The Road to Shanhasson- A review

Note: This is the Second book of Joely’s (epic!) Bloods and Shadows trilogy. To read my      review of book one, The Rose of Shanhasson, go here. I strongly recommend buying it if you haven’t already, and if you are interested in what I have to say about The Road to Shanhasson here, as Joely says that it is difficult to understand Road if you have not read Rose. Well worth the purchase. Onward.

Note the second: Joely has a cover art fairy god mother. Deena, your work is absolutely stunning.This was just the PERFECT cover. It still makes me all tingly looking at it.

For a short snippet of what I said about Rose:

“The characters and their world will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

Yep. Still haunted.

I should call this “Soleil’s Squealing Corner”, but well that doesn’t sound as professional does it? Not that I’m by any means a professional reviewer. I do this for fun and love of story not money.  And boy do I love Joely’s books!

Blurb:

Shannari has survived her enemies’ plots long enough to return to the Plains with Rhaekhar, but their new life together will not be easy. First, she has to get through a wedding ceremony that will make both him and his personal guard, Gregar, her co-mates…without anyone dying. Since both she and Gregar are Shadowed, that may prove to be an impossible feat.

Tensions redouble with her return and Rhaekhar is further away than ever in uniting the Nine Camps of the Sha’Kae al’Dan. His enemies have the perfect weapon to use against him: his outlander woman.

And no matter how far she is from the political–and deadly–waltz of the High Court, her destiny drags her step by reluctant step to Shanhasson. The road back to Shanhasson is thick with shadows and stained with blood. How many of her loved ones will die in her fight to claim the Rose Crown?

Warnings: Explicit sex, violence, torture, sadomasochism, menage a trois, and an impossible battle against an enemy that can’t die again.

This is “Gregar’s Book” and EVERYTHING is upped! The magic, the blood, the sex (always white hot and overflowing with passion). And  Joely’s great with pacing. Although there are a lot of relatively “peaceful scenes” before the big battle, they’re chock-ful of tension. Erotic and otherwise. And she’s always got neat little twists up her sleeves that she drops on you at the best of times. And a wicked sense of humor that she skillfully weaves into her best characters. (Gregar, Sal, Rhakehar. Even Shannari lets her hair down and gets some great one-liners!)

But reader, be warned. This book literally tore my heart in two when I read it the first time. I had tears streaming down my face. But I love books that make me FEEL as opposed to leaving me lukewarm, so this was the perfect book for me. If you’re hopped up on Romancelandia’s supposed “rules”, this may not be the book for you. Me? I think some rules were meant to be broken and Joely breaks them superbly. I LOVE series books and I love THIS series. “Road” is a great sequel to Rose and has me pining for the third installment, tentatively titled Return to Shanhasson.  But seeing how busy poor Joely is and intends to be, I might have to wait awhile. (*off screen* *SOOOOOOOOOB* CRUEL FATES!!!)

Ok, ok. I’m composed. I can wait.

forliketenseconds.

Hey Bethanie, can we share Gregar doll while we wait please?

Like Rose, I highly recommend The Road to Shanhasson for every lover of Romance, Fantasy, or even better, both. It has just about everything you could possibly want in a book with characters you love (and love to hate!), who make you jump for joy, laugh out loud, cry your eyes out. The Blood and Shadows Trilogy is quickly becoming my favorite series and it has a permanent place on my ever growing virtual keepers shelf. (Though I have every intention of getting printed copies a.s.a.p…. I must. There’s simply no living without them. Say Joely, you’ll sign mine if I send it right? Pretty please with naked Gregar and whip cream on top? )

Thank you kindly for taking the time to read this review. If you are intrigued/liked by what I’ve had to say, and or want to buy the book just for the cover (Hell, I would have!!) then please, support my favorite author. Her books are my crack. Can never have too much. Head on over to Drollerie Press and pick up a copy. While you’re there, check out Rose if you haven’t and some other DP goodies.

Should you need further persuasion, allow me to point you in the direction of Joely’s free read, The Shadowed Blood, prequel to the Bloods and Shadows trilogy. If that doesn’t hook you-well, I have to wonder if you’re not made of the cold mechanic things.

