Review: The Goblin Emperor

I'd heard about Katherine Addison's new book, The Goblin Emperor, and since it seemed like a story I might enjoy, I decided to give it a try. I'm happy I did, since it's one of the most refreshing and wonderful fantasy stories I've read in a while. Addison's main character, Maia, the half-goblin fourth son of an Elven emperor, is one of the most likable, sympathetic characters I've read in fantasy since Samwise Gamgee.  

Unlike much of the fantasy released today, The Goblin Emperor has very little darkness or dramatic action. It's a novel about how Maia, a neglected, exhiled fourth son, becomes emperor after the murder of his father and brothers and learns to navigate the treacherous, complex intrigue of his court. Yet the book has a profound emotional resonance, considering it's the story of a young man thrust into a new world were he struggles to find friends and allies, while worrying that people's lives depend on his every decision.

Maia grew up untrained in the skills he needs to rule, but he throws himself into learning everything about his court with enormous dedication. His compassion, sensitivity and willingness to defy traditions at first seem like terrible weaknesses in a place more used to the impassive, often cruel reign of his cold-hearted father. But as Maia grows into his role, his kind heart wins him the loyalty and love of his servants and some of his family. Although there's an intriguing mystery that unfolds as Maia searches for the people responsible for the airship crash that killed his family, the book on the whole is a domestic drama. Indeed, while the assassination and coup attempts against Maia give the book moments of intense drama, the true story feels more like a Bildungsroman (a coming of age story). 

While I enjoy Game of Thrones and other dark fantasy, I'll admit it was a huge relief to read this somewhat light-hearted, optimistic book about courtly intrigue. It shows how much real drama and emotion can revolved around the fear of public embarrassment or the longing for acceptance and friendship. I nearly cried in the last few pages when Maia ultimately rejects cruel, if well-intentioned advice to avoid friendship. The book's warm, positive message was a healthy reminder that while cruelty exists, there are far more Maias out there than Ramsey Boltons. Indeed, in The Goblin Emperor, Addison shows how love and loyalty can ultimately defeat ambition and cruelty. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the lighter side of fantasy, especially intrigues. 

StoryTime Read Aloud of "The Last Bird"

One of the things I signed up for during OWSCyCon 2019 was Timothy Bateson’s Storytime. Timothy and a few other volunteers agreed to record some of our stories and put them up on youtube! Storytime ended up being so popular that poor Tim got inundated with requests, but he kept going and is going to finish them all! I loved the audio for this story so much, I got tears in my eyes when I heard it. “The Last Bird” was one of my favorite stories from Sapience, and it’s been pretty popular with reviewers as well. So check it out, in audio form! Thank you so much, Timothy and Phoebe Darqueling, who did the voice recording.

Your Listen

My (Recent) Indie Book Reviews!

I’ve decided to make an effort to read and review more Indie books. Here are three Indie books I read in the past month, along with the reviews I wrote (which are also posted on Amazon and Goodreads). Remember, if you like a book or an author, one of the best ways you can support them is to write a review, even a short and simple one!

Black Hat Blues by Gene Kendall

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters--Mr. Scratch is funny and terrifying at the same time, while Mark Lipscomb is enjoyably clueless and harmless, yet with enough of a dark side that you can actually see Mr. Scratch as a bit of dark-id wish fulfillment. The relationships between the characters are as complex and awkward as I could imagine between a father-figure creator and the wayward son. 
If I have criticism of the book, it's that it sort of lost its way at some points. There's a whole bit that criticizes politicians and political correctness that felt a little out of place in the story. Also, one of the more interesting characters (I won't tell you which one), is killed halfway through "offscreen." I feel like it would have been way more interesting for the author to actually write that character's death scene, or perhaps even keep them until the end of the book. 
Nonetheless, if you enjoy comic books and scifi/fantasy, this book is very entertaining. It's funny, dark, and heartwarming, and manages to be both an homage and a critique of comic books and fan culture.

