Books and travelling with Lynn

#artitupwithfriends : Toys

Posted On 16 May 2016

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #artitupwithfriends, 'toys', @badaliceshop, @pabkins

For the month of May I am going to try and take part in a daily drawing challenge organised by @pabkins and @badaliceshop. These will only be sketches but if you check out the #artitupwithfriends hashtag you’ll see some really excellent pieces of art! Each day the aim is to sketch or draw using the word for the day. Today is ‘Toys’! This is a sinister and sweet themed month. Tomorrow’s prompt is ‘Gothic’. FullSizeRender-10

Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey (readalong: final week)

Posted On 15 May 2016

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel's Justice, Readalong final week

Comments Dropped 3 responses

Today is the final week of our readalong of Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey. The schedule and participants are below. Thank you to Susan at Dab of Darkness for being the driving force behind these readalongs and also for this week’s questions. Without further ado, to the Q&A with the customary warning of spoilers and the invitation to join in with the comments.

1) In this section, Imriel had plenty of farewells and also reunions. Which ones did you find the most interesting or touching?

This is definitely a story with a lot of farewells. I think the most touching for me was Imriel returning to Alba and saying farewell to Dorelie. I found it very sad, in fact, I can’t deny I was welling up a little.

2) Maslin decides to stay in Vralia as an ambassador. What do you think of his decision? When Imriel, Phedre, and Joscelin depart, Phedre says something privately to Maslin that causes him to collapse to his knees and weep. What do you think she said?

I think that this is an interesting development and having read a few of Carey’s books now I wonder if this will lead into future storylines – especially now Maslin and Imriel have become friends. Also, I wonder if Maslin finds himself in the position of not wanting to go home. The woman he loved doesn’t love him and whilst he may have come to terms with it it doesn’t necessarily mean he wants to watch Imriel and Sidonie play nice together. This could be his way of accepting things. I also can’t help thinking he wants a bit of an adventure. I’m not sure what Phedre said to Maslin but I’m sure she said something very kind and along the lines of him being a good person and people care about him – I think, a little like Imriel – he’s still coming to terms and trying to accept his past and so having someone like Phedre say something good to him would more than likely make him react in this way. There’s nothing like a dose of sympathy to undo you a little!

3) Imriel & crew make it to Skaldia where they dine with Aldemar and meet some interesting merchants. Do you think the Unseen Guild had a hand in any of Imriel’s recent adventures?

Yes, I think they have undoubtedly had a hand in certain affairs – maybe Alder’s turnaround for example??

4) Finally, Imriel is reunited with Dorolei’s kin. There’s a solemn burial of Berlik’s skull which is followed by a boisterous party. If someone was burying a skull at your feet, which would you prefer – serious ceremony or rowdy affair?

Well, if I was alive I’d absolutely want a rowdy affair, if not then I think everybody should be appropriately serious! Not really, I would prefer everyone to have a good time and a laugh about all the things we’ve done and said together.

5) Sidonie and Imriel are finally together openly. Some still do not approve. What challenges do you foresee for them?

This relationship is always going to suffer in terms of Imriel’s past – for some, it would probably be better that he was an unknown quantity (in terms of lineage) than to be from the family he is from. His mother has undoubtedly sullied his future for him. How can he possibly marry the heir to the throne – most people would assume it’s a snide plot and so many people will still have memories of the Skaldi invasion. It’s a tough one. I think that it’s possible that Ysandre will come upon a political match for Sidonie and put her in a position where she has no choice but to accept for the good of the country? Possibly not, but it seems that would be a plan for her to prevent marriage to Imriel? Failing that, Imril could offer to undertake some sort of ridiculous and difficult challenge in order to prove his worth. Even so, I think that they could sometimes be a little more sensitive. They spent a long time keeping their affairs very private and so I don’t see why they have to be so brazen right after the whole burial of the skull at Lorelei’s feet scene – it just seems a bit disrespectful and I can understand that would upset some people. Come on – you’ve just waited 12 months – either wait another couple of days until you leave Alba or be a bit more secretive about it – after all you’re in a bloody tent – you don’t have 20 inch walls and wooden doors to block out the noise and I’m sure not everyone wants to listen in!

I really enjoyed this instalment and all the Q&A and discussion with everyone and definitely look forward to the next book – I don’t think there’s going to be any plain sailing for Imriel and Sidonie!

Here is the schedule:

Week 1: Chpts. 1-7, Mar 20 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: Chpts. 8-14, Mar 27 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 3: Chpts. 15-22, Apr 3 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Chpts. 23-29, Apr 10 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 5: Chpts. 30-37, Apr 17 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 6: Chpts. 38-46, Apr 24 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 7: Chpts. 47-56, May 1 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 8: Chpts. 57-65, May 8 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 9: Chpts. 66-END, May 15 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness

And here is the current list of participators:
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Emily at Emma Wolf
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow

#artitupwithfriends : Midnight

Posted On 14 May 2016

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #artitupwithfriends, @badaliceshop, @pabkins

Comments Dropped 10 responses

For the month of May I am going to try and take part in a daily drawing challenge organised by @pabkins and @badaliceshop. These will only be sketches but if you check out the #artitupwithfriends hashtag you’ll see some really excellent pieces of art! Each day the aim is to sketch or draw using the word for the day. Today is ‘Midnight’! This is a sinister and sweet themed month. Tomorrow’s prompt is ‘Toys’.

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#SPFBO Spotlight : the first five books..

