Jas Howson > Recent Status Updates

beautiful description of both the fae and mortal realms, dialogue feels natural and the pacing is even so far. there are some dialogue tags and descriptors that have already been overused imo (a chill spider walked down my spine)

ah i’ve remembered that this is written by a man.

Two Hearts was the first of two novellas in this book and it a both a wholesome continuation and noble send-off to our heroes from The Last Unicorn.
i’m excited to begin the second novella, Sooz, particularly as it was written in 2023.

i couldn’t leave the world of The Last Unicorn behind me just yet, so it only felt right to slip into The Way Home before i begin my ACOTAR journey.

the descriptions of Lancaster, though brief, are immersive. i love the city, its cobbled streets and history. however, reading of Altha’s trial taking place at the castle where i used to have a coffee and read is a harrowing comparison.

a third of the way into this beautiful historical fiction. three POVs of Weyward women throughout history - the natural imagery is encapsulating and each narrative voice so distinct. delves into man kind’s incessant need to dominate, to twist the natural order of things. i am completely engrossed.

the protagonist feels flat despite her complicated background. there is far too much info dumping which distracts from the action of the narrative. the dialogue comes of as unnatural more times than not.
but the plot? literally can’t put this down.
as a writer i am seething. as a reader i am obsessed.

i am just now noticing that Hoid rhymes with Freud. as the narrator, the frequent psychological rabbit holes the prose seems to fall into makes a lot of sense. was this intentional ?? am i reading too deeply into this ?? how apt.

every so often there’ll be an unexpected paragraph or few piquing on the existential nature. it feels a little unnatural at times and sometimes feels a tad “on the nose” as to the greater “meaning” of the book

all right, the narrative voice is growing on me. there is such a wholesome energy to the ship’s crew - each character is distinct and so likeable. the crew is fast becoming tress’s found family, and each interaction with Fort makes me smile so much