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Ex Libris: A Review

Book Reviews August 15, 2017 Leave a comment

ExLibris

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 384

ISBN: 9781607014898

*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This collection of fantasy short stories explores the relationships of readers and librarians, the wonderful work librarians do, the fantastical places that libraries can be… and all of that mixed with lore.

Now, I must say this book really caught my interest when I first saw it! Stories about librarians, libraries, and lore in the same book? Count me in! Also, the Latin title got me. I think it speaks for the theme’s oldness, deep knowledge, and mystical air. The best thing about Ex Libris? It did not disappoint me – in fact, it even surprised me more than once!

Of all the book introductions I’ve read in my life, Paula Guran’s one in Ex Libris is by far the best one out there yet (at least for passionate readers and anyone who loves libraries). She tells us of the different libraries and librarians from all genres in literature while punctuating it with excerpts. Her research must have taken her a long time… but I want to say it was well worth it and beautifully done. It’s an introduction I won’t forget anytime soon. As for the reading itself, it flows – it is engrossing and lovely. It also got me quite emotionally invested in the stories, characters, and life itself (I still haven’t figured out how it managed to do that with the last one, but it’s still a neat feat!). Moreover, I had a magical read! The stories (most of them) were very funny and amusing. It reminded me of the magic libraries hold and how time flies by when I’m reading. It is an enchanting and lovely book!

All the short stories in this collection have a varying degree of importance related to books and/or libraries – you never know what to expect except that these two elements will be there in some way or another. To what extent and use is the surprise of each story. Speaking of stories, they were quite imaginative. They even manage by some mysterious force to be believable (don’t ask me how, I’m still working on understanding it)! The voices of the many narrators are clear, distinct, and strong. I would have thought some stories would lack in voice… but I was shown wrong with this collection! Woven into the texts are amusing references to real books – it’s a nice addition and at the same time a necessity regarding the library theme.

The vocabulary used in these stories is diverse, beautiful, and precise. The short stories aren’t too long – I believe their length has been well measured as it makes for captivating enough without becoming boring. Some stories are drama, others are adventures, but all have a subtle touch of humor and are engaging in their own way. One thing is for sure: together, those short stories are an eclectic mix – although it is sometimes destabilizing, it is also quite pleasant, much like refreshing parts of the same whole. Another thing I particularly enjoyed about Ex Libris is how diverse the situations and characters are! Some are people of color while others have illnesses or handicaps. A much appreciated touch that helps make those weird (it’s a compliment here) stories more realistic! There is something different I noticed about the format of these short stories: they include subtitles related to books or libraries (like the widely used Dewey decimal system), quotes, and other fun things. It’s a great idea to make their format somehow fit their main theme! I also think they were well structured, which helps the reading experience by making it easier on the eye. Finally, I loved learning about the authors in the ‘’About the Authors’’ section at the end. At first, I thought this was a collection of short stories written by emerging authors, but oh no! They are all big names like Holly Black, Ray Bradbury, and many others! It’s imposing and impressive.

You’re probably wondering where are the negative points, aren’t you? I was too, frankly… However, there are only two of those, which I am pretty sure are now fixed since the book has been released. I have found a few typos, additional and unneeded words, and sometimes forgotten conjugations. The other thing that bothered me (only slightly as the rest of the book was well worth my time spent reading it!) was how many repetitions there were. For example, in two close paragraphs the words ‘’soft’’ and ‘’softly’’ were used thrice. It happens here and there and, like in that example, it can pull you out of the story you’re reading. Those points aside, the book is pure entertainment with mysteries written in its pages.

The idea itself of a book about libraries and librarians wins numerous points with me. It hit home and I think it will do the same thing with other bookworms. In fact, it is a good fit for anyone who has a (secret) love of books and libraries and the people who help keep them in order. I give it a rating of 5 out of 5 because of the library theme, the quality of the stories, and also because I always wanted to resume reading it. I’m pretty sure all fantasy fans will find Ex Libris quite entertaining and worth their while since it has varied short stories – in other words, there is a short story for everyone in this amazing collection!

