish song, Morally Grey*), then when I'm looking for a different trope, I'll try a goody-two-shoes.

I know, I know, these examples can seem rather daunting, but that's the point with getting out of your comfort zone!

Establish the Mood You Want with:

Put On A Playlist

Playlists are a great way to establish mood and ambiance, whether it's for reading, writing, cooking, and other any fun activities. Some prefer a classical playlist, others a moody one, and some others a lyrical playlist…

Here are a few suggestions, feel free to try them out to find the mood you're looking for:

Dark Academia Classical

Sometimes lyrics are too overwhelming and confusing as you read, but others will enjoy it. As for classical music, it's mostly great for thrillers and fantasy, I found from experience, or deep drama readings like the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, or dark romance.

Did you know there are also playlists compiled by the authors themselves for specific books or series?

Why not try and find one (if it exists) for the book you're about to read?

For example, the If I Stay playlist by the author Gayle Forman.

The Splintered Series playlist by the author A. G. Howard (my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling).

Oftentimes the authors will leave a link to their playlists on their website, or do a manual search in your music app.

Brew Your Favorite Beverage

An essential in my opinion is a beverage. But not any beverage; it must be your favorite, or at least held in the same esteem.

For example, I am a coffee gal, but mostly iced coffee. I'm all about iced coffee; from Tim Horton's, Starbucks, from my home Nespresso, and more. I need that iced coffee, and what better way to drink it than to pair it with a book for a perfect mood?

Exactly what I thought: there is no better way than that!

If you're not a coffee gal or lad, how about some tea? You can use a little tea infuser with tea herbs, or you can use a tea bag. Either way, as long as it's a taste you love to sip and smell.

And how about brewing your own coffee if you like that? This could get you into an enthusiastic mood with the smell and the movements, right before an interesting read!

Whichever drink you prefer, make sure to pair one of your favorites with a book. It never fails to delight!

Settle in a Pleasant Setting

Settings are as important in real life as in stories. For example, would the Shadow and Bone trilogy be the same without a Russian-inspired Ravka? Nope. How about Harry Potter without Hogwarts? Not the same feel at all.

Well, same goes for you!

Do you have a comfy chair? I call mine my "potato chair", because then I can become a potato on it and not move except for turning the pages and drinking my favorite iced coffee.

Perhaps it's a cozy or favorite room in your house or apartment? Go there!

If you prefer the calm and quiet of the library, or the cozy bustle of the coffee shop, why not spice things up by reading in these locations? I can lose myself for hours in a book in both the library and a coffee shop. Or if it's new to you, how about changing the pace of your reading and trying these places out?

In order for the reading to be more enticing and immersive, find yourself a pleasant spot.

Put On Comfy or Thematic Clothes

Clothes are often overlooked as a means to create mood. But sometimes, it can be the missing element!

If you want a cozy, calm and soothing reading experience, how about slipping on comfy clothes? Those baggy pants, or how about these leggings you bought last month? A big shirt or a tight tank top. Whatever your comfy is, make sure to aim for it. Clothes can put us in certain moods, and comfy is the one we're going for here for reading experience.

However, if you want to shake things up and be ready for the adventure at hand, let's say you're about to read a fantasy novel, how about putting on a Harry Potter shirt or scarf? If you have a shirt from Game of Thrones, it works, too! As long as it fits the topic/genre you're going to read, there's no trouble.

How about sexy underwear or cute pyjamas full of kisses or hearts for a romance book?

I mean, why not? It's all about the right mood!

Change the Routine–Make it Special!

Remember when I mentioned how it's all about routine? Yeah, exactly, so let's make it special! Because, routine is good for daily life, but it can become tiresome, even in reading for we go to our favorite genres, things we like, but it sometimes loses that sparkle. You know the one! That sparkle that gets us giddy before a read, like we're an enthused two year-old before a new toy.

That one, yeah!

How do we find it back? Here we go!

Enjoy yourself!

You know how routines can become… well, routinely. Boring. Tiresome. Same old, same old. This happens with our reading, too! When our "want" changes to "must" because we've been meaning to read that book for so long, or perhaps we have a bookstagram or review coming up… But thing is, "I must read" is no fun, it's routine–reading's become a chore. Yikes! The horror! We love reading mostly for escapism (except those unique ones who don't and I can't relate, but hey, welcome to the party!), so when it stops being escapism… No, that's too terrifying to consider.

So, the trick is to subtly change the "I must read my book" to "I WANT to read my book".

Start by changing the word in your thoughts and in conversations with people. That'll help. Then, try to view it as some me-time, to relax, to reappropriate your pleasure of reading.

Don't let it be tiresome–make it awesome!

These Are Not Just Words

No, I did not make a mistake. Books are NOT just words. The ever so practical will tell me : "Of course not, there is glue, paper, ink…." Yes, alright, but dear fellow, that's not what I mean, so sit down.

What I mean is books are much more than words. There are mental images, stories, knowledge… and the best of all: they give us friends! Come on, don't tell me you never loved a book character so much as to think of them outside of your reading time, and some of us go as far as purchasing items about them and writing fanfics, making fanvids, and more.

These friends we find in the pages of books are our friends and no one else's. Why? Because every one reads a bit differently, so every one has their own versions of said characters. And that makes it unique, because books contain more than words–they contain friends we yearn to discover and develop a friendship with in the first read, or reconnect with through a second or third reading.

The Ultimate .gif Database

And that, my dears, is beautiful.

Magic is what it is, I think.

Magic of the heart, and mind, and soul… Magic of the story!

So, keep that in mind to enthuse yourself about your read, ok? 😉

Friendship: Lessons from "Harry Potter"

Dance, Laugh–It's an Adventure!

Last but the funniest is please please please make it fun. Sometimes, to go back to my "tiresome routine" point, we can lose ourselves in the daily grind. But, reading is no simple feat (psychologically and emotionally). We immerse ourselves into these worlds or into that knowledge. At least, make it some kind of privileged time! A party, if that's what it takes.

For me, I do love to dance and laugh on music to psych me up before sitting down with a book. Perhaps you'd like to play a game to have a good mood before reading, or read jokes.

Geez, you're going on an adventure to discover and befriend people (fiction) or learn tons (non-fiction) on how the world or people work!

Don't make it something casual or too ordinary–reconnect with its fantastic nature! Put a movie in the background, or listen to classical music while reading.

Whatever you do, remember: reading is an adventure.

So act like it's one!

Round 3: Holiday Adventure - Monks - Nerd Fitness Rebellion

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Don't forget to try out these tricks any time you get stuck as a mood reader (which happens, let's be honest, every day!).

See you next post, lovelies!