Quick Update

To the person who asked: ‘Should I talk dirty with my Scorpio?’ and wound up here, allow me to assist you:

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is still yes, but only if you’re in a relationship with said Scorp and not just trying to pick one up.

Or you’re a masochist whose willing to lose an appendage. And if you were smart enough to try it, I guess there’s no hope for you to guess which appendage…

Ahem, as for my people, sorry for not posting with more regularity, been a tad busy with the personal life here. Helping my mom and sister set up our new business, doing photography work, formatting the ADs, coming up with the newsletter. All very hectic but rewarding.

I should be back to posting in a bit, mostly reviews, and then back to updates on Dirge. I have two weeks where I will be mostly free to work on me, me, me so I’m taking it and possibly implementing a FAST DRAFT on myself. Will let you all know how that works out.

Bump In The Night- A Review – PART THREE Ghosts

Vampires, Zombies and Other things that go BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Drollerie Press has made me a happy happy girl. As they are prone to do with their delightful tales of Transformation and Myth.

In case I haven’t previously made myself clear beyond the shadow of a doubt (or you’re new here, in which case, HI there!), I. LOVE. Dark Fantasy. Reading it, writing it, watching it on T-Bowe’s big ass screen.

In short: It COMPLETES me.

So when Drollerie Press held an event, either last month or the month before, giving their loyal readers a chance to download a Sneak Peek of Bump In The Night, their new Dark Fantasy/Horror release, I knew I was sealing my fate when I clicked the big red shiny button. (Ok, ok, the button was neither big, nor red, nor shiny but work with me a little.)

The three short stories included in the sneak peek had me HOOKED. I needed the rest of the supply, and soon, BookJunkie that I am. I was so dismayed that Joely’s fabled and much talked about Zombie Love Story wasn’t included in the sneak peek but I knew that I would be getting the Antho as soon as I could got my hands on some cash.

As luck and tremendous generosity would have it, I got Bump In The Night a lot quicker than I thought I would. Fortunate I am that Ms. Fisher has liked my reviews thus far. I’d like to take a moment to thank both Joely Sue Burkhart and Ms. Fisher for the opportunity to review Bump In the Night. It is my favorite Anthology thus far and I hope that Drollerie will produce more Dark fantasy Anthos in the future.

(We Can Haz Werewolves next time, maybe, pretty pwease with sugar on top?)

Ahem, on to the review.

Bump In The Night – A Review- PART TWO Zombies

Vampires, Zombies and Other things that go BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Drollerie Press has made me a happy happy girl. As they are prone to do with their delightful tales of Transformation and Myth.

In case I haven’t previously made myself clear beyond the shadow of a doubt (or you’re new here, in which case, HI there!), I. LOVE. Dark Fantasy. Reading it, writing it, watching it on T-Bowe’s big ass screen.

In short: It COMPLETES me.

So when Drollerie Press held an event, either last month or the month before, giving their loyal readers a chance to download a Sneak Peek of Bump In The Night, their new Dark Fantasy/Horror release, I knew I was sealing my fate when I clicked the big red shiny button. (Ok, ok, the button was neither big, nor red, nor shiny but work with me a little.)

The three short stories included in the sneak peek had me HOOKED. I needed the rest of the supply, and soon, BookJunkie that I am. I was so dismayed that Joely’s fabled and much talked about Zombie Love Story wasn’t included in the sneak peek but I knew that I would be getting the Antho as soon as I could got my hands on some cash.

As luck and tremendous generosity would have it, I got Bump In The Night a lot quicker than I thought I would. Fortunate I am that Ms. Fisher has liked my reviews thus far. I’d like to take a moment to thank both Joely Sue Burkhart and Ms. Fisher for the opportunity to review Bump In the Night. It is my favorite Anthology thus far and I hope that Drollerie will produce more Dark fantasy Anthos in the future.

(We Can Haz Werewolves next time, maybe, pretty pwease with sugar on top?)

Ahem, on to the review.

Bump In The Night- A Review – PART ONE Vampires

Vampires, Zombies and Other things that go BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Drollerie Press has made me a happy happy girl. As they are prone to do with their delightful tales of Transformation and Myth.