As a bonus, here’s my ranking of my favorite Ex Libris short stories:

1- In the House of the Seven Librarians by Ellen Klages

2- The Last Librarian by Edoardo Albert

3- Death and the Librarian by Esther M. Friesner

4- Special Collections by Norman Partridge

5- In Libres by Elizabeth Bear

Please note that all short stories had something unique to them and the ranking above is simply based on my personal tastes!

If you want to know more about the editor, Paula Guran, and Prime Books, the publisher, click here for the first and here for the latter.

It’s Raining News… Hallelujah, It’s Raining News!

chit-chatting with Cat, My project, Short Stories April 16, 2017 Leave a comment

lfHello, everyone!

I have some good news for you all. Do you remember when I told you I started learning Greek a few weeks ago? Well, my full Greek kit just came in last week! I’m simply delighted at spending nearly all of my time learning Greek. So far it’s going quite well. I’ve tackled numbers and plurals, people and family, and some essential expressions (along with a bit of grammar). Today I’m onto the verb ”to be” and the expressions ”there is/there are”. All I’m missing is a dictionary, then I’ll be all set up.

Moreover, I told you I’d keep you updated about my short story for the contest so here I am. Yes, the one I got edited! I found the courage to work on it again today after two weeks spent avoiding it – wait for it – intentionally! Yes, intentionally. I was so afraid of not getting the sentences and words right, that I looked to every distraction. But I faced myself yesterday, telling myself that I would miss the deadline if I didn’t put my pants on and go back to it! And so, I took a shower and forced – yes, forced! – myself to sit down at the computer and write what needed to be written according to the editing. God, am I glad I did it!

My short story is now done! All that’s left for me to do is format it and write a cover letter following the guidelines I found in ”Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript” excerpt from the Writers’ Digest Shop. I give myself one week to do all this, then I’m off to submit my work to the contest. I’m so excited! I’m so near the goal I gave myself this year: professionally participate in contests! One click on Friday and… hop! I reach my goal of participating professionally. It is a huge step for me. And one I’m glad I’m not letting go of like I was doing these past two weeks by avoiding reviewing my short story.

P.S.: Two reviews are coming your way in a few days. One for an awesome teen & YA fantasy book and the other for a sweet lesbian romance.

P.S.2: I’m currently juggling between three ideas for a novel. It’s a tough choice! I’ll let you in on my decision when I’ve finally made up my mind.

Thank you for reading and being with me on this journey!

It ‘ s Raining News… Hallelujah, It ‘ s Raining News!

chit-chatting with Cat April 16, 2017 Leave a comment

lfHello, everyone!

I have some good news for you all.

Do you remember when I told you I started learning Greek a few weeks ago? Well, my full Greek kit just came in last week! I'm simply delighted at spending nearly all of my time learning Greek. So far it's going quite well. I've tackled numbers and plurals, people and family, and some essential expressions (along with a bit of grammar). Today I'm onto the verb ''to be'' and the expressions ''there is/there are''. All I'm missing is a dictionary, then I'll be all set up.

Moreover, I told you I'd keep you updated about my short story for the contest so here I am. Yes, the one I got edited! I found the courage to work on it again today after two weeks spent avoiding it – wait for it – intentionally! Yes, intentionally. I was so afraid of not getting the sentences and words right, that I looked to every distraction. But I faced myself yesterday, telling myself that I would miss the deadline if I didn't put my pants on and go back to it! And so, I took a shower and forced – yes, forced! – myself to sit down at the computer and write what needed to be written according to the editing. God, am I glad I did it! My short story is now done! All that's left for me to do is format it and write a cover letter following the guidelines I found in ''Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript'' excerpt from the Writers' Digest Shop. I give myself one week to do all this, then I'm off to submit my work to the contest. I'm so excited! I'm so near the goal I gave myself this year: professionally participate in contests! One click on Friday and… hop! I reach my goal of participating professionally. It is a huge step for me. And one I'm glad I'm not letting go of like I was doing these past two weeks by avoiding reviewing my short story.

P.S.: Two reviews are coming your way in a few days. One for an awesome teen & YA fantasy book and the other for a sweet lesbian romance.

P.S.2: I'm currently juggling between three ideas for a novel. It's a tough choice! I'll let you in on my decision when I've finally made up my mind.