Suicide Squad: KtJL Does a Traversal Move Into The Comic World

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” but GENERALLY better…by YOU. How would you redeem this better than Rocksteady? : r/SuicideSquadGaming

Rocksteady Studios, the studio behind the Batman: Arkham game series, Gotham Knights, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, has an unofficial comic book tradition. Every time one of their new Batman games is released, there will be a prequel comic explaining some more shadowed part during the game or how the characters got to this point of entry in the game. While Rocksteady isn’t the instigator of this endeavour nor do they treat these comics as canon material, DC Comics always takes advantage of a new game release set in the Batman world to produce more comic materials in sync with it.

True to their tradition, DC Comics are publishing an official prequel to the Suicide Squad: KtJL, titled Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum. It will have five issues written by John Layman, and art by Jesús Hervás, which tells the story of how the inmates are in a fight against each other to run the asylum. The first issue is already out since February 06^th, 2024.

The game Batman: Arkham City has a prequel comic book by Paul Dini and Carlos D’Anda, and the same is true with Batman: Arkham Knight, which features the story of how the Arkham Knight came to be in Batman: Arkham Knight: Genesis.

In these Batman games, the comics and their characters are closely intertwined with the stories gamers get to play through and immerse themselves in.

While not part of the Suicide Squad: KtJL game per se, reading about a potential situation of what happened before and how these four inmates (Harley Quinn, Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark) found themselves to be under Amanda Waller’s thumb to save the world from aliens might just be what is needed for a richer immersive experience. Rocksteady Games have a precious habit of being quite true to the comics in their games, so completing the gaming experience with a comic would make a lot of sense—and could be a blast!

Why not jump into the Comic Elseworld of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, then?

Sources:

Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum | Comic Trailer | DC

SUICIDE SQUAD: KILL ARKHAM ASYLUM #1

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT – GENESIS

My own Batman: Arkham City comic book

Rocksteady Studios

How to Choose Your Next Read: Mood Reader Edition

chit-chatting with Cat, Reader Edition, Writing (Routine, Tips, and Discussions) March 1, 2024 Leave a comment

As a mood reader myself, these are methods and techniques I experimented and found success with. I recommend using this article like a method bank because the same method won't always work. It hasn't for me because each "reading slump" brought by the end of the previous book is different and unique related to the story, characters, and the emotions and feelings it left me. So, I have to use either this one or that one at some time, and another time I have to try the other two again.

But the good news is that there's always one method that works—the trick is finding the right one at the right time for us, mood readers.

What I noticed is that this state of indecision and generalized bleariness towards each and every book seems to stem from boredom and routine.

So, let's explore my favourite methods to stave off that state and win over it!

Ready?

Okay, scroll!

Go with the Season

Okay, this one sounds like a given, but have you reeaaally tried it? I mean, not only with the holidays it includes, but the season and moods themselves. If so, a bit of reviewing the pros of this technique will help! If not, get ready to find a few new ideas.

Your Favorite Genre

Here's my favorite one: choose a book of your favorite genre which either fits the mood, the ambiance, or the holidays of that season.

For example, I was in October (Fall), and I loooove fantasy! I wanted something Halloween-like (holidays), yet familiar and cozy. So, I went with Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw (you can see my bookstagram and read my review here), knowing Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite Halloween movie (it's a tradition!), it's not that scary, and it fit all the boxes for the season all while being in my favorite genre.

Something You Love

Now, I mentioned this tip with the previous paragraph, but it's: choose a topic you love (like a TV show, or a book series), and try to find a book that is either set during the season in question OR that has the ambiance and vibes. Some will do special season books, or one of them is set during winter and that's what you're looking for, for example.

For me, it was during the month of December, and as a big Doctor Who fan, I wanted to read something about that TV show, yet I wanted to feel Christmastime and winter.

I looked up Doctor Who books and I stumbled upon Doctor Who: The Twelve Doctors of Christmas, and it was an instant purchase!

It did checked my favorite topic and seasonal boxes. The stories are warm and wintery, and perfect for Doctor Who fans!

Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone

This one is an old trick, but it is tough for a reason: it works. Not always, but it helps shake the routine and boredom.

For this one, I have two different methods: trying an unfamiliar genre and looking for a different trope.

Try An Unfamiliar Genre

More often than not, we read what we love most and what we're familiar with. For example, I'm all about fantasy and romance, as well as documentaries. But, if I wanna shake up my world and try a different genre, I will choose a memoir, or a travel book written by someone who went to that country. See?

The first travel memoir—or memoir, for that matter—I ever read was Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes because it's about Italy. Enough said. No, but, truth is, I love the Italian culture and I speak Italian as a self-taught language since I was 14 years old. So, it was meaningful to me. And, thanks to this book, I found another genre to read sometimes: memoirs.

So, if you read mostly fiction, try a non-fiction by a researcher, or a writer you like, a memoir by a celebrity of some kind, something other than fiction.

If you read non-fiction instead, try a light novel, or a poetry book. Something that can grip you instead of always giving you information to feed on (which is awesome, I love that too, but you know, to shake things up a bit ;)).

Look for a Different Trope

A trope is a certain pattern that comes back so often it's common. For example, in Romance books I always go to enemies-to-lovers, but once in a while, if you're like me, try a friends-to-lovers, perhaps? Ok, not the same stakes, but that's what we're looking for here. These are both tropes, but since I'm quite the enemies-to-lovers gal, changing it up to friends-to-lovers will shake up my perspective and routine.

Another example is how I love morally grey characters (*cue April Jay's bookish song, Morally Grey*), then when I'm looking for a different trope, I'll try a goody-two-shoes.

I know, I know, these examples can seem rather daunting, but that's the point with getting out of your comfort zone!

Establish the Mood You Want with:

Put On A Playlist

Playlists are a great way to establish mood and ambiance, whether it's for reading, writing, cooking, and other any fun activities. Some prefer a classical playlist, others a moody one, and some others a lyrical playlist…

Here are a few suggestions, feel free to try them out to find the mood you're looking for:

Dark Academia Classical

Sometimes lyrics are too overwhelming and confusing as you read, but others will enjoy it. As for classical music, it's mostly great for thrillers and fantasy, I found from experience, or deep drama readings like the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, or dark romance.

Did you know there are also playlists compiled by the authors themselves for specific books or series?

Why not try and find one (if it exists) for the book you're about to read?

For example, the If I Stay playlist by the author Gayle Forman.

The Splintered Series playlist by the author A. G. Howard (my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling).

Oftentimes the authors will leave a link to their playlists on their website, or do a manual search in your music app.

Brew Your Favorite Beverage

An essential in my opinion is a beverage. But not any beverage; it must be your favorite, or at least held in the same esteem.

For example, I am a coffee gal, but mostly iced coffee. I'm all about iced coffee; from Tim Horton's, Starbucks, from my home Nespresso, and more. I need that iced coffee, and what better way to drink it than to pair it with a book for a perfect mood?

