Victoria Larque's Blog
October 11, 2019
Review: Condemnation by Kell Inkston
Come with me, take a wild ride into this Dystopian, (Steampunk feely) Action Adventure, Coming of Age tale. Because yes, it's all of the above,and more. I usually don't count myself among the fans of Dystopian (not when it comes to reading) and I don't know why that is. Maybe because I'm not big on excessive world building. (Which is needed, of course, I just don't like it very much. Personal preference here.)Regardless, I absolutely enjoyed this book! The world building is clear, and never more than it has to be. Buuut... I'm getting ahead of myself.
Yes! There it is! Pretty, right? I love how the cover blends all of what the book entails and presents it friggin gorgeously!What it's about:(Blurb taken from Amazon)Her world is a lie, and that lie wants her dead.As a student of the prestigious Royal Academy, Clare's work on automatons needs to not only impress her professors, but also honor the legacy of her late mother - who wrote the book on humanity's mechanized companions. Clare discovers a hidden recording at home that reveals an inconvenient truth, and now she believes there's a chance her mother could be alive. This means the police lied to her about her mother's fate... but why? There's only one way to find out. Sneaking underground into the forbidden substation system, Clare does find something: It has intelligence. It hunts. It can KILL. She finds a perfect copy of her walled-off city, and something's wrong; something's very wrong. If you love thrillers, fantasy, dystopian settings, or just the kinds of chills that keep their nails in you even after you've put it down, look no further; welcome to Substation 7.What I think about it:Well, in short, I loved it. The writing style is very different from what I'm used to, but I adored it. It took me a little to get used to the tone but the world building and scene setting was always clear, and precisely worded, so I found my way around fairly quick. The way the author writes made me nostalgic in a way, it always has a... wink, for lack of a better word. Yes, I'd say the author writes with a wink in his words. And I love that. The storyline itself has many twists and turns, and even though one feels a bit shielded from the characters because of how the story is told, I sweated and suffered with Clare, I was mad at her and I felt for her. Which is the most important part of any story; it made me feel. And it is clever. But most of all it is exciting. There are a few breathers here and there, but most of the time you just want to keep on turning the pages to see what happens. A thrilling ride for sure.What's right with it:Clare is a young woman, who takes on a task so vast it made me dizzy, but I never once questioned her reasons or her resolve. She makes sense, even when she makes mistakes, and that made me root for her.The characters feel all too real, even the non-human ones. I especially enjoyed Carrie, and the banter she has with Clare. I expect them to become as thick as thieves as the story progresses.As I said before, the overbuilding does not overwhelm me and the technical aspects were interestingly shown and explained, so I didn't skip any of it. (To my shame, yes, I start skipping when things get over-explanatory.)Also noteworthy are the details which make this book great. I felt Clare's suffering, I felt her iron will, and I smelled, tasted and felt the same things she did, which did elicit the one or other 'eww'.What's wrong with it:Oh, nitpicky me, here we go again.The ending was a bit abrupt, even for a cliffhanger. I don't mind cliffhangers at all, but it felt a little too cut off. But I really don't mind cause the next book will be out in November. So I'd say it really is only a small speck on this edge-of-your-seat-ride of a book.Who it's for:People who are into Dystopian, Steampunk (yes, the whole book has a steampunky vibe for me), Action Adventure, and coming of age tales. Also, for people who enjoy great storytelling and a wink between the words now and then ;)Get it HEREGet lost in Kell Inkston's work:Website (also has lots of FREE short stories), Facebook, Amazon.
Yes! There it is! Pretty, right? I love how the cover blends all of what the book entails and presents it friggin gorgeously!What it's about:(Blurb taken from Amazon)Her world is a lie, and that lie wants her dead.As a student of the prestigious Royal Academy, Clare's work on automatons needs to not only impress her professors, but also honor the legacy of her late mother - who wrote the book on humanity's mechanized companions. Clare discovers a hidden recording at home that reveals an inconvenient truth, and now she believes there's a chance her mother could be alive. This means the police lied to her about her mother's fate... but why? There's only one way to find out. Sneaking underground into the forbidden substation system, Clare does find something: It has intelligence. It hunts. It can KILL. She finds a perfect copy of her walled-off city, and something's wrong; something's very wrong. If you love thrillers, fantasy, dystopian settings, or just the kinds of chills that keep their nails in you even after you've put it down, look no further; welcome to Substation 7.What I think about it:Well, in short, I loved it. The writing style is very different from what I'm used to, but I adored it. It took me a little to get used to the tone but the world building and scene setting was always clear, and precisely worded, so I found my way around fairly quick. The way the author writes made me nostalgic in a way, it always has a... wink, for lack of a better word. Yes, I'd say the author writes with a wink in his words. And I love that. The storyline itself has many twists and turns, and even though one feels a bit shielded from the characters because of how the story is told, I sweated and suffered with Clare, I was mad at her and I felt for her. Which is the most important part of any story; it made me feel. And it is clever. But most of all it is exciting. There are a few breathers here and there, but most of the time you just want to keep on turning the pages to see what happens. A thrilling ride for sure.What's right with it:Clare is a young woman, who takes on a task so vast it made me dizzy, but I never once questioned her reasons or her resolve. She makes sense, even when she makes mistakes, and that made me root for her.The characters feel all too real, even the non-human ones. I especially enjoyed Carrie, and the banter she has with Clare. I expect them to become as thick as thieves as the story progresses.As I said before, the overbuilding does not overwhelm me and the technical aspects were interestingly shown and explained, so I didn't skip any of it. (To my shame, yes, I start skipping when things get over-explanatory.)Also noteworthy are the details which make this book great. I felt Clare's suffering, I felt her iron will, and I smelled, tasted and felt the same things she did, which did elicit the one or other 'eww'.What's wrong with it:Oh, nitpicky me, here we go again.The ending was a bit abrupt, even for a cliffhanger. I don't mind cliffhangers at all, but it felt a little too cut off. But I really don't mind cause the next book will be out in November. So I'd say it really is only a small speck on this edge-of-your-seat-ride of a book.Who it's for:People who are into Dystopian, Steampunk (yes, the whole book has a steampunky vibe for me), Action Adventure, and coming of age tales. Also, for people who enjoy great storytelling and a wink between the words now and then ;)Get it HEREGet lost in Kell Inkston's work:Website (also has lots of FREE short stories), Facebook, Amazon.
August 5, 2019
Cover Reveal and Randomness
This is not a drill, this is a cover reveal. Why? Cause it’s gorgeous and needs to be celebrated, of course!
I am very excited to show off the cover of The Demon, Shadow Play. It’s about one of my all-time favorite characters I have ever written. She made it fun, frustrated me, had me in laughing fits, and tears. Yep. Nick is everything, and I do hope she will be as special to you as she is to me.Now, let me show you what I have been wanting to show you the whole time! 
Tadah!!!Isn’t it gorgeous??? *squeals* Holy smackaroo, I am so, so, so in love with this cover I can’t even begin to tell you. You know, it all comes down to my awesome, talented, EPIC designer, Kim. She is a treasure and I am so grateful to be able to work with her! She is the friggin best! I know what you want to know… what is this story about??? Well here is the blurb:Nicolette is a Demon. Headstrong, tactless, and exceptional. She has one fear: Betrayal.David is a Shadow. A quiet and skilled assassin who has lived the past hundred years hiding from his kind and the oppressive culture they live by.When David leaves Trinity and Nick behind, she follows to set things right. What she finds is far more than she bargained for. As the past creeps up on them both, they must stick together to ensure their future. Trust between them has always been a fragile thing, and the hardships they face have the power to either strengthen their bond or irrevocably destroy it. Thrown into a pit of intrigues and mortal danger, they will discover that true courage means relying on one another.But will it be enough to save them?The Demon is the third book in the Myre Series (like it says on the cover *duh*) and will be my usual mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. It’s a bit heavier on the romance than the two books before it were, but doesn’t qualify as a pure PNR. But it does have a Happy for Now ending. Sorta. *giggles* I’m not gonna tell you, read it when it comes out.If you wanna know a bit more about the struggles this story caused and what to expect next—read on.What’s next?Next month the editing process will begin for this baby, and since I always have a few rounds of editing I estimate the release of the book at around Feb-Mar of next year. Yes, I know it’s long but I want to present something I can be proud of, not something that has only been read through by my mom. (Though I’m sure she’d do a spectacular job!)Following book three will be The Seraph, Wings of Ash, which will star Celine and one of my favorite guy characters. After that—in book five—the Myre Series will conclude with The Soul Reaver, Nightmare. So all in all, the series will consist of five books. There might be spin offs, but if so, they are likely to appear in novella form.Struggles? What struggles?