Thank you for reading and being with me on this journey!

Not Everything Dies (Princess Dracula) – A Review

Book Reviews March 25, 2017 Leave a comment

NotEverythingDies

On Amazon

On Goodreads

On Barnes & Noble

* I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

I’ve been interested in Princess Dracula for a very long time so when I saw Not Everything Dies by John Patrick Kennedy on NetGalley, I jumped on it. I was lucky enough that this second book in the series is about Ruxandra suffering from amnesia, so even if I was new to the series, I could still read it starting with the second one.

Ruxandra, an amnesiac vampire, is fighting for control against the Beast within. She finds herself locked up in Countess Elizabeth Bathory’s castle. Ruxandra needs to learn the ways of royalty and help Bathory, her odd mentor, keep her lands. But in the end, is the countess friend or foe? Romance, magic, and supernatural elements are all part of this intriguing tale.

I must say this book about vampires did not disappoint me! The cover is simply mesmerizing and well-chosen. It is eerie, gorgeous, and true to the story. The author uses a good vocabulary throughout the book, which makes it pleasant to read. The battles are rough and realistic, just like his depiction of fear. The author makes it all believable. He writes an interesting transition between the Beast to Ruxandra, then back. We can feel the Beast’s anger and its ache for food. The descriptions of settings and characters are precise. There is also a clear difference in characters – I like that! Realism (even though there are supernatural elements) plays an important role in this book. I particularly enjoyed that the novel was divided in short chapters because it made for a quick yet entertaining read. Plus, everything that can go wrong does! There was a lot of conflict, which made it even more enjoyable. I liked how the author describes trivial matters – it’s marvelous to discover such things as soap through Ruxandra’s eyes. It’s as though everything is magnified and impressive.

The friendship between Ruxandra and Elizabeth Bathory was sweet to read. Speaking of the countess Bathory, I thought this was an interesting take on her character. I’ve read a good deal about her as a teenager and seeing her being used in a vampire story makes perfect sense. The character is weird and sensual – a good move from the author, I must admit. This book is true to the vampires’ sensuality. It is also worthy of original, bloody (no pun intended!) vampires with a remnant of a human side. Their cruelty is faithful to folklore with the harsh reality of deaths and tortures. The author is quite respectful of their powers too. Plus, there must have been a good deal of research involved to get the eras and settings well done along with the characters (mostly the countess Bathory), but the author aced it in my opinion.

Everything is logically put into place like pieces of a puzzle. The author pulled it off brilliantly. Let’s talk about dialogue… it was (thank God!) believable. The characters said just enough things to leave us wondering, yet they gave us the necessary information at the right time. Moreover, the way Ruxandra recovers her memories, how she learns of things past, and the way she discovers her powers is interesting and well-written. Finally, the ending was awesome! It was quite thrilling and intriguing, as well as gory and dark. The very end surprised me and I usually figure out the plot twists well in advance!

As for the negative points, the description of the action and fights and the drinking of blood could be expanded. It is quite short compared to the other descriptions. Or when it’s long, it’s because the description is mostly of sexual nature. I understand vampires are usually sensual, but I want to know more about the fights and how it feels to drink blood to survive! In general, more detailed descriptions are needed. Also, they were loads of typos and words that should have been erased. I really hope the book will go through another round of thorough editing because this novel deserves to be read without confusion. Moreover, there are a few inconsistencies in the wording, like in the beginning when Bathory tells her people to use the pronouns ‘’she’’ for the Beast, yet in the next line the countess uses ‘’it’’ too. Lastly, one thing that bothered me was Ruxandra’s lack of motives and goals while the Beast does not. She doesn’t decide anything for the most part of the story… Events just happen to her.

This book (and I bet the series too) is perfect for fans of Anne Rice’s vampires and the Vampire Diaries series and for those who love the sensuality of vampires and their gory life. Even though one hasn’t read the first one, they can jump into Not Everything Dies without any problem for we learn little by little of Ruxandra’s backstory just as she does (of course, reading the first one once you’re hooked to the series is probably a good idea). I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 because of how true to the vampire’s myths it was and how much of a captivating time I had reading it.

