Books

4 July, 2015

Kushiel’s Dart Read-Along, Week 8

It’s time for another week of the KUSHIEL’S DART read-along! This week we’re bobbing along, singing a song, across the beautiful briny seaaaa~

This post is really late, which is frustrating, because I read this section a fortnight ago and had the questions all ready to go until fates conspired to stop me finishing the post. Ah well.

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Week 8: June 28, Chapters 64-73, Hosted by Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog. You can find the read-along schedule HERE, and anyone and everyone is welcome to join in. There’s also a Goodreads group for SF/F read alongs.

Follow below the cut for a spoiler-y discussion of our adventures along the long road ahead.

2 July, 2015

#CampNaNo Begins!

It’s Writing Wednesday! Or it was, but it’s Thursday now, because but anyway… it’s my weekly update about reading, writing, and all the stuff I’m doing where I should be writing.

July means it’s CAMP NANOWRIMO, a month-long challenge to write a ton of words.

What I’ve Been Up To

DiegoCollarUpFullBodySmall June was supposed to be my month off after finishing the never-ending edit, though I got bored after about five days of my break and went back to work. As you do.

So, I started a new edit, plotted out my #CampNaNoWriMo project, and dabbled in game (adventure game/visual novel) development… which is super fun, and definitely something I want to work with more over the coming years. I’m careful not to let it distract from my writing WIPs though, which need to remain the focus.

Also, I drew this demon dude on the right, stretching out some rusty art muscles.

What I’m Writing

I’ve just received some amazing beta feedback for ALL THE BROKEN THINGS, so I’m looking forward to implementing all that this month and then sending it out to the next round of betas.

I’m also working on a brand new draft of DIVIDE THE SKY, which is a lot of fun, and gives me something to look forward to once the heavier editing is done.

This months goal is to write 40,000 words. Going to be a fun month!

What I’m Reading

Still adoring KUSHIEL’S DART, and nearly at the end of that now. This month I’ve got to finish KUSHIEL’S DART, finish a medium-sized beta read for a friend, and start and finish a full novel beta read for another friend. Super super super busy, oh man.

Miss Cole started up a TBR Pile Decimation Challenge, which I’m hoping to keep doing through the months — because my to-read pile is, um, probably going to take a couple of years to get through. I wish I was joking.

That's right, there's a mostly-hidden back row of paperbacks stacked two high. — That’s right, there’s a mostly-hidden back row of paperbacks stacked two high.

…I’m a monster.

My JULY TBR plan is…

— Two beta reads

— Kushiel’s Dart

— As many library books as I can.

— And then the massive Avatar comic and BLOOD RED ROAD paperback.

What Works For Me

My latest adventures in game programming have been a lot of fun — they’ve been a good way to learn how to slim down my stories even more, and make the more confusing elements clear for anyone reading. It’s definitely something I hope to keep doing on the side, especially because it ties in nicely with the skills I need for the day job.

15 June, 2015

Kushiel’s Dart Read-Along, Week 6

It’s time for another week of the KUSHIEL’S DART read-along! Week 6 is an exciting adventure through the snowy Hinterlands.

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Week 6: June 14, Chapters 46-54 is hosted by Grace at Books Without Any Pictures. You can find the read-along schedule HERE, and anyone and everyone is welcome to join in. There’s also a Goodreads group for SF/F read alongs.

Follow below the cut for a spoiler-y discussion of our adventures across the historical counterparts of Germany, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. With wolves and bears, oh my!

8 June, 2015

Kushiel’s Dart Read-Along: Week 5

It’s time for another week of the KUSHIEL’S DART read-along, and today, we’re actually on time! Week 5 brings us nicely to the middle of this book, where things are changing in major ways.

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Week 5: June 7, Chapters 37-45, is hosted by Igret at Igret’s Corner. You can find the read-along schedule HERE, and anyone and everyone is welcome to join in. There’s also a Goodreads group for SF/F read alongs.

This is a really pivotal point in the book — in most normal series, I think this would be the cliffhanger ending before book 2 – so BUCKLE-UP FOR SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT.

7 June, 2015

Emma Reviews: THE ART OF FORGETTING by Joanne Hall

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Book: THE ART OF FORGETTING by Joanne Hall

Series: RIDER, Book #1 | Genre: YA Fantasy

Buy It: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Gifted and cursed with a unique memory, the foundling son of a notorious traitor, Rhodri joins an elite cavalry unit. There, struggling with his own memories of his father, he begins to discover a sense of belonging. Until a face from the past reveals a secret that will change not only Rhodri’s life, but the fate of a nation.

I’ve been meaning to review this lovely book for a long time, and I’m glad to finally be able to shine a light on this wee gem of a story released by small press Kristell Ink (the sci-fi/fantasy imprint of adventurous new publisher Grimbold Books).

Rhodri’s story, at first, seems like a fairly standard fantasy beginning: he’s a farm boy with a perfect memory, raised by a foster father after being abandoned as child. He joins the King’s Third, a cavalry unit of the army, and this is where the world-building really comes into its own. We see the clash of personalities between men and boys, delve into some brutally realistic issues about race and sexuality, and get a sense of the wider conflicts in the world.

As the story developed, I could see what made it stand out from more mainstream fantasy stories. It’s a bold, diverse read, with LGBTQ characters and a bisexual protagonist, that really makes it stand out from the crowd. We need more diverse epic fantasy out there in the world, and THE ART OF FORGETTING delivers that in spades. It was so refreshing to see.

It is a *very*, *very* dark read though, and at times the rape and violence was too much for me, so I’d definitely advise reader caution there — but if you can handle the current GAME OF THRONES TV show and books, then THE ART OF FORGETTING will be familiar, as they both delve into similarly grim and violent spaces.

I’m really looking forward to reading more of Joanne’s detailed world, and unravelling the secrets behind Rhodri’s gradually returning memory and his mysterious past. Especially after that cliffhanger ending!

If you’re a book blogger and would like to read THE ART OF FORGETTING, Joanne welcomes reviewers with open arms. The details for how to request a copy are here.

4 June, 2015

Kushiel’s Dart Read-Along: Week 4

There’s no Writing Wednesday this week, because I’m basically on a writing holiday and it’s great.

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(I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been writing some of the time, but shhhh, if I tell myself I’m on holiday it’ll happen.)

This week is all about catching up on reading — both books, and beta reads. So in that spirit, it’s time for (a late) Week 4 of the Kushiel’s Dart read-along.

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Week 4: May 31, Chapters 27-36, is hosted by Susan at DAB OF DARKNESS. You can find the read-along schedule HERE, and anyone and everyone is welcome to join in. There’s also a Goodreads group for SF/F read alongs.

**SPOILERS FOR CHAPTERS 27–36 BEYOND THIS POINT**