This story was especially hard to write for a few reasons. Once I was halfway done, I spiraled into a crisis, not knowing if this book had a valid reason to be written. Plus, to change the main character after two books of having the same is… unorthodox to put it mildly. Then there is Nick herself, who sometimes is too much. Too loud, too vibrant, too harsh—you get the picture. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t worry about having written her, I worry that people will not get her. It could be the typical fear of acceptance I (we all) have dealt with my entire life. We want to be accepted for the things that make us different, unique. And sometimes we can’t hide that we are very different from the rest. People, like Nick, who embrace that otherness polarize. And I was a little scared that a character who is filled with my heart blood could be hated.But fear not! I still wrote it. Yes, this story contributes to the series arc as a whole—therefore it is valid. Changing the main character after two books? Meh. Change happens, Daphne will get another book, now is just not her time in the story arc. Nick being different? It will evoke reaction, positive and negative, of that I am sure. And I will deal with both when the time comes. So eventually, I’m all good.If you want to find out more—as in what projects I’ll be working on apart from The Myre Series—you can sign up for my newsletter way down at the bottom of the page. It goes out soon (and don’t worry, I don’t send newsletters often. This chica is too lazy for that) and will have a surprise inside. (Note on the surprise: there might, or might not be a chapter of a future project involved. Some really exclusive stuff, mmmkay?)If you have any questions, hit me up.Keep it crispy, kittens!V.L. out!
I am very excited to show off the cover of The Demon, Shadow Play. It’s about one of my all-time favorite characters I have ever written. She made it fun, frustrated me, had me in laughing fits, and tears. Yep. Nick is everything, and I do hope she will be as special to you as she is to me.Now, let me show you what I have been wanting to show you the whole time! Tadah!!!Isn’t it gorgeous??? *squeals* Holy smackaroo, I am so, so, so in love with this cover I can’t even begin to tell you. You know, it all comes down to my awesome, talented, EPIC designer, Kim. She is a treasure and I am so grateful to be able to work with her! She is the friggin best! I know what you want to know… what is this story about??? Well here is the blurb:Nicolette is a Demon. Headstrong, tactless, and exceptional. She has one fear: Betrayal.David is a Shadow. A quiet and skilled assassin who has lived the past hundred years hiding from his kind and the oppressive culture they live by.When David leaves Trinity and Nick behind, she follows to set things right. What she finds is far more than she bargained for. As the past creeps up on them both, they must stick together to ensure their future. Trust between them has always been a fragile thing, and the hardships they face have the power to either strengthen their bond or irrevocably destroy it. Thrown into a pit of intrigues and mortal danger, they will discover that true courage means relying on one another.But will it be enough to save them?The Demon is the third book in the Myre Series (like it says on the cover *duh*) and will be my usual mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. It’s a bit heavier on the romance than the two books before it were, but doesn’t qualify as a pure PNR. But it does have a Happy for Now ending. Sorta. *giggles* I’m not gonna tell you, read it when it comes out.If you wanna know a bit more about the struggles this story caused and what to expect next—read on.What’s next?Next month the editing process will begin for this baby, and since I always have a few rounds of editing I estimate the release of the book at around Feb-Mar of next year. Yes, I know it’s long but I want to present something I can be proud of, not something that has only been read through by my mom. (Though I’m sure she’d do a spectacular job!)Following book three will be The Seraph, Wings of Ash, which will star Celine and one of my favorite guy characters. After that—in book five—the Myre Series will conclude with The Soul Reaver, Nightmare. So all in all, the series will consist of five books. There might be spin offs, but if so, they are likely to appear in novella form.Struggles? What struggles?This story was especially hard to write for a few reasons. Once I was halfway done, I spiraled into a crisis, not knowing if this book had a valid reason to be written. Plus, to change the main character after two books of having the same is… unorthodox to put it mildly. Then there is Nick herself, who sometimes is too much. Too loud, too vibrant, too harsh—you get the picture. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t worry about having written her, I worry that people will not get her. It could be the typical fear of acceptance I (we all) have dealt with my entire life. We want to be accepted for the things that make us different, unique. And sometimes we can’t hide that we are very different from the rest. People, like Nick, who embrace that otherness polarize. And I was a little scared that a character who is filled with my heart blood could be hated.But fear not! I still wrote it. Yes, this story contributes to the series arc as a whole—therefore it is valid. Changing the main character after two books? Meh. Change happens, Daphne will get another book, now is just not her time in the story arc. Nick being different? It will evoke reaction, positive and negative, of that I am sure. And I will deal with both when the time comes. So eventually, I’m all good.If you want to find out more—as in what projects I’ll be working on apart from The Myre Series—you can sign up for my newsletter way down at the bottom of the page. It goes out soon (and don’t worry, I don’t send newsletters often. This chica is too lazy for that) and will have a surprise inside. (Note on the surprise: there might, or might not be a chapter of a future project involved. Some really exclusive stuff, mmmkay?)If you have any questions, hit me up.Keep it crispy, kittens!V.L. out!
January 25, 2019
Review: Reflected by Ariz Brune
Dis be my jam people!This one was right up my friggin alley. Urban Fantasy with romance sprinkled in, friendship, family, and action!If you read and liked my book/s of the Myre universe, you'll love this one!
And isn't the cover gorgeous??? *swoons*What it's about:Blurb taken from AmazonAs a Reflector, Lyssandra knows there are more supernaturals than her and her small circle of family and friends. As a lab tech at BioTech ChemLabs, the largest bio-engineering company in the area, she has met and worked with every kind of supernatural. Or so she thought. When Lyssi comes home from work to find her best friend and roommate kidnapped, she learns what she thought is not what it seems. Her best friend Mila kept secrets, endangering them all. BTCL is not the company she thought it to be. ‘Work, eat, sleep, repeat’ will no longer be her life mantra as she and her friends fight to uncover the truth. With an angry vampire, hired shifters, and other supernaturals trying to stop them, searching for the truth could kill them all.What I think about it:It took me a while to get acquainted with this world (things happen fast at the beginning), and even while the style of story is very similar to mine, the voice of the author is so much different. I fell in love with the characters after I got to know them (which was a bit difficult at first--as I've said--things happen rather fast in the beginning) and I adored their relationship with each other. Especially Lyssi, Alex and Miguel; who are more siblings than friends. The writing left me warm and fuzzy at times, cause it was beautiful, especially when powers (Lyssi's) were described. There were moments I was like: 'Hang on, this feels so familiar! Daphne (the MC in my book) feels so close to this.' And I loved it! Since neither the author nor I have read each others work before the books came out, it was both startling and fascinating to stumble into familiarity like that.I also adore certain kinds of supernaturals that were in this book. Some of which I have never heard of before. (As an author who makes up her own supernaturals from time to time, I was smitten with what Ariz Brune came up with.)I will say this though: I fell in love with one character right off the bat--just cause he is a type I have a weakness for, and he reminded me of someone I love deeply--and I will never forgive Miss Brune for what happens to him. *shakes tiny fist*What's right with it:The action scenes were clean, well executed and vibrant. I knew exactly what was happening when and with whom. (Believe me, that is not an easy feat. Fighting-writing can be a bitch.)I loved the dialogue, banter, and interaction between the characters, the humor is spot on, and some of these scenes were my favorites throughout the book.The romance. I adored the romance! One of the nicest and chillest romantic interests I have read in a long time. Also, the powers of the man in question makes for one of the most hilarious scenes ever!Which leads me to my favorite part: Humor. There is a lot of it in this book, and I love it! Most comes from dialogue and interaction, and some of the back and forth's will forever hold a place in my heart.Last but not least; as mentioned before, the description of Lyssi's powers was great! Very visual, and...I felt what she felt in that moment, okay? There is no bigger compliment than that. What's wrong with it:There are a couple of things that fall into the category: taste. These are things in the book that caught my attention, but are very much a preference thing.Lyssi breaks the fourth wall on occasion (meaning she speaks directly to the reader), some might not like that--I had no problem with it. It's just one of those things that often inspires discussions. The POV comes in threes: Prologue: Third person omniscient. Main character: First person. When main character is not present: Third person limited. Again, I don't mind it cause it makes sense in a way. We are close to the main character, a bit farther away when it comes to others, and even more distant when it comes to the prologues. This is, again, a thing of preference--you either roll with it, or it rubs you the wrong way.Then there are parts where the story seems to slow, and not much happens for a while, but it's worth reading on for when the plot is hurled forward and action happens.Who it's for:Obviously for people who have read The Soul Reaver *smirks*. Seriously, though, if you like Urban Fantasy, action, humor, and weirdly awesome characters--this is for you!I loved this book and am waiting for the second to come out!!! Go read it! Like now!You can buy it HERE!Connect with Ariz Brune here:Website--Facebook--Twitter--Bookbub