I will definitely read the rest of the series. In fact, I cannot wait for the third book to come out! I highly recommend Not Everything Dies by John Patrick Kennedy – if you love vampires and action, you’ll probably love it just like I do.

A Step on the Publishing Path (and Other Great Stuff!)

chit-chatting with Cat, My project, Short Stories March 2, 2017 Leave a comment

Hello, ladies and gentlemen!

I have two good news for you, an update, and a question.

Let’s start with the good news (it’s my favorite part!).

I will participate in the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Contest this year in the genre short story category (Romance). Yes, you’ve read it well! I am so thrilled it’s unbelievable. It’s the biggest contest in which I have ever participated. What is pleasant about it too is that they give every participant a free webinar. So everyone wins in a way! I’m just happy to be in.

The second fun thing I want to tell you is making me bubble up with joy: I’ll have my short story edited! I have never had an editor work on a short story of mine, so this is a huge step toward publication and I’m as excited as one can be – I’m ecstatic actually. I can’t wait to read the edited version and learn from it!

As for the update, I am still working hard on Nightshade: The Death Stone. Truth is I had to slow down a little due to midterm exams; however, I now have more free time to dedicate to writing, yay! My main focus is on characterisation and world-building this week and the next, along with outlining (of course!).

With that being said, I have a question: would you be interested in character, world-building, and other worksheets if I made them? Some free and others you would be able to purchase.

What do you think?

Or would you prefer a story binder or a writing planner, or other products?

Moreover, what writing issues would you like me to tackle in order to help you, guys (and girls)?

Tell me your opinion in the comments below! I’m always happy to interact with you.

P.S.: Book reviews are coming your way as well!

A Pinch of Greek and Worldbuilding

chit-chatting with Cat, My project February 5, 2017 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

I know it’s been a while but my life has been pretty rocky lately. But I’m here now, that’s all that matters. I wanted to let you know how hard I’m working on my novel Nightshade: The Death Stone. I am currently worldbuilding, yes! Not one world: four. And you want to know the best thing about it? It’s fun and going great!

Moreover, this has nothing to do with writing but I figured it’d be fun to share: I have started to learn Greek this week. It’s such a marvellous language! I printed free sheets about Greek and I’m practising. I’ll even order workbooks and CDs for it. I love learning languages: it’s thrilling! Just like an adventure. 🙂 Oh heck, it’s one! I already speak French, English (obviously), Italian, and Spanish.

So that was for my update ^.^

Thank you for staying with me! I love you, people!

P.S.: I am thinking of a poem I’ll soon write for you, guys. I’ll keep you updated about it too.

Ups and Downs and a Workbook Just For You

chit-chatting with Cat, Uncategorized October 25, 2016 Leave a comment

Hello, people!

I’m writing a short post only to tell you what’s going on. I’m still getting ready for NaNoWriMo, which is taking most of my time (I swear, if I could just—!)

Oh! There’s fun news: Remember that freebie I talked to you about?

Well, guess what? There’s ANOTHER freebie coming your way. Yes! It’s a workbook about how to create a vivid setting for your story. I’ll focus mainly on fantasy and sci-fi, but I guess you could apply it to any story. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

I hope everything’s going well for you. As you can guess, my day has been… rough. But let’s push that aside, shall we?

Now, tell me, what types of workbooks would you be most interested in having? Do you like my idea of giving you a setting workbook?

I’d love to read your thoughts!

Comment below, please. 🙂

P.S.: Remember to stay tuned for Friday’s writing tip!

Pin This Author and A Few Surprises!

chit-chatting with Cat October 12, 2016 Comments: 4

Hello, dears!

I’ve recently decided to revive my Pinterest account. I am currently working on it; as it grows, it will include writing tips, how to write fantasy, YA, and other genres, interesting facts, quotes, and more! If you want, you can check it out here. I’ll be pleased to see you over for the journey that is writing! ^.^

Moreover, I have a Goodreads account I forgot to talk to you about! Here it is. 🙂 As soon as I publish my first novel, I’ll change my account to an author one. But for now, I am content just adding books to my shelves, chatting with people, and writing reviews. I can’t wait to see you there! Oh, and I’ll also post a few of my writing excerpts, so be on the lookout for them.

Speaking of which, I have surprises for you…

First, I will (re)start the Writing Tips series on Friday. Yes! THIS Friday. I find that it’s been too long since I’ve given you guys and gals some help with writing. And these tips, I always try them first-hand in order to give you the best information I can come up with. I know you liked it, so there you go, surprise!

Second, once NaNoWriMo starts, I shall post the very first chapter for you to read. Yup. The whole first chapter of Nightshade: The Death Stone. Why? As a treat. 🙂 I love having you with me on the journey to publish my novel, so I figured this was a sweet thing to do and a thank-you present.

I hope you like what I have for you and I can’t wait to see you over at Pinterest and Goodreads!

Thank you, as always.

A Big Turn of Events

chit-chatting with Cat, My project October 8, 2016 Leave a comment

Hello, everyone!

I have come to tell you two things (don’t fret, I am NOT closing this blog :)):

The first comes from a hard choice I made. I spent weeks thinking the matter over. I found the solution, but I had to sacrifice something in order for it to work. What I am talking about is that I decided to put my novel ”Down to Earth” in a corner… and not come back to it until a few years have past. The reason for this is medical. I know. Surprising, isn’t it?

However, there’s a good side to it: I also chose to start a story I have been thinking about for years. It is titled ”Nightshade: The Death Stone’. It is a YA novel that is an urban fantasy. The summary goes like this:

A teenage girl, Rosellia Rowland-Lovelace, can go from our world to alternate dimensions in quite a peculiar way. One day, she is pursued by hooded people and is captured. Who are they? Why are they after her? And what’s the Death Stone they’re talking about?

Only the Nightshade will tell… Or will they?

From now on, my dears, you’ll read excerpts from Nightshade and posts from me about it. It has become my main novel now. My main goal.

I love it!

I hope you’ll do too. 🙂

As for the second thing I meant to tell you was that I am doing NaNoWriMo this November! You guessed it: with Nightshade as my novel. Yes, yes, yes!

This will be fun!

For those of you who wish to become my writing buddy on the NaNoWriMo Website, simply follow this link and add me as such!

It’s going to be a grand adventure I can’t wait to share with you. 🙂

On this joyous note, I thank you for your patience and promise you to be more active from now on.

See you next post!

Black Wings is Landing Here

Book Reviews, Uncategorized January 27, 2016 Leave a comment

Do you remember that awesome novel that should be a bestseller I talked to you about a few days ago?

Yes, that very same Black Wings by Iryna K. Combs.

BlackWings_RoaneCvr

But first of all, what is it really about? It is a science fiction and fantasy romance novel, to be precise. Here is the intriguing summary:

A new time. A new planet. A new world. New technologies. Two new humanoid species. A new war.

The two species separate, but in the removal, some of the best are left behind among the worst. Captured and held as slaves, they are treated cruelly for entertainment. Torture. Pain.

Annabel, endures a year of such cruelty, kept alive only by way of syringes which, while healing, cause a greater agony. She discovers a secret held by their leader, and decides to help her own kind by escaping–even if it means a final death, preferable to the life she has endured.

Her escape succeeds, and she joins her own kind at the other end of the planet. Among her new friends she meets many who help her adjust to their happier life. Will Annabel find romance? Or will another war break her down?

I figured it was time for you all to get an insight (more than just a review!) just so you can see if it suits your fancy or not.

So, here is an excerpt I picked for you:

She grabs the bottle and drinks rapidly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her drink so quickly.

“Don’t eat the bottle!” I joke, hoping to put a smile on her face. She thanks me with a small smile. Suddenly the door opens, and our moment of joyful peace is broken. Lucas walks in. He comes over and grabs my hand.

“You will pay for that, damn girl!” He threatens as he hauls me off my bed.

“What did I do?” I shout at him, confused, and draw back.

“You—trying to be so nice…helping your poor beat up friend who is not supposed to have water!” He’s yelling, taking the blanket and dragging me to the door.

