Book Review: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

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This book was not what I expected, but I am happy to say I wasn’t disappointed.

The story is set in Terre d’Ange, a fictional land founded by a rebel angel and his companions. The inhabitants claim to be descended from those companions and the angel himself. The world-building in this story is masterful. With many familiar elements drawn from various people and cultures from actual history, Carey does a superb job weaving a complicated tale of political intrigue and betrayal.

The main reason that this book was not what I expected is that it was presented to me as a spicy romance-themed book but it was so much more.

Firstly, saying this book is spicy is putting it mildly. Our main character, Phèdre, was born to a courtesan, and by tradition, would be trained from an extremely young age in the ways of pleasure according to whichever house she belonged.

But Phèdre was born with a red mote in her eye, known as Kushiel’s Dart. Marked by the angel and with an innate desire to experience pleasure through pain, her life is anything but simple and she soon finds herself amid a grand plot that threatens her entire nation.

Though I generally disagree with trigger warnings (you’ll never find one in any book I write), I feel as though I owe potential readers a heads-up.  If you are against BDSM this book is not for you. If you are looking for a lovely romance story, this doesn’t quite fit that narrative.  Unfortunately, if the Goodreads reviews I read are any indication, a ton of people did not find what they were looking for with this story.

However, if you are someone who can take the good with the uncomfortable and unfamiliar then this book is a great read (there was nothing inherently bad in this story and I appreciated the positive way that sex workers of all types were portrayed in this story.  Many involved in such work choose it willingly and I will always defend an adult’s sovereignty in choosing their own path).

My favorite part of this story (and the reason I purchased the next two books in this trilogy) was the political intrigue and the dynamic world that Carey has created. Her unique writing style is exactly the type I love reading. It is lyrical and paints evocative pictures in my mind that transport me into the world she has created, which is one of the main reasons why I read. Don’t just tell me a story.  Take me from this mundane and troubled world and drown me in your story. I want to feel it, and see it, and live inside of it.

If you feel the same then read this book.

Book Review: Mort by Terry Pratchett

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The persona we often associate with death is dark and terrifying, but what if he had a sense of humor and was in the market for a new apprentice? In this fourth book of the Discworld series, Pratchett introduces us to Mort, the youngest son of a vintner who is more of a burden to his family than a boon. On his brother’s advice, the vintner decides to take Mort to a hiring fair. What follows for young Mort is an unbelievable opportunity to work as death’s apprentice.

This has been one of my favorite Discworld novels to date, and if the difficulty I had tracking it down is any indication, I would say many others thoroughly enjoyed it as well.

In his usual way, Pratchett takes us on a wild adventure in this world he created. While sometimes I find his writing style difficult to follow (I still struggle with the lack of chapter breaks), he does an excellent job painting a picture of Death (the persona) in a way many wouldn’t consider. 

There is a philosophical aspect to this book that I enjoyed, mulling over the concepts of fate and our ability or not to influence it. Sometimes I wonder which would be an easier pill to swallow. Is everything predetermined by fate and we are powerless to stop our destiny? Or, is the entire symphony of our life written by our own hands, and everything that happens to us a consequence of our own choices, and no one else’s? Maybe it’s a combination of the two.

Whether it is fate that demands it or your good judgment, read this book.

Oh Hello There, 2024

Well, here we are. 2024.

I intended to post sooner but I have been battling an extreme case of existential angst. The best way I can describe it would be to imagine yourself on a cliff’s edge, or at least you believe it is a cliff. Everything below it is darkness. You cannot turn around and run the other way. The only option is forward. Your chest heaves as you take deep breaths trying to steady yourself for the inevitable. Your creativity can’t even get you out of the situation. So you breathe and wonder how far the fall is and what is at the bottom. If you jump, will you crash among the rocks to your doom? Will there be water that you will need to tread to stay alive and do you have the stamina to last long enough to be rescued or find the shore? Will the fall be endless and force you to live in a constant state of expecting the worst that never comes and the agony of that? Or is there something or someone waiting to catch you? 

That is how I have been feeling. All of it. And so, I have spent these first weeks of the new year trying to steady myself. Thank you for patiently standing by.

On a brighter note…

I surpassed my reading goal for 2023. My goal was 40 books and I managed 45!  I will make a post with the list and my top 10 recommendations soon. Stay tuned!