And isn't the cover gorgeous??? *swoons*What it's about:Blurb taken from AmazonAs a Reflector, Lyssandra knows there are more supernaturals than her and her small circle of family and friends. As a lab tech at BioTech ChemLabs, the largest bio-engineering company in the area, she has met and worked with every kind of supernatural. Or so she thought. When Lyssi comes home from work to find her best friend and roommate kidnapped, she learns what she thought is not what it seems. Her best friend Mila kept secrets, endangering them all. BTCL is not the company she thought it to be. ‘Work, eat, sleep, repeat’ will no longer be her life mantra as she and her friends fight to uncover the truth. With an angry vampire, hired shifters, and other supernaturals trying to stop them, searching for the truth could kill them all.What I think about it:It took me a while to get acquainted with this world (things happen fast at the beginning), and even while the style of story is very similar to mine, the voice of the author is so much different. I fell in love with the characters after I got to know them (which was a bit difficult at first--as I've said--things happen rather fast in the beginning) and I adored their relationship with each other. Especially Lyssi, Alex and Miguel; who are more siblings than friends. The writing left me warm and fuzzy at times, cause it was beautiful, especially when powers (Lyssi's) were described. There were moments I was like: 'Hang on, this feels so familiar! Daphne (the MC in my book) feels so close to this.' And I loved it! Since neither the author nor I have read each others work before the books came out, it was both startling and fascinating to stumble into familiarity like that.I also adore certain kinds of supernaturals that were in this book. Some of which I have never heard of before. (As an author who makes up her own supernaturals from time to time, I was smitten with what Ariz Brune came up with.)I will say this though: I fell in love with one character right off the bat--just cause he is a type I have a weakness for, and he reminded me of someone I love deeply--and I will never forgive Miss Brune for what happens to him. *shakes tiny fist*What's right with it:The action scenes were clean, well executed and vibrant. I knew exactly what was happening when and with whom. (Believe me, that is not an easy feat. Fighting-writing can be a bitch.)I loved the dialogue, banter, and interaction between the characters, the humor is spot on, and some of these scenes were my favorites throughout the book.The romance. I adored the romance! One of the nicest and chillest romantic interests I have read in a long time. Also, the powers of the man in question makes for one of the most hilarious scenes ever!Which leads me to my favorite part: Humor. There is a lot of it in this book, and I love it! Most comes from dialogue and interaction, and some of the back and forth's will forever hold a place in my heart.Last but not least; as mentioned before, the description of Lyssi's powers was great! Very visual, and...I felt what she felt in that moment, okay? There is no bigger compliment than that. What's wrong with it:There are a couple of things that fall into the category: taste. These are things in the book that caught my attention, but are very much a preference thing.Lyssi breaks the fourth wall on occasion (meaning she speaks directly to the reader), some might not like that--I had no problem with it. It's just one of those things that often inspires discussions. The POV comes in threes: Prologue: Third person omniscient. Main character: First person. When main character is not present: Third person limited. Again, I don't mind it cause it makes sense in a way. We are close to the main character, a bit farther away when it comes to others, and even more distant when it comes to the prologues. This is, again, a thing of preference--you either roll with it, or it rubs you the wrong way.Then there are parts where the story seems to slow, and not much happens for a while, but it's worth reading on for when the plot is hurled forward and action happens.Who it's for:Obviously for people who have read The Soul Reaver *smirks*. Seriously, though, if you like Urban Fantasy, action, humor, and weirdly awesome characters--this is for you!I loved this book and am waiting for the second to come out!!! Go read it! Like now!You can buy it HERE!Connect with Ariz Brune here:Website--Facebook--Twitter--Bookbub
November 22, 2018
The Soul Reaver Alloy is live!
Book two of the myre series is finally here!
Isn't it pretty and shiny?I couldn't be happier or more excited to present this news to you! But this is not where the good news ends. Oh no, it isn't!The Soul Reaver Book Oneis FREE to download on Amazon at the moment. It will stay that way until 25. November, so go grab it while you still can!! I'm not really able to write more right now, I'm still shaking with equal parts joy and nervousness. So here is the blurb on both books if you don't know either of them. Hopefully it entices you to take a chance and go read it. The first one is free right now, after all.
Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A monster. A killer. A thief in the dark. Feeding off the feelings of strangers, she lives in self-induced solitude, deeming it safest for everyone. Once a year, siphoning emotions isn’t enough, and Daphne must steal a soul to survive, taking the owner’s life in the process. With twelve souls already taken, and counting, Daphne walks a razor’s edge between madness and sanity every time she is forced to kill. On the night of her hunt, she finds the perfect soul, dark to its depths, seemingly beyond saving. Too late does she realize this soul is neither truly dark nor defenseless… As the hunter becomes the hunted, she tumbles into the world she was born to be a part of but never knew existed. Will Daphne find the answers she’s been looking for her whole life? What about things she always wanted but never thought possible; companionship, friends and even love? Who can she trust in a world filled with monsters?
Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A survivor. A companion. A fighter in the making. Reeling with the aftermath of her mistakes, she is left to pick up the broken pieces of her world. Still, one thing is for sure; no amount of loss or guilt will stop her from rescuing the man she loves from certain death. After the demise of their leader, the city of Trinity’s supernatural community is left in chaos. Factions are vying for control and power, expecting the ancient leaders to attack any day. They are on the brink of war. As allies become adversaries and fear spreads like wildfire, Daphne and her friends have to band closer than ever to survive. Inheriting a legacy she has no idea what to do with, Daphne struggles with revelations which threaten to pull her under. To protect the people she loves and keep a dangerous secret hidden and safe, she has one choice: Fight or lose everything.So there you have it! I hope you enjoy my writing (if you decide to try it). Until then, keep it crispy.V.L.
Isn't it pretty and shiny?I couldn't be happier or more excited to present this news to you! But this is not where the good news ends. Oh no, it isn't!The Soul Reaver Book Oneis FREE to download on Amazon at the moment. It will stay that way until 25. November, so go grab it while you still can!! I'm not really able to write more right now, I'm still shaking with equal parts joy and nervousness. So here is the blurb on both books if you don't know either of them. Hopefully it entices you to take a chance and go read it. The first one is free right now, after all.Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A monster. A killer. A thief in the dark. Feeding off the feelings of strangers, she lives in self-induced solitude, deeming it safest for everyone. Once a year, siphoning emotions isn’t enough, and Daphne must steal a soul to survive, taking the owner’s life in the process. With twelve souls already taken, and counting, Daphne walks a razor’s edge between madness and sanity every time she is forced to kill. On the night of her hunt, she finds the perfect soul, dark to its depths, seemingly beyond saving. Too late does she realize this soul is neither truly dark nor defenseless… As the hunter becomes the hunted, she tumbles into the world she was born to be a part of but never knew existed. Will Daphne find the answers she’s been looking for her whole life? What about things she always wanted but never thought possible; companionship, friends and even love? Who can she trust in a world filled with monsters?Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A survivor. A companion. A fighter in the making. Reeling with the aftermath of her mistakes, she is left to pick up the broken pieces of her world. Still, one thing is for sure; no amount of loss or guilt will stop her from rescuing the man she loves from certain death. After the demise of their leader, the city of Trinity’s supernatural community is left in chaos. Factions are vying for control and power, expecting the ancient leaders to attack any day. They are on the brink of war. As allies become adversaries and fear spreads like wildfire, Daphne and her friends have to band closer than ever to survive. Inheriting a legacy she has no idea what to do with, Daphne struggles with revelations which threaten to pull her under. To protect the people she loves and keep a dangerous secret hidden and safe, she has one choice: Fight or lose everything.So there you have it! I hope you enjoy my writing (if you decide to try it). Until then, keep it crispy.V.L.
November 11, 2018
How to write fighting scenes
6 things you can do to make that fighting-writing awesome!