“Leave her alone!” Kate screams at him, jumps up to stop him. The Varkin turns around and hits her so hard she falls to the floor. Holding my hand tightly, he walks me to the elevator. As we walk in, he presses the SS button. I barely get right in before the elevator door closes, almost pinching my leg. He pushes me against the opposite wall.

“Where are you taking me?” I demand, but I’m panicking—I’m in trouble.

“Relax,” Lucas puts his cold arms around my waist. “You might still have a chance to change things…”

He pulls me close to him. I feel his ice cold lips on my neck. I close my eyes, disgusted as never before. He pushes me to the wall with his body and rips my shirt from my back.

He’s going to beat me. I’m not going to make it easy.

I shove him away. He picks me up, throws me against the wall. He slaps my face, his nails scratch my cheek.

“Stupid, damn Anlight! You will get it good this time! I promise!”

His tone brings chills, all the way down to my legs.

When the elevator stops on the SS floor, he drags me down the hallway, the blanket in his hand. My ripped shirt is left lying in the elevator. All I have on is a dirty old black brassiere that’s seen better days. He looks back, and catches a glimpse of my stomach. A couple of days ago I’d been given a deep scratch, and he’s just noticed the scratch has gone.

“What happened to your scratch? It could not possibly heal so fast!”

Lucas takes me to the room where Victorius beats me if I don’t do what they tell me. We walk in and there are about twelve other Varkins in groups. Red lights and smoke make the place into a horror scene.

“She needs punishment like never before!” he screams, tossing me like a grubby rag to the middle of the room. All the Varkins turn and look. Glowing eyes look at me—without a shirt—as I try to break my landing.

“What did she do, my dear friend?” Victorius asks. He’s calm, still sitting in his chair.

“Her room-mate was not allowed to drink,” the Varkin replies. “But this one hid water and gave it to her friend. She stole this blanket, knowing she is not allowed to have one.”

Victorius’ face is serious as he listens closely. I get up, stand right in front of him. He stands, walks down to me, around me. I feel my pulse beating with each step he takes. My body tenses—I expect him to hit me any moment. I’ve been hoping I’d get used to this torture eventually, but every new punishment brings new terror and fear.

“Well, well…” Victorius stops in front of me. “Seems like I see your pretty face here more than other Anlights. We do not have many left…but I do remember you well…” He smiles. “Let me first inform you, this Varkin here is my ‘right hand’. The one I trust the most. And now he is telling me terrible things about you. Hmm…” he looks in my eyes, “…should I believe his tales?”

I know if I tell him the truth, no one will believe me for a minute. And it would make my situation even worse. I don’t think he’ll even let me open my mouth.

“Believe what you like.” I keep looking downwards, and the other Varkins whisper around us. They didn’t expect my careless answer. They’re probably trying to figure out why I won’t try protecting myself by finding excuses.

“Lucas!” he shouts and his right hand comes to him.

“Yes, my majesty.”

“What do you think we need to…do…with her, considering everything she has done?”

“Victorius, there is something interesting you might want to know about her…” Lucas said.

“What?”

Lucas comes up to me and points at my stomach. I don’t know how to deal with this. I’m shaking as I try to cover the healed scratch with my hands.

“Two days ago she had a long cut on her stomach. It was bleeding. Now it is not there anymore. It is healed. There is something going on with her.” Lucas pulls my hands away.

“It’s not true,” I burst out. “The cut was not too deep, and it was more than two days—” Victorius slaps me before I can finish talking.

“I have noticed things like that as well, but I thought it was just my mind playing tricks with me,” Victorius talks slowly, calmly, as he turns my face back toward him with his cold hand. “Now here is evidence.” He’s smiling, which isn’t necessarily a good sign.

“We need to take her blood, do tests on her,” Lucas suggests.

“My friend,” Victorius looks at him, “tests have killed almost all my Anlights. I cannot afford to lose any more of them. But we will surely take her blood and see why she is different.” Victorius comes to my side and puts his arm around my shoulders.

“But there is one test I can do right now…”

Now, if that doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will. I really hope you enjoyed the excerpt and got a better understanding of what is the story about. If you want to read more, you can buy Black Wings by Iryna K. Combs on Amazon or CreateSpace.