Bellerophon: Son of Poseidon

This is an interesting book, and there's a lot I enjoyed about it. I loved the setting, in ancient Greece. The author included lots of fascinating details that made the day to day life real come alive, but not so much the story felt bogged down. 
I enjoyed the story as well. The battles were intense, the fight with the chimera harrowing and climactic, and the political machinations enjoyably dirty and dramatic. 
If I had a criticism, it would be the main character. He's a little too good, and I sometimes wished he was a little more naughty. Ancient Greek myths tend to have tragic, larger than life heroes with a fatal flaw, often hubris. Lero could have used a little more lusty swagger, if you ask me. On the other hand, I loved his relationship with Pegasus and his friendships with all the warriors. 
Overall, this book is an enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Greek myths and fantasy. It's a good choice for someone looking for the grownup version of the Percy Jackson books.

Smile Again by Eunice Nascimento

This is a peaceful, cozy book of short stories. While it didn't have a lot of intense drama, the stories were enjoyable, mellow, and well-written. Honestly, I think "Smile Again" would be a good book to read if you're feeling anxious or depressed, because it's very comforting. I also like the fact that while many of the stories included a sweet romance, many other stories were about friendship or family, or just connecting with other people. 

An enjoyable read for anyone looking for a cozy book of realistic, sort of women's fiction short stories.

More Very Short Stories, Mixed Genres

Here are five more very short stories I’ve written recently in a mix of genres—science fiction, dark fantasy, and realistic. I had posted them on twitter under #vss365 and #scififri. Also, if you are a writer, some of the members of #vss365 are going to be making an anthology of very short stories, submitted on twitter via the hashtag #vss365a. You can find out more on the Making Fiction website, so if you’re interested in submitting, check it out!

Orion

Capt. Dayne surveyed the icy surface of Enceladus from the deck of the Orion.

"What are the surface readings? When can we attempt a landing?" she asked her science officer.

"Tomorrow," came the taciturn answer.

"Good. We're ready."

"Perhaps."

Regrets

I have a thousand regrets. Paths not taken, love not given, friends lost for no real reason. But I have never regretted even one kiss I gave your soft baby face, or one nuzzle of your fuzzy hair. There is never enough time to tell you how much I love you.

Sudden Silence

I perk my head up, aware of the sudden silence.

"What are you doing?" I call, my heart beating in trepidation. No answer.

"Kids! What are you up to?" There's a flurry of footsteps and whispers.

"Nothing, Mommy!"

I start running upstairs.

Reciprocated

"What happened?" Sal yelled over the blaring alarms.

"Meteor," Jen said. "Pierced the hull."

"Isolate the compromised sector."

"That's us. We'll die."

"Put on your breather. We'll work fast and find a patch."

"Done. And I love you."

"Reciprocated."

A Dream

The sound of rain on her window inspires reverie. She runs a hand over her swollen belly.

Who will you be? she wonders.

The baby kicks. She closes her eyes. She sees the rain turn to blood, and the patter on her window becomes the sound of distant gunshots.

News, Events, and a Guest Post!

I’m very excited for June because my newest book, Saints and Curses, will be coming out this month on June 5, 2019! It is available in ebook and paperback, and it will be free on Kindle Unlimited. Here’s the blurb and the cover:

“Explore worlds of light and dark, where magical whimsy and grim tidings alike are painted across the tapestry of human experience.
Indulge in tales of the fantastical where enchantments are bought and sold at the local corner store, your morning latte gives you special abilities, and you might just adopt a murderous, vampiric cat. Your child might be stolen away in the night and replaced with an ancient, evil creature of the fae, waves of plague-ridden vermin consume everything, and only a saint could hope to turn the tide.
These stories and more await you, if you dare to turn the page...”

I’ll also have a table at ArlingCon 2019, on June 15, 2019 from 10am to 6pm. I’ll have copies of both my books to sign and sell. I had a great time at Dallas Fan Expo this year, and I’m looking forward to attending ArlingCon as well! You can find out more information about the event here, and I’ll be posting plenty of pictures and video from the Con on my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

In more exciting news, one of my short stories is in the May issue of Kzine (#24). It’s one of my favorite stories, and I’d highly recommend you check it out!