Sooo, this was the only acceptable picture that came across my screen today. Yes, I know she's holding up a gun... but that aiming wink and those goggles though...To my utter surprise, people think my fighting scenes are good. Now,before I go off and dazzle ya'll with my knowledge and lack thereof, let me tell you a thing or two.I am no seasoned writer. I have told stories for as long as I can remember but doing that and writing books are two very different things. So far, I have published one book, and it's the first part in an urban fantasy series. Before you go scrambling to the hills, I'll put an excerpt of my fighting-writing up and you can judge accordingly to either stay or beat feet. Please keep in mind that I write one-on-one fights, no guns allowed. Breathing out in a rush she swiped down her blade, using her entire body to put force behind the blow. Her sword connected with another and was swatted away with ease. She used the momentum to roll out of reach of the riposte and sprang to her feet. Without missing a beat, she attacked again.Sweat ran down her body and her heart seemed to pulse behind her ears. With gritted teeth and straining, burning muscles, she refused to relent.Just one hit. She only needed one. Her hands sweaty, she gripped the hilt of the huge sword tighter. Lunging forward she twirled in a circle, blocking a blow and rounded her opponent. Just when she thought she had it, her opponent feigned to the right and dove to the left, the broad side of her friend’s sword slapped her butt.“Dead,” Kate yelled, her eyes brimming with mischief.
The above is a training fight and the opener of my second book. Now, without further ado, let's get into it!-1-Picture the sceneClose your eyes and envision the scene you want to write. Go through every swipe, kick and lunge. What happens? Who is the narrator? What does that narrator see, feel, do? It helps to know what happens when and how. Go through it, until you have memorized it all.-2-Know where everyone is, but don't write down every detailNow this is a tricky one. Too much detail can make an action scene stutter and takes the oomph right out of it. Especially when you have more than two fighters. Make sure you know what happens, who fights against who and how the fight, or the dynamic of it moves. Of course you know, because you have pictured all of it in step one :) But not unlike building your character, a fighting scene can have a lot of things going on that you don't need to write down. We don't need to know that our character 'put her left foot down and lunged forward, jabbing out the sword with her right hand.' It's too long and...meh. Instead, try something a little different.'She pushed forward, launching the blade at her opponent with lightning speed.'See how that flows?-3-Be consistent and realisticWhen one of the characters fall, or is wounded, make sure to incorporate that. The fallen one has to get back up, the wounded one is now limping, or set back in another way. Maybe the opponent pounces on that weakness. Know what the weapons used look like, know how they function. Someone dual-wielding two swords might look and sound cool, but is not too realistic. If you'd want to have a character doing that make sure he/she has trained how to do so for a really, really long time. If said character just picks up an additional sword and starts using two...
So know your weapons and know how they are used.-4- Make sure to include feelings, smells and noisesIf the whole scene is nothing but jabs, kicks, punches and whatnot, it can get a bit clinical. There will be no depth. So add things that don't necessarily belong to the immediate fight. We'll do an example of the sentence we started above.'She pushed forward, launching the blade at her opponent with lightning speed. Not fast enough, as her sword was blocked with an ear-splintering clang, she felt a jarring sensation all the way up her arm and into the bones of her shoulder.'We could have written:'Her attack was blocked.' But then we wouldn't get sucked into the moment. We hear the 'clang' and feel the painful sensation when the blow is being blocked. We get the reader into the fight, which is what we want!
-5-Be creativeIf your character is using a two-handed sword, what will happen if one arm is injured? He/she won't be able to fight off attackers, but has to change tactics. The character now has to find a way to end the fight quickly. Our character will go by XXX for the example. 'Her left arm dangled at her side, limp and useless. Agony radiated up her shoulder, pounding through the whole limb with each heartbeat. She stood very still and gripped her sword tighter as her enemy rounded her, his quick eyes zeroing in on her wound. Making sure she had a good stance, she brought the tip of her sword down, stuck it into the ground and placed one foot behind it. A cry ripped from her attacker's throat and he lunged. XXX ducked and kicked up her sword, with the last bit of energy her body had to offer, she drove her blade up and out. It sliced through skin and muscle until warmth flooded her hand. The shocked face of her foe was only inches from her own as a shaky breath left him, accompanied by a trickle of blood.'-6-Pull the reader into the sceneThis is the most important thing to learn. You do this by using the five steps above. By knowing how your scene unfolds, by leaving some things to the imagination, by being consistent, by adding sensory detail, and by being creative. Use a combination of short and average-length sentences. Don't repeat words too often. Make clear who is doing what. Bring yourself into the scene, hear smell and feel the scene--then write it. 
That's all I have for you today. This is my first time doing a blogpost like this. An educational one. I hope I was helpful. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. And if you'd like to read past that first scene from above, click HERE. The Soul Reaver Alloy will be out at the 21. of November and available on Amazon in both e-book and paperback format.Have fun writing and let me know what you thought of this post below.V.L.
Sooo, this was the only acceptable picture that came across my screen today. Yes, I know she's holding up a gun... but that aiming wink and those goggles though...To my utter surprise, people think my fighting scenes are good. Now,before I go off and dazzle ya'll with my knowledge and lack thereof, let me tell you a thing or two.I am no seasoned writer. I have told stories for as long as I can remember but doing that and writing books are two very different things. So far, I have published one book, and it's the first part in an urban fantasy series. Before you go scrambling to the hills, I'll put an excerpt of my fighting-writing up and you can judge accordingly to either stay or beat feet. Please keep in mind that I write one-on-one fights, no guns allowed. Breathing out in a rush she swiped down her blade, using her entire body to put force behind the blow. Her sword connected with another and was swatted away with ease. She used the momentum to roll out of reach of the riposte and sprang to her feet. Without missing a beat, she attacked again.Sweat ran down her body and her heart seemed to pulse behind her ears. With gritted teeth and straining, burning muscles, she refused to relent.Just one hit. She only needed one. Her hands sweaty, she gripped the hilt of the huge sword tighter. Lunging forward she twirled in a circle, blocking a blow and rounded her opponent. Just when she thought she had it, her opponent feigned to the right and dove to the left, the broad side of her friend’s sword slapped her butt.“Dead,” Kate yelled, her eyes brimming with mischief.The above is a training fight and the opener of my second book. Now, without further ado, let's get into it!-1-Picture the sceneClose your eyes and envision the scene you want to write. Go through every swipe, kick and lunge. What happens? Who is the narrator? What does that narrator see, feel, do? It helps to know what happens when and how. Go through it, until you have memorized it all.-2-Know where everyone is, but don't write down every detailNow this is a tricky one. Too much detail can make an action scene stutter and takes the oomph right out of it. Especially when you have more than two fighters. Make sure you know what happens, who fights against who and how the fight, or the dynamic of it moves. Of course you know, because you have pictured all of it in step one :) But not unlike building your character, a fighting scene can have a lot of things going on that you don't need to write down. We don't need to know that our character 'put her left foot down and lunged forward, jabbing out the sword with her right hand.' It's too long and...meh. Instead, try something a little different.'She pushed forward, launching the blade at her opponent with lightning speed.'See how that flows?-3-Be consistent and realisticWhen one of the characters fall, or is wounded, make sure to incorporate that. The fallen one has to get back up, the wounded one is now limping, or set back in another way. Maybe the opponent pounces on that weakness. Know what the weapons used look like, know how they function. Someone dual-wielding two swords might look and sound cool, but is not too realistic. If you'd want to have a character doing that make sure he/she has trained how to do so for a really, really long time. If said character just picks up an additional sword and starts using two... So know your weapons and know how they are used.-4- Make sure to include feelings, smells and noisesIf the whole scene is nothing but jabs, kicks, punches and whatnot, it can get a bit clinical. There will be no depth. So add things that don't necessarily belong to the immediate fight. We'll do an example of the sentence we started above.'She pushed forward, launching the blade at her opponent with lightning speed. Not fast enough, as her sword was blocked with an ear-splintering clang, she felt a jarring sensation all the way up her arm and into the bones of her shoulder.'We could have written:'Her attack was blocked.' But then we wouldn't get sucked into the moment. We hear the 'clang' and feel the painful sensation when the blow is being blocked. We get the reader into the fight, which is what we want!-5-Be creativeIf your character is using a two-handed sword, what will happen if one arm is injured? He/she won't be able to fight off attackers, but has to change tactics. The character now has to find a way to end the fight quickly. Our character will go by XXX for the example. 'Her left arm dangled at her side, limp and useless. Agony radiated up her shoulder, pounding through the whole limb with each heartbeat. She stood very still and gripped her sword tighter as her enemy rounded her, his quick eyes zeroing in on her wound. Making sure she had a good stance, she brought the tip of her sword down, stuck it into the ground and placed one foot behind it. A cry ripped from her attacker's throat and he lunged. XXX ducked and kicked up her sword, with the last bit of energy her body had to offer, she drove her blade up and out. It sliced through skin and muscle until warmth flooded her hand. The shocked face of her foe was only inches from her own as a shaky breath left him, accompanied by a trickle of blood.'-6-Pull the reader into the sceneThis is the most important thing to learn. You do this by using the five steps above. By knowing how your scene unfolds, by leaving some things to the imagination, by being consistent, by adding sensory detail, and by being creative. Use a combination of short and average-length sentences. Don't repeat words too often. Make clear who is doing what. Bring yourself into the scene, hear smell and feel the scene--then write it. That's all I have for you today. This is my first time doing a blogpost like this. An educational one. I hope I was helpful. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. And if you'd like to read past that first scene from above, click HERE. The Soul Reaver Alloy will be out at the 21. of November and available on Amazon in both e-book and paperback format.Have fun writing and let me know what you thought of this post below.V.L.