In case I haven’t previously made myself clear beyond the shadow of a doubt (or you’re new here, in which case, HI there!), I. LOVE. Dark Fantasy. Reading it, writing it, watching it on T-Bowe’s big ass screen.

In short: It COMPLETES me.

So when Drollerie Press held an event, either last month or the month before, giving their loyal readers a chance to download a Sneak Peek of Bump In The Night, their new Dark Fantasy/Horror release, I knew I was sealing my fate when I clicked the big red shiny button. (Ok, ok, the button was neither big, nor red, nor shiny but work with me a little.)

The three short stories included in the sneak peek had me HOOKED. I needed the rest of the supply, and soon, BookJunkie that I am. I was so dismayed that Joely’s fabled and much talked about Zombie Love Story wasn’t included in the sneak peek but I knew that I would be getting the Antho as soon as I could got my hands on some cash.

As luck and tremendous generosity would have it, I got Bump In The Night a lot quicker than I thought I would. Fortunate I am that Ms. Fisher has liked my reviews thus far. I’d like to take a moment to thank both Joely Sue Burkhart and Ms. Fisher for the opportunity to review Bump In the Night. It is my favorite Anthology thus far and I hope that Drollerie will produce more Dark fantasy Anthos in the future.

(We Can Haz Werewolves next time, maybe, pretty pwease with sugar on top?)

Ahem, on to the review.

Superficial Stuff and Nonsense

Because seriously? I can not seem to make up my mind about how I want the format of the blog to look.

This isn’t bad. Though, I think I am going to want to mess with the header a bit more…

Tomorrow, maybe.

Entitlement and The Writer/Reader Relationship

First, go read this, this, this, and this.

If you’re a writer, sit back, relax and grin. If you’re a reader, sit up, grab a stress-releasing beverage or comfort food, and pay attention.

Enjoy. Become Enlightened.

Back already? Good, now:

As a fan, I admit to having been guilty to this particular sin more than a few times.

Because, dude.  JLA had Batman and Wonder Woman being a little too friendly for my poor little die-hard Batman/Catwoman shipper heart to bare. And all Zutarians know how painful it was to lose the Great Avatar:The Last Airbender Shipping War of ‘08. *Grabs lighter, lights it, and sways, tearing up*

On a more serious note: Ever since I made the switch to taking my own writing more seriously, this sense of ‘entitlement’ has dwindled considerably. I have much more respect for the writer’s work and their God given right to do whatever the hell they want with it. Seriously, no body put a gun to my head and told me to buy their books/watch their show/ read their comics. It ain’t my work so who the hell do I think I am telling the creator that they were WRONG for doing something I may or may not agree with? Whose copyright is it in the front of the book? Not “Soleil Noir’s”.

Though someday it will be…

Ahem.  But that’s not the point of this post.

While I get now more than ever that the only thing the Writer owes a Reader is a good Story, I also get that I, as a Reader, am also not entitled to be loyal to Writers who no longer write stories I particularly want to read*. I just dropped a series- (Sorry, I don’t name names. I only review things on this blog that I recommend reading, unless I am otherwise asked to. So far, I have been lucky enough that I’ve enjoyed reading the things I’ve been asked to review but one day that may not be the case.) -because the thing that hooked me personally as a reader ceased to tug me any further and I just had no desire to read where this particular series was going any farther. I could see the road the writer was taking and I hauled ass in the other direction. To quote some funny cats: Do. Not. Want.

I have a funny story, actually. While Beta-reading Joely’s latest Revised WIP, I made this huge assumption-this really BIG leap-about two characters. I can only imagine what was going through her head reading my notes about it. If I were her I would have been laughing my ass off, luckily she’s a much nicer person than I am. But I felt SO incredibly foolish when I realized my assumption was wrong. I did not, however, feel cheated.

Why?

Those two characters-while icing on the cake-were not what ‘hooked’ me. They were never even hinted at- never promised to me.

But then, as a fan, I can be sort of like that. I fall in love with really odd couples all the time**. The thing is, I’ve long since given up the notion that I am entitled to have those odd couples to be-to steal and fandom term-’Canon’. I’ve given up the notion that because I did not get what I may have wanted doesn’t lessen what I did get.***

That doesn’t stop me from putting what I want into my own stories though, and I feel a hell of a lot better knowing that I don’t owe anyone anything except a good story. Pressure off.