In writing news…

My brilliant editor has wrapped up editing my first novel, Magic in Her Blood. Now it sits idly waiting for either an agent to represent it or for my impatience to win out and self-publish it.

I have been in the thick of querying various agents, and with little exception, have received form rejections to the tune of “not the right fit for me” or “ not quite what I am looking for at this time”.

So far, I am as yet undeterred and will continue to search for one who deems it worthy.

Thanks for sticking with me. I hope to have more exciting news to share with you soon. I wish you all the very best of what 2024 has to offer.

Book Review: Wretched by Emily McIntire

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“I don’t want to be loved by the hero. I don’t want to be sacrificed on the altar of saving the world. I want to be loved by the villain. I want to be worshipped above all else by someone who would burn it all down just to be with me and together we would live amongst the ashes.” – ATL Doyle

I wrote the words above after I finished reading Wretched by Emily McIntire. This is the third of her books that she describes as fractured fairytales. The premise of these books is the villain getting their happy ending instead of the predictable hero’s journey where the good guys win and the bad guys lose.


There is something deliciously dark about these books and they are spicy, but what I love most about them is the way they illustrate how thin the line between good and evil is. Broken people with tragic pasts can easily slide into a villain role. Pain and desperation can do funny things to a person. The bad guy in your story might be the good guy in mine. Which of us is right about them? Does it even matter?


There is something intoxicating about imagining a love so fierce and so real that no obstacle exists that can stop it. If love is the end, do the means even matter?


Read one of these books and then see how you feel about the answers to these questions.

Book Review: Hooked by Emily McIntire

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Imagine, if you will, taking a familiar cast of characters, their personalities intact, and you drop them into a new and unfamiliar environment. Now, I want you to also imagine a world where the villain gets their happy ending.

Essentially, that is the premise of this book by Emily McIntire. 

I first learned about this author/book series on BookTok, and I am delighted to have found it.

Hooked is written in the first person and bounces back and forth between our villain, James, and the daughter (Wendy) of his enemy, Peter (Yes, the cast of Peter Pan!). This is a delicious tale of revenge with a very spicy and dark plot, I was not disappointed.

This book was exactly what I had hoped for. There are other reviews out there that don’t share my opinion. I feel it comes down to managing expectations. It is very difficult to write a spicy romance and tell a riveting story with lyrical prose at the same time (especially for anyone less than an expert), in my humble opinion. I went in expecting a dark and steamy, somewhat twisted tale, and that is what I found.

I will say however, this book is not for the faint of heart, so if you are looking for healthy relationships and a gentle romance, you will not find it in these pages.

If you want to explore something edgy and a little dangerous, leave your innocence and naivety at the door and read this book.

Book Review: Assassin’s Creed Renaissance by Oliver Bowden

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I am a history enthusiast. I think that’s what drew me to the Assassin’s Creed franchise in the beginning. Of their many talents, Ubisoft ( the creators) are brilliant at depicting historical locations and periods with next-level authenticity. I have played nearly every Assassin’s Creed game in the franchise, so when I discovered that there were also AC books, I HAD to read them.

So, I read some reviews and many advised readers that some of the first ones written weren’t much more than a direct narration from the game, without variation so the books were a bit shallow. I knew this going in, but I was still disappointed to find out it was true.

This book was a tough read. There was a lot of “stage direction” type writing and very little ‘showing’ with a whole lot of ‘telling’.

There was so much an author could have done with character development, especially for the time when AC Renaissance was set.  The story in both the video game and the novel follows Ezio Auditore, whose father was a banker during the Medici era in Florence, Italy.

What I wished for this book was to expand on the storyline from the game and give the readers more in-depth history. I wanted to see Ezio struggle emotionally and watch his character develop in a way that isn’t possible to witness in the video game.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, BUT!

It was a lovely refresher for the story from the video game. If you go in with zero expectations, the book is decent and may even delight someone who hasn’t played the game. For die-hard fans of Assassin’s Creed, this book is a nice keepsake/ piece of merchandise to add to your fan collection.

Despite my disappointment, I will manage my expectations better next time. I plan to continue reading the books in the series, if for no other reason than I find them nostalgic and useful in sating my hunger for new Assassin’s Creed stories/games.

October Update

Greetings on the fine October 31st! Whether you are preparing for spooky costumes and tricks and treats, or gathering together with friends, family,  or your community to celebrate the end of the harvest, celebrating your ancestors, or welcoming the dark of winter ahead, I hope you are blessed this holiday season.