June 24, 2018
Cover Reveal: The Soul Reaver Alloy
Yes. It's happening. Ohhh, how it's happening.
***I know this is later than some would have wished and later than I anticipated (later than I would have wished). But alas, brilliance can't be rushed. To be perfectly honest, and as most of you know I mostly am, the manuscript I sent to my editor sucked. I got it back and my amazing editor pointed out A LOT that still needed work. She's a hard-ass, that one, and thank god she is. Alloy lacked an overall arc, motivation of characters, had plot-holes galore, and was (as she so beautifully put it) 20% action bringing the story forward and 80% character development and interaction. Now don't get me wrong, the interaction and development are still there (cause I love that bunch of crazy ass-hats) but my dearest Ash was right (as always, the chit), it needed a lot more story. I really hope she'll be happy with my second round, which I will be sending her in July. Since it took me so long, and will still take a bit more time, here is the cover reveal. And because I love you people, I'll post a shortcut to where you can read the (new and improved) Prologue and first chapter. (Still subject to change, of course)Here's what Alloy will be all about:Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A survivor. A companion. A fighter in the making.Reeling with the aftermath of her mistakes, she is left to pick up the broken pieces of her world. Still, one thing is for sure; no amount of loss or guilt will stop her from rescuing the man she loves from certain death.After the demise of their leader, the city of Trinity’s supernatural community is left in chaos. Factions are vying for control and power, expecting the ancient leaders to attack any day. They are on the brink of war.As allies become adversaries and fear spreads like wildfire, Daphne and her friends have to band closer than ever to survive.Inheriting a legacy she has no idea what to do with, Daphne struggles with revelations which threaten to pull her under. To protect the people she loves and keep a dangerous secret hidden and safe, she has one choice: Fight or lose everything.Now, the reason you have come here for: Isn't it just bloody amazing?*Lies in the corner, hyperventilating*First off, as always, props (all the props) go to my designer. Kim is one of the most talented people I have ever met. She knows exactly what I want, which isn't easy cause I tend to be all over the place explanation-wise. Merci Kim, je t'adore!(Kim's website, Twitter and Facebook)My heartfelt thanks also goes out to my friend, Charlotte Flörchinger. Who, once more, let me photograph her, and who's pretty face you can see on both The Soul Reaver and The Soul Reaver Alloy. TSR Alloy will hit the market around September (if everything works out). (I know, I know, very specific... But I want to do it right, not just DO IT)As promised, here is the thingymabob you can click to be streamlined to the sample.Very sexy sample-linkAnd don't be shy, tell me what you think (I can take it).Keep it crispy, kittens!V.L. out!(Oh! I have a group on facebook for readers of my stuff. Head on over to check it out!) Super Secret Myre Army aka Kittens Retreat aka Reaver Manor
***I know this is later than some would have wished and later than I anticipated (later than I would have wished). But alas, brilliance can't be rushed. To be perfectly honest, and as most of you know I mostly am, the manuscript I sent to my editor sucked. I got it back and my amazing editor pointed out A LOT that still needed work. She's a hard-ass, that one, and thank god she is. Alloy lacked an overall arc, motivation of characters, had plot-holes galore, and was (as she so beautifully put it) 20% action bringing the story forward and 80% character development and interaction. Now don't get me wrong, the interaction and development are still there (cause I love that bunch of crazy ass-hats) but my dearest Ash was right (as always, the chit), it needed a lot more story. I really hope she'll be happy with my second round, which I will be sending her in July. Since it took me so long, and will still take a bit more time, here is the cover reveal. And because I love you people, I'll post a shortcut to where you can read the (new and improved) Prologue and first chapter. (Still subject to change, of course)Here's what Alloy will be all about:Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A survivor. A companion. A fighter in the making.Reeling with the aftermath of her mistakes, she is left to pick up the broken pieces of her world. Still, one thing is for sure; no amount of loss or guilt will stop her from rescuing the man she loves from certain death.After the demise of their leader, the city of Trinity’s supernatural community is left in chaos. Factions are vying for control and power, expecting the ancient leaders to attack any day. They are on the brink of war.As allies become adversaries and fear spreads like wildfire, Daphne and her friends have to band closer than ever to survive.Inheriting a legacy she has no idea what to do with, Daphne struggles with revelations which threaten to pull her under. To protect the people she loves and keep a dangerous secret hidden and safe, she has one choice: Fight or lose everything.Now, the reason you have come here for: Isn't it just bloody amazing?*Lies in the corner, hyperventilating*First off, as always, props (all the props) go to my designer. Kim is one of the most talented people I have ever met. She knows exactly what I want, which isn't easy cause I tend to be all over the place explanation-wise. Merci Kim, je t'adore!(Kim's website, Twitter and Facebook)My heartfelt thanks also goes out to my friend, Charlotte Flörchinger. Who, once more, let me photograph her, and who's pretty face you can see on both The Soul Reaver and The Soul Reaver Alloy. TSR Alloy will hit the market around September (if everything works out). (I know, I know, very specific... But I want to do it right, not just DO IT)As promised, here is the thingymabob you can click to be streamlined to the sample.Very sexy sample-linkAnd don't be shy, tell me what you think (I can take it).Keep it crispy, kittens!V.L. out!(Oh! I have a group on facebook for readers of my stuff. Head on over to check it out!) Super Secret Myre Army aka Kittens Retreat aka Reaver Manor
May 6, 2018
Why I Write
On why I write and how I learned to tell stories.
I was an only child, living on the farm with my parents. With no other kids around for play-dates, it could get very lonely. Not that I minded, I was used to it, after all. I was active, loud, all over the place, as energetic as a young cricket. The one thing I hated beyond all, was sitting still for any amount of time. And because I hated it so much, eating was not really something that interested me a whole lot. I was scrawny to begin with, and my mom worried over my lack of eating, and my lack of interest in it. No amount of threats, 'go to your room's', 'if you don't eat you won't get desert's', did anything to help. 
Yeah... this was not me...The only person who could get me to eat was my grandmother. She would sit with me, patiently, and tell me stories. Every once in a while she'd get a fork of food past my lips. Until the plate was empty. My grandmother, you see, was the greatest storyteller I have ever known (and probably ever will). The twinkle in her eyes, the smile in the corners of her lips, and the way her voice rose and fell kept me spellbound. It wasn't until a few years later, that I really got how powerful stories can be. I was sent to boarding school at the age of six (since the schools were so far away, it was the only choice). The first three years were hell, I cried myself to sleep, missing home and my parents. What got me through these years were the other children, and the stories we told each other once the lights went out. I was good at telling stories and the others often asked me for one. Being someone who can help others forget they are not home, someone who can take them on a journey to fantastical places, made me part of them. It helped me integrate myself and establish my place in the pack. It helped me belong. A few years later I would spend some of my weekends with my grandmother and during these days we would read to each other, listen to Beethoven and watch old movies. We exchanged ideas, theories and dreams. Our time together always held an amount of magic, an escape to faraway places, a travelling of the mind. She encouraged me to keep telling stories, to write them down. She said that every story is worth telling. 
My grandmother usually got me a book for my birthdays and one of them is still my favorite to this day. David Grossman's 'Someone to Run With'. Reading this book still brings me back to the times we spent together. It is a coming of age story, written with heartbreaking beauty.One of her last letters to me contained the sentence: 'What about your storytelling? Are you still writing?' At that point puberty was in full swing and I had other things on my mind. But as is the case with puberty; there are ups and downs. I wrote through the downs and partied through the ups. But the writing consisted of dark thoughts, heartbreak, and identity crisis. 