Posted On 14 May 2016

Filed under #SPFBO, Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO 2016, Mark Lawrence, Spotlight: first 5 books

Comments Dropped 23 responses

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As part of the SPFBO (details here) all the bloggers taking part have been assigned 30 books. By the end of a six month period the aim is to choose one book to put forward into the next stage. So, I’m aiming to check out 5 books a month. My list first appears here and I’ve picked five random numbers for my first batch of books which are set out below. I’ve provided here the write up and covers from Goodreads for background and also to shine the spotlight on each of these books:

Rebel’s Honor by Gwynn White:

Rebel'sHonor

Warrior princess Lynx was helping her brother through a rite of passage into the raiders—the band of rebels who protect their nomadic tribe from imperial guardsmen—when she received a summons to marry her sworn enemy, Crown Prince Lukan. The command cannot be denied. Not when it’s backed up by one thousand guardsmen, each armed with superhuman powers, stationed near her tribe’s desert encampment.

With nothing but her wits and her mundane fighting skill to aid her, Lynx is now on a crusade to destroy Lukan, his all-powerful guardsmen, and his evil empire. If she fails, she forfeits not only her own life but the lives of every person in her tribe.

Unbeknown to Lynx, the only thing the beautiful, brooding Lukan fears is the curse that says Lynx, his warrior bride, will destroy him and his world-conquering empire. Armed with secret but diabolical, mind-controlling technology, Lukan is confident he’s safe from her threats. Unfortunately, no high-tech device can protect him from his lust for her. And it’s his lust that will trigger his downfall.

A story of curses and prophecy, Rebel’s Honor is an intrigue-filled, romantic steampunk adventure. Warning: Don’t start reading at bedtime. Rebel’s Honor will keep you turning the pages all night.

Kindle Edition, 367 pages

Published October 20th 2015

Crown of Blood#1

Soul Stealer by Joseph J Bailey:

Heaven has fallen.
The legions of Chaos have overrun the world.
Uërth is in ruins.With the Heavenly Host’s fall, Angel Swords rained from the heavens, littering the world in what was.Only the most honorable and purest of heart are able to take up the Angel Swords and wield them against the throngs of Chaos. These mighty Empyrean Knights are all that stand between Uërth and annihilation.

Saedeus is neither pure of heart nor honorable. Nor does he wish to wield an Angel Sword.
He just wants to be left alone with his mushrooms.
And his pet rock.
But he might not have a choice.

When he inadvertently takes the soul of a dying Empyrean Knight into himself, his world, and his obligations, grow forever larger.

With the help of his pet rock, the spirit of a heavenly knight, and the sword of a fallen angel, he might be able to make all the difference.

If he doesn’t die first.

Soul Stealer is a dark fantasy

Kindle Edition, 324 pages

Published October 7th 2015

Assassin’s Quest by Jon Kiln

Royal assassin, Rothar, is on a routine mission. Tasked with quietly eliminating a lecherous merchant with a penchant for young children, Rothar’s blade strikes without hesitation.

But when more children go missing, Rothar digs deeper and discovers an insidious network that reaches high up into the echelons of nobility.

What started as a simple mission has become a dangerous quest for justice. Rothar must call upon all his skill to punish those responsible, and rescue the innocent before it’s too late.

“A fast-paced, full length, heroic fantasy novel.”

Paperback, 250 pages

Published June 30th 2015

Original Title

Assassin’s Quest (Veiled Dagger, #1)

Into the Sky by Erica Converso

“Five gems there are to act as keys
For the gate to the land of death.
In silver, over mountain, beyond the trees,
At journey’s center, across the seas,
To pass the door where no man draws breath.”Alcione wants more than anything to join her father and brother as one of the Talaria, the riders who defend the King on their flying mounts, the arion. She dreams of soaring up into the sky to protect her land. But as a girl, she will never have a chance to become a hero.After her family is killed in a revolution, Alcie is determined to bring them back. She sets out with Romi, her brother’s arion, towards the capital, where it is said rests a legendary crown with the power to enter the land of the dead. But if she can’t conceal her identity as a former noble, her quest could end before it even begins. Alcie must hide everything she is to survive in this new, dangerous world. But only as her true self can she ever hope to find the crown of five stones and bring her family home.Kindle Edition, 256 pages

Published February 17th

The Tarot Cards by Christina Maharaj

The cards have been released.

They’re draining the world of its magic.

A new master has been chosen.

Only she can capture the cards.High schooler Clara Marsters was on Summer break when it happened. She found the card that would change her destiny. Thrust into Gaia, a dying world filled with magic, she meets Alex, the mysterious yet familiar talking tiger, who came to assist her on her journey.

In order to save the world and get back home, they must travel through the kingdom of Burkhart, solving puzzles and braving the trials of the cards. It’s not just the trials she has to worry about though. Others want the cards magical power, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it.

How far would you go, to save a world that isn’t your own?

Kindle Edition, 173 pages

Published June 30th 2015

#artitupwithfriends : Masks

Posted On 13 May 2016

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #artitupwithfriends, @badaliceshop, @pabkins, Masks

Comments Dropped 16 responses

For the month of May I am going to try and take part in a daily drawing challenge organised by @pabkins and @badaliceshop. These will only be sketches but if you check out the #artitupwithfriends hashtag you’ll see some really excellent pieces of art! Each day the aim is to sketch or draw using the word for the day. Today is ‘Masks’! This is a sinister and sweet themed month. Tomorrow’s prompt is ‘Midnight’.

Today is a sort of continuation of yesterday’s dark princess – I’m going with ‘Snow White the Cannibal’ – if that’s a bit too much for you there’s a little happy sketch below – to help you forget the first image!

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