It has been a bit since I’ve posted anything, but I have not been idle. My developmental edits for my first book are complete and I am preparing for copy and line edits next. While that process marches slowly onward, I have started researching agents and the querying process, which is vexing to say the very least.

Add in the current state of our world and you have a recipe that is not supportive or encouraging for a creative mind.

I want to be writing book two. I want to get lost in my fictional world where I am in control of the events and the outcomes but not matter how hard I stare at my computer screen or the blank paper before me, I can’t seem to conjure any creativity.

Instead, I have been reading.

Normally, I would read and post a review of each book ( I still post a star rating on goodreads.com or Amazon) but alas, that hasn’t happened either.

Since my last review post, I have read four books.

The Colour of Magic by Sir Terry Pratchett – I’m not sure if my head wasn’t in the right place when I read this but I am glad it was not my first exposure to the Discworld. I probably wouldn’t have read another if this had been my first. For me, it was chaotic and hard to follow.

Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe – Every once in a while I like to throw something classic into the mix and I have often heard the phrase Faustian bargain so I thought I’d check it out.

The Undiscovered Self by Carl Jung – the unconscious mind has always intrigued me and Dr Jung is brilliant. This book talks about humanity’s true nature and the need for individuals to resist the pressures of the masses and threats posed by those in power. It hit a little close to home (lately anyhow) but I enjoyed this book.

Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch by Lora O’Brien – I try to read as many authentic Irish materials as I can out of love and appreciation for the culture of my ancestors and to support authentic Irish creators, but also to research for my own purposes to respectfully portray the folklore and mythology in my fantasy novel. As always, Lora’s knowledge and method of presenting and providing that knowledge is unmatched. I am grateful for teachers like Lora who give of themselves to bring the rich Irish culture to those of us who are drawn to it. Read Lora’s books.

It could and probably has been said that this season reminds us of how beautiful endings can be and so, with that in mind, I am making this post to renew my creative fervor, and since Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month, for my non-writer friends) begins tomorrow, I am going to announce to the universe my intention to be creative every day, even when I don’t feel like it, for as long as I can.

Wish me luck!

Book Review: Mesoamerican History and Mythology by History Brought Alive

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Much of ancient history has been lost over time. I’m sure history buffs, archaeologists, anthropologists, et al. could spend hours or days debating and lamenting the reasons for this but that sadly doesn’t change reality.

The rich history of the Mesoamerican people is one such part of history that deserves our attention. The splendor of the architecture in the Yucatan and surrounding areas continues to delight us as more and more is uncovered. Who were these sophisticated people who created such complex societies in the distant past? History Brought Alive attempts to answer this question in their book, Mesoamerican History & Mythology.

I enjoy reading books by History Brought Alive because they allow me to engage in something I love. Reading and learning about history can be a time-consuming endeavor but with these small bite-sized pieces of history, laid out in layman’s terms, History Brought Alive allows people to sample history in a well-researched and manageable way.

Mesoamerican history, with the very small bit I know about it (thanks to my own research for book two in my series), is a tough one to tackle. There is so much we do not know, or can only speculate upon because of a lack of historical evidence. I want more, and while this book does a good job presenting some of what we know, a lot felt like it was missing.

Now, a case could definitely be made that each civilization, under the “Mesoamerican” umbrella, is vastly unique despite some commonalities. There is definitely overlap, and maybe History Brought Alive made the decision to stick to only those elements of the history that all groups shared for simplicity. For me, this was disappointing.

The full title of the book suggests it will cover mythology, legends, and mysteries of the Mesoamerican people, but to me, it barely scratched the surface. In my opinion, if you want to get a solid grasp on a culture and its history, read their stories, and dive into the folklore. It is there that you will find nourishment for your curious soul.

Another observation I had while reading this book is that the writing style was noticeably different from previous books I’ve read by History Brought Alive ( this makes number 11). The best way I can describe it is too wordy for the sake of being wordy. I wouldn’t have minded if the author had been saying a lot about the topic but instead, it was more like a commentary of sorts which was distracting.

Overall, this book did give an introduction to the Mesoamerican people, and definitely increased my appetite to know more, but only because I feel like it didn’t fulfill the promise made by the title, which is also the reason for my 3/5 star rating.