Angsty teenage writingWhen my grandmother died, I stopped writing. To this day I feel her loss as heavy and painful. She was such a big part of who I was, wanted to be, and eventually became. There have been countless times I wished for her advice, countless dreams in which I talked to her, and countless empty nights, void of stories but filled with tears. One day, I found that last letter of hers again. Just knowing someone who had been a master at telling stories believed I could do it too, was indescribable. She believed in me. Knowing that was all I needed. I dove into my own stories head-first. And I haven't stopped since. When I published my first book I was so proud to dedicate it to her. I know I will dedicate all my books to her. For as long as I write.Why do write? I do so for myself, I do it because I love it, and I do it because she believed I could.My gran was the one who kindled my love for all things imaginative into an inferno. She taught me to be open-minded, courageous, to 'built it yourself if you really need it'. She taught me that:'Every story is worth telling.' Share your stories with me. Why do you write?
I was an only child, living on the farm with my parents. With no other kids around for play-dates, it could get very lonely. Not that I minded, I was used to it, after all. I was active, loud, all over the place, as energetic as a young cricket. The one thing I hated beyond all, was sitting still for any amount of time. And because I hated it so much, eating was not really something that interested me a whole lot. I was scrawny to begin with, and my mom worried over my lack of eating, and my lack of interest in it. No amount of threats, 'go to your room's', 'if you don't eat you won't get desert's', did anything to help. Yeah... this was not me...The only person who could get me to eat was my grandmother. She would sit with me, patiently, and tell me stories. Every once in a while she'd get a fork of food past my lips. Until the plate was empty. My grandmother, you see, was the greatest storyteller I have ever known (and probably ever will). The twinkle in her eyes, the smile in the corners of her lips, and the way her voice rose and fell kept me spellbound. It wasn't until a few years later, that I really got how powerful stories can be. I was sent to boarding school at the age of six (since the schools were so far away, it was the only choice). The first three years were hell, I cried myself to sleep, missing home and my parents. What got me through these years were the other children, and the stories we told each other once the lights went out. I was good at telling stories and the others often asked me for one. Being someone who can help others forget they are not home, someone who can take them on a journey to fantastical places, made me part of them. It helped me integrate myself and establish my place in the pack. It helped me belong. A few years later I would spend some of my weekends with my grandmother and during these days we would read to each other, listen to Beethoven and watch old movies. We exchanged ideas, theories and dreams. Our time together always held an amount of magic, an escape to faraway places, a travelling of the mind. She encouraged me to keep telling stories, to write them down. She said that every story is worth telling. My grandmother usually got me a book for my birthdays and one of them is still my favorite to this day. David Grossman's 'Someone to Run With'. Reading this book still brings me back to the times we spent together. It is a coming of age story, written with heartbreaking beauty.One of her last letters to me contained the sentence: 'What about your storytelling? Are you still writing?' At that point puberty was in full swing and I had other things on my mind. But as is the case with puberty; there are ups and downs. I wrote through the downs and partied through the ups. But the writing consisted of dark thoughts, heartbreak, and identity crisis. Angsty teenage writingWhen my grandmother died, I stopped writing. To this day I feel her loss as heavy and painful. She was such a big part of who I was, wanted to be, and eventually became. There have been countless times I wished for her advice, countless dreams in which I talked to her, and countless empty nights, void of stories but filled with tears. One day, I found that last letter of hers again. Just knowing someone who had been a master at telling stories believed I could do it too, was indescribable. She believed in me. Knowing that was all I needed. I dove into my own stories head-first. And I haven't stopped since. When I published my first book I was so proud to dedicate it to her. I know I will dedicate all my books to her. For as long as I write.Why do write? I do so for myself, I do it because I love it, and I do it because she believed I could.My gran was the one who kindled my love for all things imaginative into an inferno. She taught me to be open-minded, courageous, to 'built it yourself if you really need it'. She taught me that:'Every story is worth telling.' Share your stories with me. Why do you write?
April 12, 2018
Review: Witch's Reign by Shannon Mayer
Come along now peeps. Follow me into a world rife with magic, shifters, jinn, dragons, two asskicking women and one not-so-humany-human. Tie down the flails and guns and don't go near the satyrs, they be a-flouncing.
If you didn't understand a thing I mentioned at the top, don't worry, once you've read this tale of awesomeness, you will. And then some. It's hard for me to find fantasy novel's I like, not because I don't like them. I do. Love them, in fact. But you see, more often than not, they drag and some take themselves waaay too seriously. What comes to mind is: Epic, quests, chosen ones, prophecies, old guys who are mentors and die at some point, sword-fights, battles and impossible odds. This book has some of those thrown in the mix, but I have found it an original, edge-of-my-seat, read-well-past-bedtime story. It doesn't drag and I laughed, hurt, shook my tiny fist and rolled my eyes. In simple words: I was immersed, gobbled up, gloriously glued to the pages. Cause that's what I thought this book was; glorious.Now, let's get into it.What it's about:Blurb taken from AmazonThe Witch’s Reign…a land of unnatural hellish cold ruled over by the Ice Witch herself, who is in turn guarded by three creatures—Wolf, Bear, and Raven. Those lovely beasts derive their power directly from their mistress and just happen to kill any who cross their paths. To get THERE, you first must pass through the Dragon’s Ground. Full of, you guessed it, dragons who for the record, also do not like trespassers. Sounds like a fun place to go, doesn’t it? Yeah, not so much. You see the thing is my best friend, Darcy was sent with a team into the Witch’s Reign to recover a powerful jewel that belongs to our mentor, and they are long overdue to come back. That leaves me, Zamira “Reckless” Wilson to go after my friend because no one else will. Somehow, I get saddled with a human—a male no less!—tagging along for the ride. A human that is as weak and useless as my shifting abilities. Throw in a weapon that might be trying to kill me, and a small dragon that has a penchant for Shakespearean insults, and you’ve got my life in a nutshell. May the sands of the desert swallow me whole because this is going to be a friggin bumpy ride. What I think about it:First off, there aren't many nice people in this story. The more I got to know Zam and her Pride, the less I liked the ones surrounding her.Starting with that cheating, self-serving, camel-turd of an ex-husband of hers. A big brother who doesn't have her back and a mentor who does not see Zam's worth. Oh yes, not to mention the best friend, who slept with said turd of an ex-husband while Zam and him were still married... Queue the snarls, grumbles and frowns. Thing is, I understood where Zam came from. She has been told her whole life she wasn't enough. Too small, too little power, too reckless, too out there. What I loved about her from the start was her fire, the wish to not give into those stronger than her. Her will to fight. And her love for swearing and underdogs, of course. What's right with it:Obviously, a lot. The pacing is excellent, the world is vibrant and alive and the characters, including Zam, are realistically flawed. The fight scenes are, yes, epic! There is marvelous foreshadowing and I loved the way questions were answered in their own time. The plot was excellent and threw every possible stone there was right into Zam's way. The book itself was edited well and allowed me to simply read for pleasure. It sucked me in. Completely. And the cover... Can we take a moment to gush over it??? It's the very reason I bought this book. That and the one-star reviews it has. (Don't judge, the reviewer had me at: 'Bad language from first to last'. Always eager to learn new ways of insulting people I dove right in. And got more than I bargained for. *frowns* There might be something wrong with me.)Basically, I wanted to read the book in one sitting but had to give up on that endeavor, as I had to get to work the next morning (it's not like I sat in bed at 4 AM still reading, really, it's not...). It was a real pleasure riding alongside Zam and her horse Balder, learning about the world inside the wall, the supes, the lives they lived and their history. I enjoyed Maks (the not-so-humany-human) as a refreshing male character, who is actually a good guy. *gasp* We don't have those around very often these days, have we? I awed and giggled at Lila, the dragon, and wanted to be her friend as well. And the cussing! The insults! Inspirational! I learned a lot from Zam regarding that. It's safe to say that I loved the journey and it had me wanting for more. I pre-ordered, pre-ordered, book two and three off the beat. I don't do pre-orders. (Except for Jenni's books, but she's in a league of her own. Always will be for me.) I can't gush anymore without spoiling, so we'll move on now.What's wrong with it:In my opinion, not all that much. There were moments I wanted to slap Zam silly, for being so damned forgiving. For always letting people get away with the worst shit possible. For coming to the rescue of idiots, who then turned around and stabbed her in the back. This happens a lot. The thing is though, as much as it galled me, it made sense. That is just who she is. Loyal to a fault, even in the face of betrayal. Courageous, crazy and reckless. Even in face of the slimmest odds. It unnerved me and I might have rolled my eyes at her from time to time but her acting the way she did made absolute sense. So, people seeing that as a flaw in the book don't get that although it might be something they didn't like, it doesn't make the book itself bad. Actually, quite the opposite. *shrugs* I guess it's a preference thing. Some people like larger than life, perfect people. I like em a tad more realistic. With flaws. I would have liked for there to be a bit more time spent with the romance... But that is, again, a personal thing. I like time spent on the romance and the bedroom art. (Don't judge, lurve is my thing, okay?) I will say this: At times the plot felt a bit rushed, just a tad. (Could be that I just wanted to enjoy it longer though)Who it's for:If you like strong female characters, a love interest who is actually nice, foul language, impossible odds, fantasy, forbidden love, rich worlds, and suffering (cause the author let's her characters suffer, make no mistake) then this is for you. It's a whirlwind of a ride *fixes hair* and I, personally, came away richer (as in finding a story I love). Witch's Reign will keep you up at night and on your toes, read it if you dare.(No, please do. Read it. Now!)Get it HEREFind out more about the author Shannon Mayer on her WebsiteFacebookTwitter