Because my stories? They are going to be wrought with ‘odd’ pairings, killed characters, and satisfying-if not altogether happy-endings.

—-

*Which does not mean that I am not loyal to Writers that continuously write books that make my little heart go ’squee’. (Kim Harrison, Patrica Briggs, Joely Sue Burkhart, Holly Lisle, Lynn Viehl-and her million and one other aliases-to name a few) I’m honestly not that hard to please, and there are some writers who I am willing to put up with almost anything from because I KNOW they will deliver a ‘Good Story’. True Facts.

** Bats/Cats ala Batman (More specifically Batman: The Animated Series), Zuko/Katara ala Avatar: the Last Airbender, Jack Bristow/Irina Derevko ala Alias, Sark/Rachel ala Alias (though there was a time when I had this thing for Sark/Sydney. No, seriously), Paul Ballard/Echo ala Dollhouse (and I know its so NOT going to happen) Victor/Sierra ala Dollhouse (probably likewise) Boyd Langton/Dr. Claire Saunders ala Dollhouse (for a look into one of my more ‘how the hell did you come to THAT conclusion’ ships. Look, their dialogue intrigued me ok? I know it probably won’t happen, let me have my fun!) Jack/Renee ala 24 (…*sheepish g* I was a little too happy when Agent Moss died, and yes it still probably won’t happen, but I will put up with anything from the writers of La Femme Nikita ) Betty Blue/Red cap ala The Unit (I KNOW. Ok? I know. It won’t happen.)

***The new BSG for instance. As a fan, I had a few minor dissapointments, specifc to some pairings. But that in no way made the ending I did get any less EPIC. I might not have gotten everything I would have wanted but what I did get was more than satisfying. More than I had any right to hope for.

Show Me

As an aspiring writer, I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft. I check out author sites, see what advice they give, most of which is pretty much the same ol’ same ol’. In fact, I guarantee you that any author that actually offers advice will have said this at least once:

“Show. DON’T Tell.”

While I had an inkling of what that meant, it always frustrated me just a little because of its vagueness. Because sometimes? Telling is necessary. For instance, conveying information to your reader that you don’t want them to focus on TOO much but that needs to be there for whatever reason.

Well, a few days ago, I was in a slump.

Actually, I seem to be having a Creative Dry Spell. One of the things I do to get back in the swing of things is to go actively looking for inspiration before I sit down to write in the hope that maybe, just maybe, today will be the day when I don’t have to pull the words out kicking and screaming. One way that I look for inspiration is in craft tips. I recently found CJ Redwine on Twitter and decided to follow her blog since I like her sense of humor and- dude, Urban Fantasy writer with a love for stilettos? Kick ass.

Then I cam across this, which has to be the most practical advice to Showing Not Telling I’ve ever read. I though I’d share in the event that some other Aspirer-ers might show up here occasionally, because it sure clicked for me. I’m already having an easier time seeing how that first nagging scene will unfold much more smoothly because of what I can SHOW about Sasha without Telling.

Sayonara Wonderland.

Welcoming in May

I wanted to have my Entitlement post up today but that will have to wait. I’m still DE-clutterizing my space, and not virtual space this time. I’m talking Desk, Room, the works. I think I caught the spring cleanning bug. Which is really damned odd because I lived most of my childhood and teen years in the notion that I work best in “controlled chaos”.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

So since I have nothing of my own to contribute, I will point you elsewhere.

For laughs: T-Bowe and Dogg’s cracktastic review of Cool As Ice ( A.K.A. The movie that sucks on ice)

And for Serious-Recommended for Football Fans: T-Bowe and Dogg’s review of Mann’s LEAVE NOTHING The clip is embedded, so go watch, enjoy, comment at will.

I hope to have a more coherent post together for ya’ll tomorrow, and very soon I will be back to posting my progress on Dirge.

For now this is what I have got on my To-DO-list for the day:

Get back to excercising you lazy hussy-

Start Journal for HTTS to stay organized

Blog Post

Put up Think Sideways Stamp

Reformat hard drive

Reorganize Desk (50% done)

Keep it organized (pshaw, that’ll happen)