Last but not least, you can read a flash fiction horror story I wrote on K. T. Rose’s blog as a guest post!

Five More Science Fiction/Fantasy Very Short Stories

Yes, I’m still writing tons of very short stories on twitter! Most of these I wrote for #vss365, with a couple that were for #scififri and #satsplat as well. I hope you enjoy them.

Vile

"What are these vile things?" he said, peering at the android.

The bot shuddered at his touch, and kept her eyes downcast.

"We should throw them into the fire along with the pervert who engineered them."

The bot transmitted a silent warning to her sisters.

Embrace

Her poisoned filaments floated in the water like gossamer strands of silvery hair. She stretched out her arms and smiled at him, a sailor who'd caught sight of her from the prow of his ship.

"Come to me," she sang. He dove after her. Sweet and soft, just as she liked.

Listen

"Listen, listen deeply. The susurrus of magic is there, like the heartbeat of the earth. You must hear it first, before you can sing back to it."

Flowers

Mist flows along the river like breath from the mountains. She hears the scream of a black hawk winging its away across the gorges. The paleden flowers are high on the slopes near the water, a dangerous climb. Raeda looks for a secure handhold.

Lamb

The fields bloomed a verdant green. He stroked lush leaves, the wealth of the earth, inhaling the heady scent of spring.

"Please," the Lamb whispered. "Let me go."

He smiled gently, almost kind. "You are a gift. Your blood will water the earth gods. Rejoice."

Guest Post: Flash Fiction by Brandon Meadows

I met K.T. Rose, an American horror writer, on Twitter, and we discussed exchanging guest blogs. However, K.T. didn’t feel her writing style and genre (which is more horror) matched my site, so instead she suggested a piece by her friend Brandon. So here is a high fantasy flash fiction story from Brandon Meadows, courtesy his friend K.T!

Reid

by Brandon Meadows

The beating of wings on the air and melodious chirping of some nearby birds awaken Reid from his slumber. The sun has yet to finish rising in the sky as Reid begins to stir, he feels as if he’s still in a dream, sitting up in a clearing in the forest, unsure of how he came to be there. His things are strewn about and he quickly begins to gather them as he sees the golden rays of the sun cresting of the eastern border of the forest.

Where am I, he thinks.

He wanders in search of water, listening for a river. The air here seems to be fresher than any he’s breathed and the trees have white bark and great canopies of gold and silver. The grass bows before any step is laid, never feeling rough. Occasionally he hears laughter, though he cannot seem to place from where.

He hears rushing water in the distance. Reid follows the sound and stumbles upon a river, little more than a creek really. He splashes himself in the face and takes a drink. The water flows down his throat like ice.

As grogginess abandons him, Reid notices large black eyes staring at him from an almost childlike face. But though similar in size and shape to a child, this creature was not human. In place of hair there was a tangle of bramble and vines. Its skin was a pale brown and as rough as tree bark. Soft moss had grown over its body in place of clothing.

The creature notices Reid looking back, and it runs away from the river. Curious, Reid gives chase, darting in between trees and under branches until the childlike being seemingly falls into a tree. Reid searches for it , but to no avail. He gives up, and sits against that same tree to rest. He hears the same laughter from before but this time he can follows the sound. It leads him out of the forest. It’s still morning, though he’s wandered in the forest for what seems to be hours. He turns back for the forest but finds his path blocked by vines and overgrowth. Unsure of what happened but glad it was over, he heads down the road back to town.

Links for K.T. Rose:

https://www.amazon.com/K.-T.-Rose/e/B01N4T91M2

Kyrobooks.com 

https://Www.twitter.com/kyrobooks 

http://Facebook.com/kyrobooks 

Review: The Emerald Circus

I’ve written about Jane Yolen’s books before, which I have really enjoyed, especially her short stories. like Sister Emily’s Lightship. With that in mind, when I saw a new collection of Yolen’s stories, The Emerald Circus, I decided to take a look (I actually checked it out of the library!).