Exactly what I thought: there is no better way than that!

If you're not a coffee gal or lad, how about some tea? You can use a little tea infuser with tea herbs, or you can use a tea bag. Either way, as long as it's a taste you love to sip and smell.

And how about brewing your own coffee if you like that? This could get you into an enthusiastic mood with the smell and the movements, right before an interesting read!

Whichever drink you prefer, make sure to pair one of your favorites with a book. It never fails to delight!

Settle in a Pleasant Setting

Settings are as important in real life as in stories. For example, would the Shadow and Bone trilogy be the same without a Russian-inspired Ravka? Nope. How about Harry Potter without Hogwarts? Not the same feel at all.

Well, same goes for you!

Do you have a comfy chair? I call mine my "potato chair", because then I can become a potato on it and not move except for turning the pages and drinking my favorite iced coffee.

Perhaps it's a cozy or favorite room in your house or apartment? Go there!

If you prefer the calm and quiet of the library, or the cozy bustle of the coffee shop, why not spice things up by reading in these locations? I can lose myself for hours in a book in both the library and a coffee shop. Or if it's new to you, how about changing the pace of your reading and trying these places out?

In order for the reading to be more enticing and immersive, find yourself a pleasant spot.

Put On Comfy or Thematic Clothes

Clothes are often overlooked as a means to create mood. But sometimes, it can be the missing element!

If you want a cozy, calm and soothing reading experience, how about slipping on comfy clothes? Those baggy pants, or how about these leggings you bought last month? A big shirt or a tight tank top. Whatever your comfy is, make sure to aim for it. Clothes can put us in certain moods, and comfy is the one we're going for here for reading experience.

However, if you want to shake things up and be ready for the adventure at hand, let's say you're about to read a fantasy novel, how about putting on a Harry Potter shirt or scarf? If you have a shirt from Game of Thrones, it works, too! As long as it fits the topic/genre you're going to read, there's no trouble.

How about sexy underwear or cute pyjamas full of kisses or hearts for a romance book?

I mean, why not? It's all about the right mood!

Change the Routine–Make it Special!

Remember when I mentioned how it's all about routine? Yeah, exactly, so let's make it special! Because, routine is good for daily life, but it can become tiresome, even in reading for we go to our favorite genres, things we like, but it sometimes loses that sparkle. You know the one! That sparkle that gets us giddy before a read, like we're an enthused two year-old before a new toy.

That one, yeah!

How do we find it back? Here we go!

Enjoy yourself!

You know how routines can become… well, routinely. Boring. Tiresome. Same old, same old. This happens with our reading, too! When our "want" changes to "must" because we've been meaning to read that book for so long, or perhaps we have a bookstagram or review coming up… But thing is, "I must read" is no fun, it's routine–reading's become a chore. Yikes! The horror! We love reading mostly for escapism (except those unique ones who don't and I can't relate, but hey, welcome to the party!), so when it stops being escapism… No, that's too terrifying to consider.

So, the trick is to subtly change the "I must read my book" to "I WANT to read my book".

Start by changing the word in your thoughts and in conversations with people. That'll help. Then, try to view it as some me-time, to relax, to reappropriate your pleasure of reading.

Don't let it be tiresome–make it awesome!

These Are Not Just Words

No, I did not make a mistake. Books are NOT just words. The ever so practical will tell me : "Of course not, there is glue, paper, ink…." Yes, alright, but dear fellow, that's not what I mean, so sit down.

What I mean is books are much more than words. There are mental images, stories, knowledge… and the best of all: they give us friends! Come on, don't tell me you never loved a book character so much as to think of them outside of your reading time, and some of us go as far as purchasing items about them and writing fanfics, making fanvids, and more.

These friends we find in the pages of books are our friends and no one else's. Why? Because every one reads a bit differently, so every one has their own versions of said characters. And that makes it unique, because books contain more than words–they contain friends we yearn to discover and develop a friendship with in the first read, or reconnect with through a second or third reading.

The Ultimate .gif Database

And that, my dears, is beautiful.

Magic is what it is, I think.

Magic of the heart, and mind, and soul… Magic of the story!

So, keep that in mind to enthuse yourself about your read, ok? 😉

Friendship: Lessons from "Harry Potter"

Dance, Laugh–It's an Adventure!

Last but the funniest is please please please make it fun. Sometimes, to go back to my "tiresome routine" point, we can lose ourselves in the daily grind. But, reading is no simple feat (psychologically and emotionally). We immerse ourselves into these worlds or into that knowledge. At least, make it some kind of privileged time! A party, if that's what it takes.

For me, I do love to dance and laugh on music to psych me up before sitting down with a book. Perhaps you'd like to play a game to have a good mood before reading, or read jokes.

Geez, you're going on an adventure to discover and befriend people (fiction) or learn tons (non-fiction) on how the world or people work!

Don't make it something casual or too ordinary–reconnect with its fantastic nature! Put a movie in the background, or listen to classical music while reading.

Whatever you do, remember: reading is an adventure.

So act like it's one!

Round 3: Holiday Adventure - Monks - Nerd Fitness Rebellion

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Don't forget to try out these tricks any time you get stuck as a mood reader (which happens, let's be honest, every day!).

See you next post, lovelies!

Make Your Art No Matter What: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 24, 2023 Leave a comment

By Beth Pickens

Goodreads (Add it to your shelves!)

StoryGraph

LibraryThing

Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Art

Pages: 208

ISBN: 9781452182957

ASIN: B08SJ9RN2Q

Audio ASIN: B08ZNWBH39

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kindle), Audiobook (Audible)

Publication date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Type: Book, Self-Help

* I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books! *

Introduction

“Art!”

Wait, hold on, did someone say art? I’m right here!

Yup, any time someone mentions the words art or writing, you’ll see me poppin’ up.

So, how about when I read that title, Make Your Art No Matter What, over on NetGalley? Instant request!

Thankfully I was approved!

And thus began a soul-digging yet rewarding and comforting adventure…

Blurb

The Artist's Way for the 21st century—from esteemed creative counselor Beth Pickens.

If you are an artist, you need to make your art. That's not an overstatement—it's a fact; if you stop doing your creative work, your quality of life is diminished. But what do you do when life gets in the way? In this down-to-earth handbook, experienced artist coach Beth Pickens offers practical advice for developing a lasting and meaningful artistic practice in the face of life's inevitable obstacles and distractions. This thoughtful volume suggests creative ways to address the challenges all artists must overcome—from making decisions about time, money, and education, to grappling with isolation, fear, and anxiety. No matter where you are in your art-making journey, this book will motivate and inspire you. Because not only do you need your art—the world needs it, too.

The Positive Sides

“It’s an exchange, so the agreement is this: I’ll keep helping artists and you keep making your work and putting it in the world. Deal?”

That sentence right there touched me deeply, made me feel warm inside and smile. And you know what? DEAL!

On a side-note, the graphics of each chapter title is really beautiful with calming waves and gently surfing letters. That, in itself, is art, and quite appreciated too. It’s pleasant to the eye.

I love how each chapter relates to a major issue experienced by most artists. It’s clear and easy to navigate to and understand. So the book not only becomes one to read through, but a companion to come back to about a specific topic in times of need! Furthermore, her writing is sometimes funny, yet she is professional and amiable. I liked her voice as an author, I felt safe, and as though she was a friend looking over me.

There’s something mind-blowing about the author’s pedigree of this artist’s self-help book: She is a psychologist specializing with artists! I never heard of this, but it’s AWESOME. And it gives weight to her tips and tricks and her words. She gives so many tips and tricks (proven ones from a psychologist’s point of view!). I’m now using at least four of her techniques, it’s amazing what it does to our art practice!

For example, I love the techniques and mindset of “Your birthday every month for life things” and the “aim to get 20 rejections, which means you’ll have tried and applied for many more opportunities and received approvals in several.”

Overall, there’s something uplifting and helpful for EVERY artist. Me, my bestie, and my mom are three very different artists BUT there are things I told them from this book that resonated with THEM and not me, while others did so with me! It’s amazing how helpful this book can be!

I recommend it to EVERY artist, crafter, writer…. even engineer! Anything that requires creativity!!!

The Negative Sides

Erm, it’s too short to my liking? I mean, it’s an admirable piece of work and I LOVE it! But that’s exactly the thing… I’d take easily a hundred pages more of it. It feels like a motivational, helpful, and true elixir for all types of art!

Come on, who wouldn’t want more?

In Conclusion

Taking into consideration all the advice, counsel, comfort, and techniques Make Your Art No Matter What offers us, I give Beth Pickens’ book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, undeniably. But please, make the next one longer?

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 Make Your Art No Matter What to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 17, 2022 Leave a comment

By Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson's Website

Harper Collins Publishers

Goodreads (Add it to your TBR!)

LibraryThing

StoryGraph

Genre: Horror, YA, Thriller, Mystery, Contemporary

Number of pages: 416

ISBN: 9780063029149

Format: paperback, hardover, ebook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), audiobook

Publication date: September 6^th, 2022

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Trigger warnings: Blood, bullying, racism, death, murder

Introduction

I was at Harper Presents: 2022 Fall Fiction Preview when I spotted this jaw-dropping bloody cover, so reminiscent of Carrie by Stephen King (Come on, Prom night! THAT night!) Not only was it extremely to my tastes (myeah, sorry, I have weird blood and ominous tastes in horror…), it was inspired by Carrie, and it’s by Tiffany D. Jackson no less! Obviously, I requested it at the first opportunity. Miracle! I got it! I was beyond excited to delve deeper into Springville's Maddy mystery… until I came face to face with the fact of how too close to the original (see inspiration here) it is.

*Thank you kindly to Harper Collins Canada and Katherine Tegen Books for granting me a digital ARC of The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson. I offer this review willingly without any compensation.*

The Positive Sides

While her writing has always been gripping and raw, it definitely improved in The Weight of Blood. It is scarier, the tension is paced in a better way as well as heightened. Honestly, her writing skills rock! And I'm a tad bit jealous… Just a tad. #ThisIsALie #IAmExtraJealous

Also, Miss Jackson (*cue Panic! at the Disco's song!*) interspersed names of known literature and movie serial killers and slashers, such as Coach Bates (yep, Motel Bates, THAT guy…), Miss Kruger (ahum! sweet dreams!), and many more. I believe (and I'm 99% sure I'm right!) the author is playing an inside-joke game with her fans on "how many slasher references she can sprinkle in until the fans notice it". And trust me, this was very entertaining and had me laughing a few times.

Lastly, her creepy but spot-on take on racism, what with wishing away something they are for something they are not, concealing their true selves, bullying, and a cringe creepiness with the closet and all those posters of "perfect, submissive white women"… I nearly screamed with rage. I remember reading about said posters and I just stood there, frozen, blinked and put down the book like "no…. no, so sordid. Disgusting. Who could do that to someone?! AND THAT MEANING! OMG!" I sighed and growled, then picked it back up and resumed my reading, fuming within for what POCs have had to endure (and sadly, a lot still do…) But it hit me like a slap in the face but it was right. I had all the feels.

Representation Matters Hair Love GIF - Representation Matters Hair Love Best Animated Short Film - Discover & Share GIFs

The Negative Sides

I don't really wanna say it but… the book? I mean, the book itself? It's way too close to plagiarism. I get it, the author loves Carrie deeply (I do too), but this reads like a fanfiction with a lot of OCs (original characters). The story, its events and situations, the characters’ relationships, and even the structure. Even the closet!!! Instead of mad mother, it's mad dad!

I just… No.

In other words:

N.B.: If you want to pay for a fanfiction, which is at its core free, go ahead and purchase "The Weight of Blood". That's all I'll say.

(Please note I LOOOOOVE fanfiction and I even write it myself, but such a "fanfiction" as a paid product? That's not fair.)

No Just No GIFs | Tenor

In Conclusion

Overall, the writing is excellent–the author clearly improved on her suspense and horror skills– and her take on racism is witty, insightful and creepy (like it should be because… wait for it… IT IS!); however, the story and its events and situations are just way too similar to Carrie's book (even if you can visualize what I'm saying with only the movies…) by Stephen King, and trust me, I read it more than once… So, I give this book a rating of 2 out of 5 stars for its unfairness to other fanfiction writers and Stephen King's already published work. Unfortunately, the author just lost a fan, but her writing skills are excellent though. I wish her the best, nonetheless.

If you want to learn more about Tiffany D. Jackson and her books, please visit her author website, her Goodreads author page, her Twitter and her Instagram. You can also add The Weight of Blood to your bookshelves on Goodreads, LibraryThing, and StoryGraph.

The Portraitist by Susanne Dunlap & the Author Behind the True Story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard

Blog Tours, Book Reviews, chit-chatting with Cat September 25, 2022 Leave a comment

Want to read the true story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard's fight to take her rightful place in the competitive art world of eighteenth-century Paris?

Read on, friend, read on!

What about the whole blurb?

With a beautiful rival who’s better connected and better trained than she is, Adélaïde faces an uphill battle. Her love affair with her young instructor in oil painting gives rise to suspicions that he touches up her work, and her decision to make much-needed money by executing erotic pastels threatens to create as many problems as it solves. Meanwhile, her rival goes from strength to strength, becoming Marie Antoinette’s official portraitist and gaining entrance to the elite Académie Royale at the same time as Adélaïde.

When at last Adélaïde earns her own royal appointment and receives a massive commission from a member of the royal family, the timing couldn’t be worse: it’s 1789, and with the fall of the Bastille her world is turned upside down by political chaos and revolution. With danger around every corner in her beloved Paris, she must find a way to adjust to the new order, carving out a life and a career all over again—and stay alive in the process.

Published on August 30th, 2022 by She Writes Press

Now, thanks to Books Forward and Susanne Dunlap, I was offered a free e-copy of The Portraitist for a review (coming soon!) and the opportunity to shout out about this book depicting a true story of an artist woman (please see this very article).

But who's behind this great story and research?

Here's Susanne Dunlap:

Not only is she a wonderful author, she's quite savvy and passionate in her field. She published her first at 50 years old (amazing! dreams and talents are worth following!), and she's now an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in fiction and nonfiction (impressive!). I particularly love how she first fell in love with historical fiction: I first by reading T.H. White’s The Once and Future King! I mean, already I was intrigued that Miss Dunlap had found and told a woman artist's tale mostly unknown to the general public, but now I gotta admit I feel a certain kinship with her. Arthurian legends, historical fiction, feminism, and all that good stuff? OMG, sign me up!

16 Historical Novels That Make History So Much Fun

Want to know more about The Portraitist?

You can visit the Goodreads page

the Amazon page

and the official page on the author's website

(there's even a Book Club Guide on there, woohoo!)

Please, take a look at Susanne Dunlap's bio (it's worth a read, it's impressive!), and at her blog and courses. Ah, finally a historical research course worthy of the name…!!!!

Wow GIFs | GIFDB.com

You can bet I'll take that course when I can fund it!

Don't forget to add The Portraitist: A Novel of Adelaide Labille-Guiard to your Goodreads bookshelves, or any other bookshelves for that matter, and visit Dunlap's site as well as my dear Books Forward!

Then, stay tuned for my upcoming review! 🙂

Happy reading, loves!

Girl in Ice : A Book Review

Book Reviews May 16, 2022 Leave a comment

By Erica Ferencik

Scout Press Books

Simon & Schuster Canada

Goodreads (Add it to your TBR!)

LibraryThing

StoryGraph

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Number of pages: 320

ASIN: 9781982143039

Format: paperback, hardover, ebook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), audiobook

Publication date: March 1st, 2022

Publisher: Scout Press Books

Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Warnings: violence, suicide, addictions, murder

*I received a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Scout Press Books!*

Introduction

I’ll be honest, when came the time to choose for physical galleys with Simon & Schuster Canada, I picked Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik thanks to its intriguing but striking cover and the blurb which mentioned two things I love (the Arctic and languages). But did I truly believe I would like it, even more love it? No.

What a mistake!

Thankfully, it proved me wrong. I still feel shame about this doubt, but damn, it’s one of the best suspense/mystery books I ever read, if not my favorite.

I guess you could say me and the book had a bad start, but fell in love hard?

Best Yep GIFs | Gfycat

Wish to go explore the reasons Girl in Ice is so surprising and unique?

I bet you do!

Come on, grab my hand, and let’s thaw the coldness of doubts and warm it into love!

Blurb

Valerie “Val” Chesterfield is a linguist trained in the most esoteric of disciplines: dead Nordic languages. Despite her successful career, she leads a sheltered life and languishes in the shadow of her twin brother Andy, an accomplished climate scientist stationed on a remote island off Greenland’s barren coast. But Andy is gone: a victim of suicide, having willfully ventured unprotected into 50 degree below zero weather. Val is inconsolable—and disbelieving. She suspects foul play.

When Wyatt, Andy’s fellow researcher in the Arctic, discovers a scientific impossibility—a young girl frozen in the ice who thaws out alive, speaking a language no one understands—Val is his first call. Will she travel to the frozen North and meet this girl, try to comprehend what she is so passionately trying to communicate? Under the auspices of helping Wyatt interpret the girl’s speech, Val musters every ounce of her courage and journeys to the Artic to solve the mystery of her brother’s death.

The moment she steps off the plane, her fear threatens to overwhelm her. The landscape is fierce, and Wyatt, brilliant but difficult, is an enigma. But the girl is special, and Val’s connection with her is profound. Only something is terribly wrong; the child is sick, maybe dying, and the key to saving her lies in discovering the truth about Wyatt’s research. Can his data be trusted? And does it have anything to do with how and why Val’s brother died? With time running out, Val embarks on an incredible frozen odyssey—led by the unlikeliest of guides—to rescue the new family she has found in the most unexpected of places.

The Positive Sides

Honestly, I’m sorry but I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. So that’s a victory for it, the author, and even me who discovered such a great read!

It is so, so rare and unique for the setting to be in the Arctic, and the main character to be a linguist! And to BOTH be in the same story and so intricately intertwined. LOVE IT! As a polyglot, translator, and language teacher, I relate so much to her, I connect deeply with her thoughts and views of language and culture, and it warms my heart to see us being portrayed this faithfully (and for once!) in an amazing story. The linguist, Valerie, is a hero, too! As the author and her character Val demonstrate it cleverly in Girl in Ice :).

Furthermore, the writing and descriptions of Inuktitut words and meanings as well as their culture and perspectives are like poetry to my soul! This books is also a lot about climate change from the ice, glaciers, freezing winds, and science. A great environmental read for sure! But its strongest tie is love, truth, and language.

I love how the surroundings of the characters, their settings, aren’t static. Animals and nature are constantly in movement, the characters actually exist IN a place, not just in a spot with the environment fading in and out for the plot. It’s fun and involving.

As for the characters, Val is lovely, crippled with anxiety (believably too!), low self-esteem, the death of her brother…, yet she is brillant, stronger than she knows, kinder too, and much more compassionate than she deems herself to be. To me, she’s a heroine! A true one. I also love how she isn’t good around children, but ends up risking everything left in her life to save a little girl she came to love. 🙂 Amazing.

The villains are… irky. And I say this with much reverence and admiration. They are dangerous, changeable, both with motives that run deeper than they let on, they keep us shifting from foot to foot, wondering… and they irked me. I love it when it happens. Most “villains” in contemporary stories are… two-dimensional, if not only one-dimensional; but these are much life-like. Scarily so, too. I love to hate them, and despise when I can relate to them here and there. Wonderful job!

In terms of intrigues, the mysteries are so well-woven you catch glimpses of the answers, but never the whole image of the puzzle. And it is so rewarding at the end to see the full image solved. A real thrill to unfurl all of this alongside Val.

Lastly, the ending is beautiful, hopeful in its own way, poignant, raw; not cold at all! But quite warm, indeed. The very last sentence is so true to a linguist. Charming and evocative.

I kept reading through the climax and ending even though I had work to do. I just HAD TO KNOW how it ended. How all those mysteries, rendered believable in this intricate tale, unfolded and resolved. So, yeah, I guess that’s quite a proof it’s a book worth reading, don’t you think? It’s just that unique and great!

The Negative Sides

Sometimes the pace seems frozen (ha!), but this is more of a statement that it will happen than a real negative side. Why? Well, when this happens, the mysteries thicken subtly and the characters and their relationships unfurl even more. In the end, these slow passages are essential to this story. So, just keep wading through it like you would through snow, and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying the wild ride again.

In Conclusion

* stands up and applauds *

Such a unique, bold, and touching story! Finally, a story set in Arctic with language at its core for the plot. A lovable main character, a perfect representation of a linguist (which puts us in a hero’s shoes!!!), an amusing cast of characters, and real suspense. A thrill! Thus, I give Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik a rating of 5 out of 5.

Verohnsaht! Joy!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Facebook author page, her Twitter account, her Instagram, and Goodreads. You can also add Girl in Ice to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Blog Tour – Daring Duplicity by Edale Lane with Other Worlds Ink (Mystery, Historical, Steampunk, FF, Sapphic Romance)

Blog Tours March 21, 2022 Leave a comment

Hello hello!

Mystery, mystery… when you hold us, make it history. (A small fun line I just invented. :3 Cute, right? I thought it fitted this story.)

So, when I saw a Sherlock Holmes-style Lady… who's a lesbian… in a steampunk context… I mean, I'm a pretty strong-minded woman, but even I have my weaknesses. ^.^

Here we go! Hope you enjoy perusing and discovering this delicacy!

Perhaps you'll find clues to solve my upcoming review next week? 😉

Author Name: Edale Lane

Publishing Company: Past and Prologue Press

Release Date: Wednesday, January 19 2022

Format: Paperback, eBook

Is This Book Romance?: No

ISBN: 9798401818300

Price: $4.99 (ebook); $14.99 (paperback)

Story Type: Novel

Word Count: 79,025

Cover Artist: Enggar Adirasa

Genres: historical, mystery, steampunk, slow-burn romance, Victorian London, action-adventure

Pairings: FF (while not primarily a romance, it does contain a slow-burn romance with FF pairing)

LGBTQ+ Identities: lesbian

Tropes: finding Ms Right, friends to lovers, thrown together by a dangerous situation

Is This Part of a Series?: Yes

Series Title: The Wellington Mysteries

Position (Number) in Series: First

Necessary to Read Previous Books: No

Other Books in Series Available for Review?: Yes

Info for Other Books in Series:

Prequel – Arson & Lace

Where you can purchase Daring Duplicity:

Amazon

Goodreads

Book Blurb

Solving mysteries is her business. Finding love is her dream. Will combining the two get her killed?

Victorian Era England. Stetson revels in being unconventional. So when society shies away from her independent nature, the bold woman creates an imaginary boss and opens her own detective agency. And her keen observational skills, convincing disguises, and Holmesian methods quickly bring in a string of tough-to-crack cases.

Struggling to squeeze a personal life in around a series of hazardous investigations, Stetson worries she'll never find a woman of like-passions. But with her heart set on true love despite the risk, she carries on hunting for the perfect relationship.

Will her clever escapades lead to death… or delight?

Daring Duplicity: The Wellington Mysteries, Vol. 1, Adventures of a Lesbian Victorian Detective is a collection of five sequential novellas, each encompassing its own exciting mystery while furthering the story of Stetson’s life in London. If you enjoy crime dramas, Victorian era fiction, or a sweet lesbian romance, then you’ll love award-winning author Edale Lane’s Daring Duplicity. Order yours today!

Now, isn't that just intriguing? Elementary, my dear Miss Stetson. Read on for an excerpt, an exclusive interview, and a delightful surprise…!

Will you solve this Mysterious Excerpt?

Jewel gripped her own gloved hands and scanned the room anxiously. "It is a matter of the utmost discretion," she began in a tone much more demanding than she had intended. "It is of a personal nature, you see," she continued more gently and forced a polite smile. "May I speak with Mr. Wellington in private?"

Miss Goody responded with a pleasant smile of her own. "I'm afraid that will not be possible. Mr. X is extremely successful in foiling criminals because of his anonymity. In fact, no one has ever seen him but me. All correspondence between the investigator and the clients goes through his assistant—me. So how this works is, you tell me the specifics, I talk to him, and he gives me a list of questions to ask, and so forth. I assure you, anything you say to me will be kept in the strictest of confidence, just as if you were conversing with the detective himself."

"I see." The assistant paused for a moment before continuing and her attention fell on Miss Goody for the first time, being specifically drawn to ample breasts squeezed into her buttoned waist coat. It required conscious effort for Jewel to raise her gaze, but doing so she became captivated by two warm, caring cognac eyes. "Very well, then. I am being blackmailed, and the nature of the information being held over me makes it impossible to go to Scotland Yard, or a constable, or even my father, for the money. I receive an allowance, not enough to meet the foul villain's demands, but sufficient to cover your agency's fees and expenses I'm sure."

"I see," she replied with a soft expression of compassion. "Was the man you were seen with married, or simply from the wrong side of the tracks?"

"Well," Jewel stammered, cleared her throat, and fixed her gaze on a painting on the wall. "Not exactly. And he has a photograph."

Miss Goody sighed and leaned forward, her palms on the desk top. "Now, Lady Jewel Ashton, if we are to find this blackmailer and save your reputation, you cannot hold anything back. How can Mr. Wellington help you if you won't tell us the whole story?"

"It is not my reputation I am concerned with," she admitted, a hint of real fear trembling in her voice. "My whole family could be ruined, utterly ruined, and destroy my father's political career. We would be forced to retreat to our estate in the countryside. I cannot allow shame to come upon my family for one moment's indiscretion."

Miss Goody met her eyes. "I assure you if you provide Mr. X all the information he needs, he can find this scoundrel, take back the photo and the plates, and give him every reason to keep his deceitful mouth closed on the matter."

Jewel held her gaze for a long moment, and believing her sincerity, made a decision—the only one she could really make. She opened her reticule and withdrew a tan envelope. "Someone left this in my carriage while I was shopping. My driver said he didn't see or hear a thing." She placed the parcel on the desk within Miss Goody's reach and held her breath.

*~*~*

Stetson opened the envelope and spilled its contents out onto the desk. Inside was a note and a photograph, not of Jewel kissing a married man, but another young woman! For an instant, time stood still. A flush rose in Jewel's cheeks while Stetson's mouth absently fell agape as she stared dumbfounded at the image. Stetson's mind raced almost as fast as her heart. Could it be that this beautiful gem who walked in this morning has the same inclination as myself? Could there actually be other women who love women, that I am not a singular oddity? She not only had these thoughts, but acted on them! She had never met another like-minded woman—not to mention one whose looks could stop a locomotive in its tracks like Jewel Ashton.

She was roused from her musings when she heard a desperate voice from across the desk. "So now you see the urgency and delicacy of the matter."

She quickly shoved the note and the photograph back into the envelope and replied with sincerity. "Do not be distressed, Lady Jewel Ashton. We will take care of this with great expediency. I shall show these to the detective and he will know just what to do. Wait here. I'll return anon."

Stetson stepped into the room behind her, leaned against the closed door, and let out a deep sigh. With eyes shut and hugging herself, she took a moment to process the warm thrill that rose from her loins. Reveling in the euphoric rush, she wanted to believe the impossible–that maybe her dreams could come true. Mayhap there was a chance, ever so slight, that she, too, could act on her passions. Her breathing became ragged as she imagined kissing Jewel, and being kissed in return. Her heart pounded in excitement. Until reality stuck its ugly head into her dream reminding her there was a case to solve. Stetson moaned softly in aggravation and opened her eyes to glance around her inner sanctum.

Within the confines of Mr. Wellington's lair were all the implements one would need to be a successful private investigator. On the wall to the left was an array of weapons, including both an umbrella and walking cane hiding swords in their handles, an umbrella with a singleshot rifle barrel and a trigger in the handle, several knives, guns, and gadgets. A glass-doored cabinet contained other curiosities such as a wristwatch that concealed a tiny explosive, a unique copper and brass miniature camera with flash attachment, a mirror attached to a long folding pole for seeing around corners or over walls, telescopic opera glasses, and a voice recording device. There was a table holding an array of wigs in vast colors and styles for both men and women, false beards and moustaches, along with an exhaustive selection of hats. Hanging from hooks on another wall were various costumes for the well-to-do business people, and the poor, male and female alike. There was a large vanity with a mirror and cases of cosmetics and face powder as one might see backstage of a theatre. Yes, the windowless room had all the trappings to outfit a man of mystery save one—there was no Xavier Wellington… only Stetson.

Now how about deciphering this Exclusive Interview?

Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?

Hurray! I finally retired from truck driving to become a full-time author. It is fabulous! The affect it has had so far is that I have far more time to write; therefore, I am getting new books out faster. With all the Covid restrictions, I’m still not able to do in-person events as I would like, because most bookstores and venues in British Colombia are still not having them.

What was one of the most surprising things you’ve learned in writing your books?

Answering this question for Daring Duplicity, I discovered in my research that women were barred from playing in British orchestras until 1913, when Queen's Hall Orchestra in London hired the first six women violinists.

What advice do you wish you’d had before releasing your first story?

Never, ever pay anyone to publish your work; no vanity presses, no pay-to-print, none of it. They make all their money from author’s fees, none from sales of our books (which they really do not care about.)

How do you combine all the different worlds of your life in your works?

At my age, I have enjoyed a myriad of experiences to include in my novels, which include (but are not limited to) being a student, a musician, a teacher, a small business owner, a single parent, a joyful grandparent, death of a spouse, loss of parents, a dysfunctional relationship with an unstable person, falling in love, living in poverty, living in plenty—all of which inform how I write my characters and the factors that impact their lives.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

While several of my previous novels feature plot twists and surprises, this is my first mystery cross-genre. Therefore, coming up with crimes and how Stetson deals with them has been the challenge. I want to give the readers enough clues they might guess the outcome of the investigation while still keeping them guessing. Because Stetson uses Holmesian methods, my brain has to be twice as sharp as in any of my prior novels.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I enjoy reading books set in Regency and Victorian England and I love a good mystery. Wedding the two in a series of my own was inevitable. I wanted my main character to have a unique name and backstory, something that would give her the right blend of biology and environment to equip her to become an ace detective. I chose the sequential novella format, because I wrote the first story several years ago and always wanted to take it further. Daring Duplicity proved to be the vehicle to build on the original novella and birth a new series.

Miss Stetson Goody, are you happy with where your writer left you at the end?

This writer loves to throw me into dangerous situations where my life is constantly on the line. She expects me to be all things to all people, and excels at thrusting me into an awkward or embarrassing position. At least she understands why I don’t have time to clean my flat. Perilous predicaments aside, I admit she does, at least, understand the true longing of my heart. Without my writer, I may never have found the love of my life… now if I can just keep her!

Tell me one thing hardly anyone knows about you.

When I was pregnant with my second child, my feet grew a whole shoe size.

Tell me about a unique or quirky habit of yours.

I get easily distracted when I am cleaning. Rather than a systematic approach that I use when researching or writing, I am all over the place, hopping from job to job: a little wiping counters, some sweeping, a load of laundry, a bit of straightening, back to the unfinished counter… a constant string of cleaning tangents!

What action would your name be if it were a verb?

Fly.

What’s your favorite line from any movie?

Samwise, from The Return of the King: “Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can’t carry it for you… but I can carry you!”

Do you believe in love at first sight?

I believe in attraction at first sight, but I think actual love takes longer.

What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?

Walks with Spirits is an epic lesbian historical-fantasy romance with a spiritual theme set way back in time in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. Expected release in April 2022.

The Surprise: Giveaway

The author, Miss Edale Lane, is kindly giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour. Don't miss your chance to participate!

The Author: Edale Lane

Edale Lane is an award-winning author (Rainbow Awards, Imaginarium Awards, Lesfic Bard Awards) who is realizing her dream of being a full-time writer. She is the alter-ego of author Melodie Romeo, (Tribute in Blood, Terror in Time, and others) who founded Past and Prologue Press. Both identities are qualified to write historical fiction by virtue of an MA in History and 24 years spent as a teacher, along with skill and dedication regarding research. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Edale (or Melodie) is also a musician who loves animals, gardening, and nature. After driving an 18-wheeler cross-country for eight years, she now lives with her partner in beautiful Chilliwack, B.C. Canada.

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Make sure not to miss the rest of the blog tour by Other Worlds Ink!

Next stops: Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author (tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22) & Never Too Late (tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22)!

Knight in Retrograde (Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Magical Realism, Dark Fantasy, Pansexual): A Book Review

Book Reviews March 5, 2022 Leave a comment

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by Lee Hunt

Publishing Company: Lee Hunt

Release Date: Tuesday, March 1 2022

Format: Audio

Is This Book Romance?: No

ISBN: 9781999093594

Price: $18.99 USD

Story Type: Novel

Word Count: 147,000

Cover Artist: Jeff Brown

Genres: Fantasy, epic fantasy, magical realism, dark fantasy

LGBTQ+ Identities: It is quite subtle, but all the Methueyn Knights are pan-sexual, and there is a sex scene that is pansexual

Tropes (don't we love them?!): Uncovering the past, Going forward or going backwards, secret past, unlikely hero

Is This Part of a Series?: Yes

Series Title: The Dynamicist Trilogy

Position (Number) in Series: Third

Necessary to Read Previous Books: Yes

Other Books in Series:

1 – Dynamicist

2 – Herald

Was This Book Published in An Earlier Edition?: Not under a different edition, but the paperback and eBook versions have been out since Sept 2020

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given, and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Lee Hunt and Other Worlds Ink!*

Introduction

So, dear Other Worlds Ink approached me with Knight in Retrograde for a blog tour. I said: What, a seemingly science fantasy told like an epic fantasy in audiobook format with a glorious narrator?!

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What else was there to say, honestly?

I'm a strong woman, but this story knew my cravings.

Want to read the blog tour article along with the amazing author guest post about writing an audiobook? It's right here!

How about we see my love for it in detail??

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Blurb

Would you trade uncertainty for stagnation, chance for god, invention for inertia, thought for dogma?

Four years have passed since the events of Dynamicist and war is on the horizon.

Robert, Koria, Eloise and Gregory went to the New School, hoping to change the world. They thought that mathematically based dynamics, the enlightened age's answer to wizardry, would give them the power to make everything better. Their hopes were naïve.

Protestors are condemning the creation of a new vaccine. The city is seeing a series of hangings; is it murder or sacrament? The cloaked man is back stalking students. The long-absent demons Skoll and Hati reappear and begin slaughtering whoever they meet. But the real question is, will Nimrheal return? If he does, who will die first?

Uncertainty is inspiring fear, and inventions are not making the world better, only more complicated. The terrified civilians don't want dynamics and reason. They want the word of Elysium and the return of the Methueyn Knights.

Koria fears the world faces an awful conundrum: that if the Knights return, Nimrheal will stay.

Will Robert, Koria, Eloise and Gregory choose to transform into angelic knights or, at the cost of such heavenly communion, instead banish Nimrheal? What price will be paid? If a new Methueyn Knight rises, will the age of invention disappear forever?

The Positive Sides

The two major points that struck me were how spicy and rich the vocabulary and phraseology are! By spicy, I mean, well-woven, unexpected, carefully chosen for maximum effect. Second, the main character's voice is highly refreshing and one I've been waiting for a long time. It's also quite hilarious and sarcastic, loved it!

Its harsh, intriguing and powerful beginning grabbed me right on, and its fairytale-like storytelling is a blessing. Not the cute, Disney style (which I love), but more like the narrator from the Grimm fairy tales (which I also love)!

Then, this story offers a lot of concepts and things to keep track of, but it's not a bad thing! They're all so weird mixed together it's like they begged to be put together! I mean, they fit, they make an awesome whole and story! It's fantastic, clever, hilarious, and full of science & mathematical references (who'd have thought I'd like it? Not me!)

What about the audiobook itself? First things first: the narration is SO much fun and engaging! Usually, I dislike male narrators because they're monotonous and boring with flat voices, but Craig A. Hart has so many inflections and emotions; he's not reading the story, he's living it. I was hooked from the first words! Honestly, it's one of the best audiobooks I ever read! Which is funny because I'm not a big audiobook reader. I read a few per year, and I'm very picky about them, and it's easy to disappoint me in this field. So, it says a lot, don't you think? In short, the quality of the audio, the narration, the storytelling and the story is mind-blowing–they all work in sync!

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In the end (cue Linkin Park's song), while I didn't read the previous books (a wrong I'll right quite soon!), it didn't matter. Everything is entertaining, highly engaging, and summarizes what happened skillfully. I want all of them! YUP!

*I find it's hilarious and ironic how Lee Hunt and the Dynamicist Trilogy gained a new fan with the very last book… Still, it'll be an adventure to read the other books in the trilogy. I loved it, okay?!?

The Negative Sides

There are only two.

The first one pertains to the characters. While they are good and amusing, they seemed a bit distant or out-of-reach to me due to how the story is told. It feels like an omniscient narrator, yes, but in an overview way. It flies over each before diving into the main character's voice, then it's distant again, and so on. I couldn't get get attached to the other characters as much as I could with the main character, which is a shame. But I liked them overall, anyway.

The last one is how it took me a while to catch on it was a woman speaking–every time. Not only because of the man narrating the story, but also due to its scattered hints about who was speaking at the moment. It appeared unclear to me at the time.

In Conclusion

Despite the two light negative points, it was, I must say, a rather enjoyable adventure I went on with Knight in Retrograde! It's definitely one of my five favorite audiobooks ever, and I'll purchase the previous books in this trilogy because I had such a fun time with this finale. Imagine that! Thus, a science fantasy vibe in an epic fantasy-like setting and story with amazing vocabulary, phraseology and incredible audio storytelling quality? Nothing less than a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 would be a mathematical crime! 😉 And I fell in love with this quality audiobook, plain and simple. Kudos to Craig A. Hart, the narrator, for this incredible performance!

Don't forget to check out my blog post article for an excerpt of Knight in Retrograde as well as an exclusive guest post on the art of making an audiobook!

If you want to learn more about the author, Lee Hunt:

Ever try to do things you were really not well suited to? Lee Hunt understands. He was born with only one working lung, but has gone on to be an Ironman triathlete, a sport rock climber, and a professional geophysicist. The poor lung function has been an excellent excuse for his unimpressive triathlon performance—he is among the worst of those able to complete the Ironman under his own power—and is of some service in eliciting a modicum of sympathy for his average at-best skills as a climber. Actually no one on a rock wall really cares about excuses. It’s a climb-or-fall kind of thing.

His marginal ability to breathe is of no use whatsoever in explaining his career as a geophysicist. He was good at that. Lee published close to fifty journal papers, articles or expanded abstracts, has been awarded numerous best paper awards, and was even sent on a national speaking tour to Canadian universities by the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists. He was born on a farm but grew up near the giant oil sand mines of Fort McMurray and is interested in discussing the environment and the amorality of science. He is also useful at parties in explaining the physics around why, or why not, fracture stimulation might be a risk to manmade structures and the fuzzy cuddly things of nature. Lee’s career helped him appreciate the difficulty in predicting outcomes, the dangers of arrogance—such as thinking you can predict even the smallest thing—and the exigent need to try anyway. He was comfortable and happy being a geophysicist, so after twenty-eight years, he quit to go do the things he was less well suited to.

If you want to hang out with Lee, look for him hiking, cycling, floundering in a lake, clinging desperately to a wall, or at his desk trying to write an entertaining story.

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A huge thanks to Other Worlds Ink for this amazing blog tour opportunity!

See you next post, lovelies!