If you didn't understand a thing I mentioned at the top, don't worry, once you've read this tale of awesomeness, you will. And then some. It's hard for me to find fantasy novel's I like, not because I don't like them. I do. Love them, in fact. But you see, more often than not, they drag and some take themselves waaay too seriously. What comes to mind is: Epic, quests, chosen ones, prophecies, old guys who are mentors and die at some point, sword-fights, battles and impossible odds. This book has some of those thrown in the mix, but I have found it an original, edge-of-my-seat, read-well-past-bedtime story. It doesn't drag and I laughed, hurt, shook my tiny fist and rolled my eyes. In simple words: I was immersed, gobbled up, gloriously glued to the pages. Cause that's what I thought this book was; glorious.Now, let's get into it.What it's about:Blurb taken from AmazonThe Witch’s Reign…a land of unnatural hellish cold ruled over by the Ice Witch herself, who is in turn guarded by three creatures—Wolf, Bear, and Raven. Those lovely beasts derive their power directly from their mistress and just happen to kill any who cross their paths. To get THERE, you first must pass through the Dragon’s Ground. Full of, you guessed it, dragons who for the record, also do not like trespassers. Sounds like a fun place to go, doesn’t it? Yeah, not so much. You see the thing is my best friend, Darcy was sent with a team into the Witch’s Reign to recover a powerful jewel that belongs to our mentor, and they are long overdue to come back. That leaves me, Zamira “Reckless” Wilson to go after my friend because no one else will. Somehow, I get saddled with a human—a male no less!—tagging along for the ride. A human that is as weak and useless as my shifting abilities. Throw in a weapon that might be trying to kill me, and a small dragon that has a penchant for Shakespearean insults, and you’ve got my life in a nutshell. May the sands of the desert swallow me whole because this is going to be a friggin bumpy ride. What I think about it:First off, there aren't many nice people in this story. The more I got to know Zam and her Pride, the less I liked the ones surrounding her.Starting with that cheating, self-serving, camel-turd of an ex-husband of hers. A big brother who doesn't have her back and a mentor who does not see Zam's worth. Oh yes, not to mention the best friend, who slept with said turd of an ex-husband while Zam and him were still married... Queue the snarls, grumbles and frowns. Thing is, I understood where Zam came from. She has been told her whole life she wasn't enough. Too small, too little power, too reckless, too out there. What I loved about her from the start was her fire, the wish to not give into those stronger than her. Her will to fight. And her love for swearing and underdogs, of course. What's right with it:Obviously, a lot. The pacing is excellent, the world is vibrant and alive and the characters, including Zam, are realistically flawed. The fight scenes are, yes, epic! There is marvelous foreshadowing and I loved the way questions were answered in their own time. The plot was excellent and threw every possible stone there was right into Zam's way. The book itself was edited well and allowed me to simply read for pleasure. It sucked me in. Completely. And the cover... Can we take a moment to gush over it??? It's the very reason I bought this book. That and the one-star reviews it has. (Don't judge, the reviewer had me at: 'Bad language from first to last'. Always eager to learn new ways of insulting people I dove right in. And got more than I bargained for. *frowns* There might be something wrong with me.)Basically, I wanted to read the book in one sitting but had to give up on that endeavor, as I had to get to work the next morning (it's not like I sat in bed at 4 AM still reading, really, it's not...). It was a real pleasure riding alongside Zam and her horse Balder, learning about the world inside the wall, the supes, the lives they lived and their history. I enjoyed Maks (the not-so-humany-human) as a refreshing male character, who is actually a good guy. *gasp* We don't have those around very often these days, have we? I awed and giggled at Lila, the dragon, and wanted to be her friend as well. And the cussing! The insults! Inspirational! I learned a lot from Zam regarding that. It's safe to say that I loved the journey and it had me wanting for more. I pre-ordered, pre-ordered, book two and three off the beat. I don't do pre-orders. (Except for Jenni's books, but she's in a league of her own. Always will be for me.) I can't gush anymore without spoiling, so we'll move on now.What's wrong with it:In my opinion, not all that much. There were moments I wanted to slap Zam silly, for being so damned forgiving. For always letting people get away with the worst shit possible. For coming to the rescue of idiots, who then turned around and stabbed her in the back. This happens a lot. The thing is though, as much as it galled me, it made sense. That is just who she is. Loyal to a fault, even in the face of betrayal. Courageous, crazy and reckless. Even in face of the slimmest odds. It unnerved me and I might have rolled my eyes at her from time to time but her acting the way she did made absolute sense. So, people seeing that as a flaw in the book don't get that although it might be something they didn't like, it doesn't make the book itself bad. Actually, quite the opposite. *shrugs* I guess it's a preference thing. Some people like larger than life, perfect people. I like em a tad more realistic. With flaws. I would have liked for there to be a bit more time spent with the romance... But that is, again, a personal thing. I like time spent on the romance and the bedroom art. (Don't judge, lurve is my thing, okay?) I will say this: At times the plot felt a bit rushed, just a tad. (Could be that I just wanted to enjoy it longer though)Who it's for:If you like strong female characters, a love interest who is actually nice, foul language, impossible odds, fantasy, forbidden love, rich worlds, and suffering (cause the author let's her characters suffer, make no mistake) then this is for you. It's a whirlwind of a ride *fixes hair* and I, personally, came away richer (as in finding a story I love). Witch's Reign will keep you up at night and on your toes, read it if you dare.(No, please do. Read it. Now!)Get it HEREFind out more about the author Shannon Mayer on her WebsiteFacebookTwitter
February 16, 2018
On taking flight and sharing some love
Hello out there,I often feel like writing letters to a stranger when I write my blog. Essentially, that's what it is, at least for me. It is still weird; shouting my thoughts into the world with no idea who in their right mind would read it. But hell, it's like that with my book as well. I wrote it, I met the most amazing people on my way to get it pretty and readable, and now my baby is out in the world. People can pay money to read it, they can enjoy, hate and rate it. If that right there isn't scary, I don't know what is. 
*me reading reviews*Taking this step can be frightening, overwhelming, painful and wonderful. I know, my young padawans, I have experienced all of the above. There is nothing more heartening than reading things like:So much action happens in this book that it is almost unbelievable how small of a book this is. I just can't fathom how Victoria came up with all of this and fit it all in here. I really don't understand how such literary genius didn't come across my radar sooner. This will be a forever favorite of mine. My favorite part of this whole book was Kate. Absolutely PHENOMENAL!! Daphne is a kick ass female lead, so empowering.This was an EXCELLENT BOOK! I had trouble putting it down for even a minute.And nothing more crushing than this one star review: It felt like the author tried one of each trope and hoped the reader would care about at least one of them. It didn’t work, and I quickly started to hope the pet rat would save the day and eat them all. Pass.I have laughed, cried and am grateful for every read, review (yes, even the bad one) and purchase. It is out there and I am very proud of it! Now, I could drone on and on about the trails and tribulations of being a newly published author, and if you have any questions about the whole deal, comment and I'll answer, but I'm also here to introduce you to one of the many wonderful people I have met until now.This one is experiencing the terror, giddiness and joy of being newly published for the first time. A round of applause for Cassidy Storm, who is woman enough to fling her book out into the world! While I was enjoying my valentines day playing a game of co-op with the husband, nerding out in all my glory, she has hit that button and published her book. 
If you are into LGBT Romance (F/F erotic romance) then please continue reading ;)****Information taken from Cassidy's Newsletter*Introducing Cassidy StormI'm a longtime reader of romance, erotica, sci-fi and horror. I've aspired to become an author and have been working toward this for a few years. My first goal for 2018 was to actually make it happen, and with a few sixteen-hour days, my goal is within reach! My first release is slated for Valentines Day 2018 and my second one is anticipated to happen on MLB Opening Day (go Marlins!) Other than my sister, who is my best friend in the world, my family doesn't know I write--manuscripts of Girl Talk and especially, Team Mom would probably not be well-received at Easter Brunch. Same holds true with the "day-job" profession I'm in--so I keep those circles at arm's length when it comes to my writing. When I'm not writing, I enjoy playing board and card games--the real, physical ones. Although my sister Allison and I do play Words With Friends and I even let her win a few. I also like to cook, often prompted by seeing something delicious posted on social media. I'm deathly afraid of heights and won't go near the railing at the mall, but I've actually jumped out of an airplane. So go figure.I look forward to taking my readers on a journey! So, let's talk about my first book... ever! Can you imagine how excited and nervous I am?
Girl TalkAutumn is stuck in a rut. She's been on many first dates but is beginning to wonder if she'll ever experience happiness -- or a second date, for that matter. When she gets a new phone, she receives a call from an "Unknown Number." The person's first words are, "So. You were going to tell me how wet you are." Autumn is stunned -- because the caller happens to be a woman. Over the next few months, the mysterious calls continue, and the "girl talk" gets more and more personal. But Autumn is straight . . . isn't she?Sounds like a treat, doesn't it? You can buy it HERE (US) and HERE (UK)If you want to know more, you can stalk her on the following pages: TwitterFacebookGoodreadsAmazon***That is it for today, my lovelies. I have to get back to editing The Soul Reaver Alloy. I have heard the first book ends in a horrible cliffhanger, and while I might enjoy the title *Queen of Cliffhangers* I don't enjoy torturing my readers. Much. So I'll get back to editing now. Keep it crispy!V.L. out!
*me reading reviews*Taking this step can be frightening, overwhelming, painful and wonderful. I know, my young padawans, I have experienced all of the above. There is nothing more heartening than reading things like:So much action happens in this book that it is almost unbelievable how small of a book this is. I just can't fathom how Victoria came up with all of this and fit it all in here. I really don't understand how such literary genius didn't come across my radar sooner. This will be a forever favorite of mine. My favorite part of this whole book was Kate. Absolutely PHENOMENAL!! Daphne is a kick ass female lead, so empowering.This was an EXCELLENT BOOK! I had trouble putting it down for even a minute.And nothing more crushing than this one star review: It felt like the author tried one of each trope and hoped the reader would care about at least one of them. It didn’t work, and I quickly started to hope the pet rat would save the day and eat them all. Pass.I have laughed, cried and am grateful for every read, review (yes, even the bad one) and purchase. It is out there and I am very proud of it! Now, I could drone on and on about the trails and tribulations of being a newly published author, and if you have any questions about the whole deal, comment and I'll answer, but I'm also here to introduce you to one of the many wonderful people I have met until now.This one is experiencing the terror, giddiness and joy of being newly published for the first time. A round of applause for Cassidy Storm, who is woman enough to fling her book out into the world! While I was enjoying my valentines day playing a game of co-op with the husband, nerding out in all my glory, she has hit that button and published her book. If you are into LGBT Romance (F/F erotic romance) then please continue reading ;)****Information taken from Cassidy's Newsletter*Introducing Cassidy StormI'm a longtime reader of romance, erotica, sci-fi and horror. I've aspired to become an author and have been working toward this for a few years. My first goal for 2018 was to actually make it happen, and with a few sixteen-hour days, my goal is within reach! My first release is slated for Valentines Day 2018 and my second one is anticipated to happen on MLB Opening Day (go Marlins!) Other than my sister, who is my best friend in the world, my family doesn't know I write--manuscripts of Girl Talk and especially, Team Mom would probably not be well-received at Easter Brunch. Same holds true with the "day-job" profession I'm in--so I keep those circles at arm's length when it comes to my writing. When I'm not writing, I enjoy playing board and card games--the real, physical ones. Although my sister Allison and I do play Words With Friends and I even let her win a few. I also like to cook, often prompted by seeing something delicious posted on social media. I'm deathly afraid of heights and won't go near the railing at the mall, but I've actually jumped out of an airplane. So go figure.I look forward to taking my readers on a journey! So, let's talk about my first book... ever! Can you imagine how excited and nervous I am?Girl TalkAutumn is stuck in a rut. She's been on many first dates but is beginning to wonder if she'll ever experience happiness -- or a second date, for that matter. When she gets a new phone, she receives a call from an "Unknown Number." The person's first words are, "So. You were going to tell me how wet you are." Autumn is stunned -- because the caller happens to be a woman. Over the next few months, the mysterious calls continue, and the "girl talk" gets more and more personal. But Autumn is straight . . . isn't she?Sounds like a treat, doesn't it? You can buy it HERE (US) and HERE (UK)If you want to know more, you can stalk her on the following pages: TwitterFacebookGoodreadsAmazon***That is it for today, my lovelies. I have to get back to editing The Soul Reaver Alloy. I have heard the first book ends in a horrible cliffhanger, and while I might enjoy the title *Queen of Cliffhangers* I don't enjoy torturing my readers. Much. So I'll get back to editing now. Keep it crispy!V.L. out!
January 15, 2018
Yes! The Soul Reaver is live!
Say what? Seriously. The book is published. *jumps up and down, squealing* Ahem, I mean, I totally knew this day would come... ahem... Enough of the awkward mumbling! I have published my first book and I couldn't be more proud, or more terrified. My emotions are doing a tug of war between bliss, fear, excitement and wariness. I shall call it 'the post-publication-emotional-cocktail'. Hah! Rolls off the tongue like silk. (Okay, I know that was a lie, but come up with something better, I dare you.)So, bring in the links! (Hrmpf. Not the green one with the hat; the magical beam-me through-the-interwebs ones.)You can buy the E-book on amazon by clicking HERE.The paperback isn't on the same page (See what I did there?) yet, so you'd have to click HERE for that.Why buy it? Well, it is what I like to call 'an Urban Fantasy with a dash of Paranormal Romance'. There is action, romance, fights, hot guys and gals, peculiar supernatural creatures, and a pet rat. 'Sometimes 'home' isn't a place, but the people around us.' That is what I have taken away from writing Daphne's story. If the above isn't enough to interest you, have a look at my carefully (painfully) crafted blurb below. All of us are monsters. Some more than others.Daphne is a Soul Reaver. A monster. A killer. A thief in the dark.Feeding off the feelings of strangers, she lives in self-induced solitude, deeming it safest for everyone. Once a year, siphoning emotions isn’t enough, and Daphne must steal a soul to survive, taking the owner’s life in the process. With twelve souls already taken, and counting, Daphne walks a razor’s edge between madness and sanity every time she is forced to kill.On the night of her hunt, she finds the perfect soul, dark to its depths, seemingly beyond saving. Too late does she realize this soul is neither truly dark nor defenseless…As the hunter becomes the hunted, she tumbles into the world she was born to be a part of but never knew existed.Will Daphne find the answers she’s been looking for her whole life? What about things she always wanted but never thought possible; companionship, friends and even love?Who can she trust in a world filled with monsters?Yes. *wipes hands* That should do it. Now go, get your copy and tell me what you think of my very first book. Have fun in Trinity and say 'hi' to Mist for me. If you liked the world I created, share, write a review, shout it from the rooftops and let me know. It helps immensely to know how your work is received.Thanks goes out to the adventurers at my side along the way, without whom this would never exist in this form.My editor and a stellar Author in her own right: Ashley R. Carlson http://www.ashleyrcarlson.com/My proofreader and champion extraordinaire: Annie Sarac from Victory EditingMy designer, the insanely talented Kim from KimG-DesignMy writing buddy and Wattpad bestie: Jenni M Rose! Lovah, without you... this woul not have been remotely possible!And all the readers from Wattpad who have loved reading it and gave me the courage to believe in my story enough to actually do something with it.Thanks for reading this to the end and bearing with an over-excited, terrified me. I'm going to take a nap now.V.L. out!
Yes. *wipes hands* That should do it. Now go, get your copy and tell me what you think of my very first book. Have fun in Trinity and say 'hi' to Mist for me. If you liked the world I created, share, write a review, shout it from the rooftops and let me know. It helps immensely to know how your work is received.Thanks goes out to the adventurers at my side along the way, without whom this would never exist in this form.My editor and a stellar Author in her own right: Ashley R. Carlson http://www.ashleyrcarlson.com/My proofreader and champion extraordinaire: Annie Sarac from Victory EditingMy designer, the insanely talented Kim from KimG-DesignMy writing buddy and Wattpad bestie: Jenni M Rose! Lovah, without you... this woul not have been remotely possible!And all the readers from Wattpad who have loved reading it and gave me the courage to believe in my story enough to actually do something with it.Thanks for reading this to the end and bearing with an over-excited, terrified me. I'm going to take a nap now.V.L. out!