This book has some reprints of earlier stories I liked, including Sister Emily’s Lightship and Lost Girls. But I especially enjoyed reading some newer stories I hadn’t read before. In particular, I loved “A Knot of Toads,” which was a creepy, modern-gothic story set on the coast of Scotland. I loved the origins of the story and the references to history, but the characters really shine through, and I love how the main character’s views of the people around her are suddenly upended. Likewise, “The Quiet Monk” was passionate and romantic and beautiful, and the ending had a kind of quiet devotion that I loved. “Evian Steel” was another Arthurian -inspired story I enjoyed. It had a great twist ending, and gave a really fascinating perspective on familiar characters.

“Blown Away” was a dark and disturbing retelling of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, form the point of view of one of the farm hands on Dorothy’s Uncle’s farm. It was strangely creepy and bleak, and the ending was both haunting and “off” in a fascinating, if not exactly satisfying way. The unreliable narrator and the constant uncertainty about who is telling the truth about Dorothy’s strange disappearance made it feel like there were terrible family secrets welling just beneath the surface.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in Jane Yolen’s writing, or in reading fantasy short stories, particularly reinterpretations of fairytales and legends.

Five More Realistic Very Short Stories

I’ve written five more realistic very short stories for the hashtag #vss365. I’m really please with how they turned out, especially considering how difficult I felt some of the prompt words were for the past couple of weeks.

Mermaids

They walked along the shore, picking up driftwood and other flotsam.

"What are we going to do with this?" one of the children asked.

"We're going to make mermaids," Mama said. “Sinuous driftwood tails, shells and pretty stones for eyes, seaweed hair.“

Wasteland

Useless, they said. Wasteland. They didn't see the way the sun set over the stony mountains, or the way delicately jeweled scarabs swarmed the dead like mourners at a feast. They didn't know how the sand purified the aquifer they needed to survive. Until too late.

Rain

Rain fell over the battlefield. The scent of petrichor mingled with the smells of blood and decay. Jasper lay where he'd fallen. Distant sounds from the victorious army's celebration reached his ears, but the only living he saw were ravens. He tried to sit up.

Stage Lights

The stage lights came up as the house lights faded. The audience held their breath in anticipation, and a frisson of excitement and fear trilled in her nerves. She took a deep breath and strode out, her violin cradled in her hands.

Library

I'm in the library, amidst a myriad of books. I touch their spines and gaze at fascinating covers, surrounded by joy and calm and quiet. And books, all the books I can read, true kind friends. I'm okay here. I'll be okay.

My Most Recent Author Interviews!

I’ve been doing lots of author interviews and guest posts over the last few days! I’m thankful people have been interested in me and my books.

Dove Winters asks some very interesting questions for my “Questions That Matter” interview with her.

I believe that there is likely to be life on other planets, or even in our solar system in the deep sea vents of Jupiter’s moon Europa or Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Where would I go on my ideal family vacation and other interesting questions? See what I tell Teresa Keefer in my interview with her.

I think I’d go an a walking tour of the Rhine with my family. We’d stop at lovely castles, quaint little inns, and beautiful scenes along the river. At night, we’d stay in lovely inns that serve authentic German food.

Alice de Sampaio Kalkuhl asked about my world building in Sapience for my interview with her.

I think that the stories in Sapience are about big questions about our future. What kind of life will we find on other planets or moons? What kind of life will we allow an AI with human level intelligence? Can we overcome the old conflicts and hatreds of Earth?

I did an interview for Stephen Pearl’s blog on the Greatest Gadget in Sapience.

One of my favorite stories in Sapience is “Husk.” The main character, John, is a scientist who’s been tasked with creating an AI that won’t go mad or try to kill its creators (which has clearly happened during previous projects).

While this may not count as an interview, I’m also thankful to Kristina Kelly, who collected a wish list of tons of books using the #IndieApril hashtag, including Sapience!