*I was given a copy of this book by Booksirens.com for review*

Book Review: Lords and Ladies by Sir Terry Pratchett

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I recently read my first-ever Discworld novel, Lords and Ladies. Sir Terry Pratchett was obviously a brilliant man. Lords and Ladies is not the first book in the series, but given what the author himself said about these novels, it is not essential that they be read in order, although going forward, I think I will start at the beginning.


I think many fantasy authors dream of creating a world big enough and interesting enough to write multiple stories within it. For some, you could even say it’s the home they long for but could never find. Like Terry Pratchett, that is what I hope to achieve someday.


What I loved about Discworld is that even though I did not start at the beginning, I had an exceptionally easy time settling into Pratchett’s world and imagining myself in it. Pratchett gives enough detail to allow the reader a solid foundation from which the rest of the world can be built in their imagination.


Despite being imaginary, the characters leaped off the page. With relatable personalities, it was easy to fall in love with them, empathize with them, and feel sympathetic for them.
I initially picked up Lord and Ladies after reading a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) or Instagram…maybe Facebook…by Morgan Daimler (an expert in the realm of the Fair Folk). The post referenced a quote from this book that intrigued me, discussing the way in which time passing tends to dull our perception of history, and often that leads to people forgetting why things are done the way they currently are.


An example would be how in modern times, the Fae are often portrayed like those we see in Disney movies. Tinkerbell, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather types. The issue is, if you spend even a small amount of time studying actual folklore, you realize that the reality of these Beings is a far cry from Disney. The unexplained like the feeling of being followed as you walk through the woods alone, or perhaps those lights you thought you saw in the field have names that were once well known, and perhaps even spoken in hushed tones or not at all for fear of who might answer to them.


I think of my own childhood home that bore an iron horseshoe above the door. I’m sure many would simply say that the horseshoe is for luck, but perhaps somewhere in the recesses of my Irish ancestry, Iron over the door was meant for a bit more than luck.


The biggest thing that stood out for me while reading Lords and Ladies though has little to do with the story itself (which for the record, I thoroughly enjoyed). Sir Terry Pratchett, clever master of the written word, DOES NOT USE CHAPTER BREAKS! This was a challenge I had to overcome. When I read, if I have to put the book down for some reason, I prefer to do so in a tidy place in the story. What better spot than the end of a Chapter?


Chapters are like signals to my obsessive brain that I might need to stop, to eat, to sleep, or care for my children maybe? Without a visual cue, I can easily get caught up in my imagination and read until the end, which isn’t exactly accomplished without issues as a mom of 4 boys. I quickly adapted.


Overall, I love that Pratchett, in his own unique way, stayed true to the folklore and if you haven’t read anything by him yet, I highly recommend picking up a Discworld novel.

Developmental Editing Round 1

Photo taken at Victoria Park, Truro NS by Me

Autumn is just around the corner, and I couldn’t be happier. Summer was hectic, and I didn’t get as much writing done as I had hoped. Still, I submitted the manuscript for my first novel to my editor and received encouraging feedback from her, and she noted some areas that needed tweaking to make the book even better.

I feel very grateful to have found Raya (my editor) because I can tell already that she understands my vision for the story. I think as a creator, whether it’s music, art, writing, et al. we take something from inside ourselves and place it into the world with a level of vulnerability that can be difficult to understand for someone who has never done it. That’s why when I write book reviews or when I offer feedback on someone else’s writing, I try to remember the precious gift I’ve been offered while doing so. Very few people display their innermost self to the world.

But Raya seems to get me and my story, and the suggestions she gave me through our first round of developmental edits were awesome. Even the ones that seemed a bit daunting.

Without giving any spoilers, there was a scene in Magic in Her Blood (book 1) that I didn’t want to write, so in the initial version that I sent to her for editing, I didn’t write it. I merely glossed over it and fortunately for me, and my future readers, Raya caught the omission and even after some resistance from me, encouraged me to write the scene.

I work well under pressure. Maybe even some of my best work from time to time is accomplished under a deadline or because someone else might be let down if I don’t do it. You see, I find it easy to let myself down (a fatal flaw, perhaps), so having something, or better still, someone to hold me accountable is a non-negotiable if I want to succeed. The paradox is that I don’t like being told what to do, so I live a complicated albeit entertaining existence. But, I digress.

I returned the manuscript with all the new scenes, suggested alterations, and tweaks completed to my editor on September 7th.  I am so happy to be one step closer to publishing and sharing this story with the world.

Until next time, I hope you enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons.