November Reading Round Up

So... the year is basically over. That's ridiculous, isn't it? Oh boy. 

With November being National Novel Writing Month, I didn't get a whole lot of reading done since I was working on my novel. (I'll have a NaNoWriMo wrap-up post next week!) But, I find that kind of refreshing from time to time because in my spare time I also let myself focus on other things which I like when I'm hard-core working on my own book.

Some notes on how I review:

I rate books on a 5 star scale. One being the lowest, five the highest. Most of the books you see me review will get at least a 3 star rating because I enjoyed it. Usually, if I'm not enjoying a book, I don't finish it, and therefore won't have much of a review. Then, I also have included trigger warnings for people who find those helpful. If there are any I have missed, please let me know. 

These are all of my personal opinions on each book. If you would like plot summaries, click on the title of the book and it will lead you to it's Goodreads page. 

Also, when you see my use of the word "trope," do not take it as a negative comment, particularly with romance books. It is simply a term to express different standards in the genre. (Ex. friends to lovers trope)

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

• Genre: Classic Murder Mystery
• Format: Audiobook
• Rating: 3 Stars

I know... I'm awful that I only gave this book 3 stars. I feel like such a terrible person! I just... I found it boring. 

The premise is awesome. I love the setting of the train and the mix of people and how they all have different stories. The reveal is really cool and totally ahead of her time. Which is what makes it such a classic and I totally get why people love it so much.

But friends... I WAS SO BORED. The only things that kept me going were the fact that Dan Stevens was that narrator was AMAZING (seriously, I'll now listen to anything he reads. SO GOOD) and it was a classic so I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. 

I'm glad I listened to it and I'll go see the movie, but overall not my favorite. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: Other classic murder mysteries, travel, eccentric casts
• Trigger Warnings: there's a lot of negative stereotyping of different nationalities and genders, violent murder (off screen), discussion of a child's murder

Learn more about Murder on the Orient Express here

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

• Genre: Epic/Historical Fantasy
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Rating: 4 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this one, particularly as it got towards the end. It doesn't read quickly, but not slow either. Just a nice leisurely and enjoyable pace. I was liking the book the whole time I read it, but wasn't in love. Then as the plot started to wrap up I realized I was much more invested in the characters than I thought! It was moving and I definitely want to continue to the next book. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: historical fantasy, light fantasy, something with a folk/fairy-tale feel, light romance
• Trigger Warnings: on page rape (this was a big reason why this book doesn't have a full five stars, I had some issues because while the depiction of the aftermath and how it effected the main character psychologically was done well, I don't think it's necessary to have the actual event so detailed), animal abuse/death, violence, negligent parents

Learn more about Daughter of the Forest here

A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab

• Genre: Epic Fantasy
• Format: Hardcover
• Rating: 4 Stars

This is the third and final book in Schwab's Shades of Magic trilogy. (Although, I've heard she's writing a spin-off series set in the same world. I'm unsure of if it'll be the same characters or not.) I know of a ton of people who are completely in love with this trilogy, and I'm so happy they are!

I'm not one of them. I definitely enjoy it, and I see why so many people have fallen in love with this trilogy. The world is unique and I love the relationship the characters have with magic. The first book was okay, but the next two definitely got better. Out of the three, I think this one was my favorite. It was very character driven and I liked getting into their heads more. There just is something about this series which doesn't draw me in the way some of my other favorite fantasy books. It's purely a personal preference sort of thing. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: the other books in the Shades of Magic series, epic fantasy, multiple worlds, strong emphasis on magic, m/m romance, f/m romance, pirates
• Trigger Warnings: violence, torture, abusive flashbacks, pain

Learn more about A Conjuring of Light here

Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger

• Genre: Steampunk/Paranormal/Historical Romance
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 5 Stars

Well, this novella was all kinds of delightful and everything you'd want in a Gail Carriger book. Carriger writes Victorian Steampunk Paranormal and they're ridiculously entertaining and fabulous. It's funny, cute, witty, sexy, smart, and full of paranormal romance shenanigans. (This novella literally made me LOL. When what the last time you ACTUALLY laughed out loud while reading?) Many time with novellas I feel like they're lacking, but I never felt that way with this book. Also, it was fun to see characters from her other novels pop up!

If you aren't a fan of longing glances and sexual tension in a f/f/ romance... this book might not be for you. But if you're a total sap and love a cute romance like me, you'll love this one!

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  romance novels, F/F love interests, unrequited love trope, steampunk, The Parasol Protectorate series, Victorian England, vampires, werewolves, strong female leads, women dressing as men
• Trigger Warnings: sexual harassment

Learn more about Romancing the Inventor here

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

• Genre: Science Fiction Novella
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 5 Stars

This is another one of those books I kept hearing about all last year and heard nothing but wonderful things (I believe it won a Hugo last year, but don't quote me on that), yet I haven't read it until now. Binti is a fast sci-fi read since it's barely even 100 pages. (I think it took me about an hour to read - maybe less.) So, if you want something good but don't have a lot of time, this will be perfect for you. Like Romancing the Inventor, in spite of it being a novella I didn't feel it was lacking at all. The world was beautifully built, Binti had a great character arc, and I loved how it was a classic space travel/coming of age/survival story while also exploring what it's like to be an outsider and moving to a new place where you need to learn how to hold onto your culture while also adapting to your new surroundings. I can't wait to read the next one!

Learn more abut Binti here

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  space travel, survival stories, short stories, unlikely friendships, African culture
• Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, loneliness, culture shock, homesickness, racism

Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger

• Genre:Steampunk/Paranormal/Historical Romance 
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 4 Stars

Another awesome Gail Carriger novella. This one featured the London werewolf pack and took place at Christmas. I loved getting to know Biffy more and seeing him as the alpha. It wasn't quite as Christmasy and swoony as I had hoped - but I still completely enjoyed this one!

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  bumbling men with babies, m/m romance, werewolves, paranormal, historical fiction, comedy of mannors
• Trigger Warnings: child abandonment, cult-like religion

Learn more about Romancing the Werewolf here

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melisa de la Cruz

• Genre: Contemporary Romance Retelling
• Format: Hardcover
• Rating: 3.5 Stars

This was a ridiculously fast and cute read. I read it within a couple of hours yesterday. It's a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice where the characters are gender bent. (Mr. Darcy is Darcy Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth is Luke Bennett. Also, Bingley and Jim Bennett are gay and make me happy.) The big downfall of this book is that everything felt rushed. All of the events in this book happen within a few days. (MAYBE a few weeks.) Imagine cramming all of the events of Pride and Prejudice to make them all fit within a couple weeks of the Christmas season? Yeah.
But, it's still fun. If you want a really well-done modern retelling, go watch The Lizzie Bennett Diaries on YouTube. Seriously, it's one of my favorite Mr. Darcy's. This book was fun though. It was exactly what I expected and wanted. It's a book version of a Hallmark Christmas Rom-Com. And sometimes, that's what you want and need. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy:  Jane Austen, retellings, Hallmark Christmas Romantic Comedies
• Trigger Warnings: heart-attack, panic attack, some drunken kissing and making out

Learn more about Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe here

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Meet the Family Part 2- Flash Fiction Friday

I hope you all enjoyed part 1 of this story last week, here's the conclusion! 

If you have any prompts or ideas of a story you'd like to read for December, send it over! 

I wasn't planning on proposing. But after we talked about it once I couldn't get the idea out of my head and the next thing I knew I was at the jewelers inspecting rings. I'd kept the ring in my pocket ever since so I wouldn't lose it.

Clearly, that didn't work out so well. 

"What were you planning to do with this?" Jeff's hand was shaking as he held it, from the cold or at what the ring meant, I wasn't sure. 

My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow. "I just thought it looked cool."

That was by far one of the dumbest answers I could have given.

Jeff raised an eyebrow. "And keeping it in your pocket?"

I didn't have an answer. 

"This is only the first time you've met my family," Jeff said as he handed me the ring. When he did, I felt my heart bend. It didn't break, because he wasn't rejecting anything. But he also didn't look thrilled about it, and I didn't realize how much I wanted that ring on his finger until he was handing it back to me. So, my heart bent. 

"I'm sorry I've messed things up," I said and placed the ring into the box. It snapped shut and I flinched at the sound. 

Jeff stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. "We're so different Mike. I always liked that about us. But..."

My heart continued to bend. I didn't like the sound of where this was going. But I couldn't argue with him.

"Let's go back inside," I said before he could finish. "I don't want to be late for dinner and have your mom hate me even more."

Jeff opened his mouth as though he were going to say something then closed it again. He nodded his head and we walked back to the house in silence. In fact, a majority of the remainder of the day I spent in silence.

When we returned his family didn't say anything mean, didn't try to eat me, or made any comments about my spilling Grandma or almost poisoning them. They simply ignored me, and Jeff wasn't much better. It was as though I had faded to the background and became part of the wallpaper. I almost wished I could go back to ruining the day because then at least Jeff would talk to me. 

Normally, I would have loved to sit back and observe Jeff with his family. They all obviously loved him. He cracked jokes with his uncles, let his niece sit on his lap, and helped his mom in the kitchen. This should have made me happy. It would have if I could have been a part of it. 

His niece screeched at my side and I jumped. She was sitting on the floor with a toy vampire doll, but one of its fangs had fallen off. Tears welled in her eyes as she helplessly tried to reattach it. 

I held out my hand. "Let me try."

She gave me a wary glance but handed the toy over. I knelt on the ground and saw where the fang would be inserted into the mouth. Apparently it was retractable. With a bit of finagling, I was able to get it back in.

She gave me a hesitant smile then pushed along the floor over to me a bride of Frankenstein doll. Well, it was better than being ignored. 

Out of the corner of my eye I caught Jeff looking in my direction with a small smile.

Finally it was time to eat and we all gathered around the dining room table. Jeff started to say something to me but was interrupted by his uncle saying a prayer. We all bowed our heads and when he was done he started to cut into the meat.

"The way his kind acts toward each other I'm amazed they still pray," someone next to me murmured. I felt my cheeks warm. 

"That's enough," Jeff snapped. Everyone at the table stared at him, including myself. "Mike has been nothing but kind to you all day. Yeah, it hasn't been perfect, but he's tried. Which is more than I can say for everyone here. Including myself. I know we're different, but that's just how it is. I'm going to be spending the rest of my life with him and you better just get used to him, or get used to me not being around. It's your choice."

My jaw dropped and could have touched the table. He turned to look at me with pleading eyes.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with me?

"I'm sorry," he said. "I should have spoke up sooner. If this is going to work, you're my family now."

I couldn't speak, so I reached under the table and gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. He smiled back. 

The rest of the night was better. I made an effort to talk to his family members, and his mom even apologized for how she acted in the kitchen that day. They were just protective of Jeff, and I couldn't blame them for that. 

As we put our coats on at the end of the night I heard something fall from Jeff's pocket and hit the ground. I picked it up. It was a ring box.

"Um..."

I opened the box. "What's this?"

Jeff shrugged. "I just thought it was cool and decided to keep it in my pocket."

"Oh really?"

His eyes were twinkling. "Yeah."

I pulled out the ring from my pocket and compared the two. They had the same engraving. "So... the rest of our lives. What do you say?"

Jeff pulled me close to him and kissed me. He took the rings from my hand and put one on his finger, and one on mine. "If we can survive my family, I think we can survive anything."

I kissed him back. 

"Just wait until you meet mine at Christmas."

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Five Fantasies Which Deserve a TV Show Other than Lord of the Rings

Don't get me wrong. I love Lord of the Rings I saw all of the movies in theater when I was in high school and I've read the books. Lord of the Rings is wonderful and brilliant and nearly all fantasy we have now exists because of this trilogy. 

But when I heard that Amazon was planning to make a Game of Thrones style TV show based on LOTR, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 

As wonderful as LOTR is, it's already had it's time in the spotlight. There are a ton of other fantasy novels which deserve just as much recognition and could make for amazing TV shows. 

The Nevernight Chronicle by Jay Kristoff

Gentle friends, if you like Game of Thrones this series has everything you could possibly want. A bad-ass female assassin lead, graphic violence, revenge, sex, dark magic, a snarky shadow creature/familiar... it's epic and set in a fantasy world inspired by Florence, Italy. The first two books are published and they're fantastic.

The Kate Daniels Series by Illona Andrews

These books are urban fantasy, so a show wouldn't have the exact feel of Game of Thrones. But with it's post-apocalyptic (or as the book calls it - post-magic) world I can for sure see it having a Walking Dead vibe. Just replace zombies with vampires who have their minds controlled by the bad guys. Kate is one of my favorite leading characters and there's a shape-shifting beast lord that's a lion. A LION. Can it get an more epic than that? I didn't think so.

His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers

They're nuns who are assassins. NEED I SAY MORE???? But seriously, it's a historical fantasy where we follow three young women who serve the god of death as his handmaidens. The main plot line also follows real medieval political conflicts between Britain and France. It's an awesome blend of fantasy and historical that I think would appeal to Game of Thrones fans as well as those who like shows such as The Tudors and Reign.

The Diviners Series by Libba Bray

With the awesome setting of the 1920s that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has, I think people will LOVE The Diviners. I just listened to the first book in audio over Halloween and it was phenomenal. You have multiple character points of view, magic, a ridiculously creep villain, love triangles, and the fun historical background. I can't wait to listen to the next one and would love to see it on screen.

The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo

I've read the first book of the Grisha Trilogy called Shadow and Bone and it was fantastic. I'm overly excited to continue with the series, then read the spin off duology as well. Nearly everyone I've heard who's read Bardugo's books have fallen in love and I've heard nothing but good things for each book. It's a pretty classic fantasy where you have a "chosen" one type of character who learns she has magic, but you also have this awesome Russian inspired backdrop and the whole thing is epic. Many people like the spin off duology even more.

Other Fantasies I've Heard Rumors of a TV Show/Movie in the Works I'm Excited For

Again, I've only heard rumors for some of these. Who who knows if it'll happen or not, so please don't take my word for any of this. Then if any of these aren't happening, they should. 

- The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss (I've actually heard this might be both a TV show AND a movie and Lin-Manuel Miranda is doing the music. Needless to say, I'M SO EXCITED.)

- The Shades of Magic Trilogy by VE Schwab.

- The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. (I'm a massive fangirl for this author and let's just say, if they ruin this TV show I'm going to become all Aelin fire-breathing-bitch-queen on them)

- The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas. 

- The Vampire Chronicles By Anne Rice. (Yes, there have already been some movies based on her books, Interview with the Vampire being the most famous. But it's been a long time since then, Queen of the Damned in my opinion was awful, and I'm really excited for this TV show because there are so many characters and plots to explore.) 

- The Paper Magician series by Charlie N Holmberg. 

Special Shout-Outs

Since Harry Potter has had it's time in the spotlight and we have the whole Fantastic Beasts franchise happening at the moment, I'm pretty happy with Harry Potter. That being said - if they were to do a TV show about the four founders of Hogwarts, I'd 1000% be there.

I've only read one Brandon Sanderson book and that was Mistborn. A lot of people LOVE this series and I can totally see it as an epic TV show or movie, but it wasn't one of my favorites even though there were elements I enjoyed. However, I've heard a ton of people tell me that I would really enjoy Warbreaker, and his most recent book in his Stormlight Archive series just was released. Since I haven't actually read his other books, I can't recommend them being adapted. But, I have a hunch Sanderson's books would be on many people's lists similar to mine. 

I have a ton of other epic fantasy books on my TBR, and I'm learning that I've barely scratched the surface of what fantasy novels are out there. We should totally recognize great works such as Lord of the Rings, but also realize that even more has come out since then and deserve just as much hype. 

Are there any adaptations you've loved? Did I miss any upcoming movies or TV shows? What fantasies do you want to see adapted? Are you excited for this rumored Lord of the Rings show?

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Meet the Family Part 1 - Flash Fiction Friday

I clutched the cardboard box containing a pumpkin pie between my hands to prevent them from shaking. "How do you think they're going to react?"

"It'll be fine," Jeff said and straightened my tie. "They're really open minded."

"Do they know about me?"

"They know your name is Mike," Jeff answered.

"Right..." I breathed as Jeff rang the doorbell. It was a normal house with a white picket fence and blue shutters. Everything was going to be fine. Nothing to be afraid of. Even if it was Thanksgiving. Not like it was a big holiday or anything...

The door opened and before me stood a tall green woman. The female version of her son. She smiled at Jeff, revealing her fangs, and then gave me a once over with her yellow eyes and the smile disappeared. 

"You're Mike," she said, her voice was more feminine than I had expected.  She sniffed the air. "And you're human."

"I brought pie," I said dumbly and outsretched my arms to show her. I wasn't even sure if they ate pie. 

She gave me a wavering smile and took the food from my hands. "How... lovely."

We followed her inside and I whispered to Jeff. "So, they don't know about me."

"I could never find a good time to tell them. Just relax and be yourself. They'll love you!"

As we stepped into the living room a group of people the same shade of green as Jeff and his mom sat around laughing at a joke someone must have made and I felt a little bite on my leg. 

"Ow!" I cried out and jumped back, and in the process my arm slammed against the mantle. A glass container fell and shattered upon the hardwood floor and purple gunk oozed on the ground. "I'm so sorry!"

Jeff squatted down and picked up the little girl at our side. "It's not polite to bite company," he teased her.

"I don't get to eat him?" she pouted, her sad yellow eyes staring up at him.

"Ahh.... no," Jeff answered and handed her over to a parent. He leaned over to me with a whisper. "Our family has been off of eating humans for generations, I promise. It's just... my sister is on this whole 'organic and going back to our roots' thing lately. I'm sorry, I should have warned you. "

I swallowed. "No worries."

Just remember, you love him and he's spending Christmas with your family.

Another family member was at the ground, picking up the pieces of glass. Lightning bolts almost darted out of her eyes when she looked at me. "That was grandma."

I paled. "What?"

"We keep our ancestors blood," Jeff explained and handed his nice over to another adult. "You know, the way you would when you cremate someone."

Shit.

I started to apologize again and knelt to assist in the clean up, but before any progress could be made Jeff's mother screeched from the kitchen. "IS THIS PUMPKIN PIE?"

Jeff's head, and everyone else's in the room, snapped in my direction. They stared at me as though I had just brought a bomb into the house. "You didn't tell me it was pumpkin."

I shrugged. 

"Squash is poisonous to us," Jeff explained as we rushed to the kitchen. "I thought you would make pecan or something."

His mother had her back against the refrigerator with a spatula shaking in her hand, held out as though it was a sword. "Get it out," she growled. 

I nodded and picked up the pie from the counter. "I am so sorry," I said. "I had no idea, I can go out and get something else."

"Just get it out."

The pie was sent to the dumpster outside immediately, and in spite of the chill in the air, I hid in the backyard for a few minutes. This was not going exactly as I'd hoped. I dropped Grandma and almost poisoned his family. Oh yeah, and could possibly become his niece's next meal.

Jeff was a monster and so was the rest of his family. There was no way I was ever going to fit in here. Why had we ever thought this was going to work?

From the inside pocket of my suit jacket I pulled out the box I brought with me. I opened it and held the silver band inside in my palm. Nothing fancy, but I had gotten an engraving put on the inside of the ring.

Against all odds.

"How could you have let him into our house?" Jeff's mom's voice echoed through the window. "And you never told me. Your own mother! How can you betray me like this?"

"I knew you'd react this way!" Jeff answered. 

"He's a human. They're so different and don't understand our ways."

"He doesn't but, maybe-"

"No maybe! If your father was here..."

I couldn't listen anymore and shoved the box back into my pocket to take a walk. So much for against all odds. 

After I had walked about half a block a set of footsteps came running up from behind me. What if it was his sister wanting an organic meal for her daughter? Or what if there were other things living in this neighborhood? I hurried my pace. Staying at the house was a bad idea, and leaving the house was a bad idea. What a disaster. 

"Mike! Wait a second, it's me!" Jeff called. "Where are you going?"

I slowed down and breathed a sigh of relief. I should have figured.

Jeff caught up to me heaving. His breath created small clouds in the air between us.

"This isn't working,"  I said. "Your family hates me, and I'm ruining everything. This was a bad idea."

Jeff was silent for a moment and tried to catch his breath. His eyebrows were furrowed and he frowned. He reached into his pants pocket and held out the ring. I must have dropped it in the backyard. 

"Then what's this?"

---

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I'm An Aunt!

Well, my friends, I'm sure you've seen this all over my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and everywhere else, but I'm just going to continue to gush because it's all I can think about and focus on and... sometimes you just need an easy blog post.

I'm an aunt!

Okay... technically I've been an aunt my entire life. But that's another story for another blog post.

My sister had her first baby on Thursday, November 9 at 9:38pm. Her name is Elsie and is by far the cutest baby I've ever seen.

Not that I'm partial or anything.

(YES, I'M SURE YOUR BABY IS THE CUTEST TOO.)

Originally, she was scheduled to have her c-section on Friday morning. So, you can imagine my surprise when I was at work Thursday evening and got a text saying that her BP was high and was going in at 9:30pm that night. 

Naturally, I started to freak out. Did I need to find someone to cover my shift? Was my sister okay? Did they need anything? Was this an emergency?

Thankfully, some friends who know far more about these things than I do, talked me down and I realized by the time all was said and done I probably wouldn't even be considered allowed to visit until at least midnight and my sister was going to be just fine. (They even had to explain to me that BP = blood pressure. Duh. You'd think I would have been able to figure that one out on my own.) So, my mom and I went over to the hospital right at noon the next day when they would let us in.

Elsie is adorable, happy, sweet, and sleeps a lot. My sister and brother-in-law are doing great, and everyone is ridiculously happy. 

So, if anyone asks me what's new in my life they'll be shown a bazillion photos of the baby that all look exactly like the other but I SWEAR THEY'RE DIFFERENT BECAUSE SHE'S CLEARLY MAKING A DIFFERENT FACIAL EXPRESSION IN EACH ONE. 

Yup. I'm that aunt and I don't care. 

Also, since we can nick-name her "Elle" you know I'll be buying her a stuffed chihuahua named Bruiser and a pink Harvard Law shirt because... obviously. 

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My Writing Process: Characters

Over the last few months I've been sharing about my process when I am writing a novel. Previously, I wrote about brainstorming, then last month I wrote about outlining. Today, I'll talk about one of my favorite elements.

Creating characters.

For me, characters are one of the most important part of a novel. The plot might be simple, the magic ordinary, writing style not that great, etc. But if you have characters that I can completely fall in love with? Or even characters I may not like, but I find fascinating? I forget about the rest. Characters are the heart of a book and are what make you care about the story.

Then, building relationships around those characters. I love figuring out who is friends with who, their family dynamics, who will fall in and out of love, and seeing the differences between my protagonists and antagonists.  

I will admit, for my current project, Vampire Snow White, figuring out my cast is pretty easy since it's a retelling. The cast is already there for me! Snow White, an evil queen/stepmother, a huntsman, the "prince," the "seven dwarfs," etc. But, the trick was still to find ways to make them unique to my book, and not in a way which is done often and would speak to my story the best. 

The Main Character

This should be pretty obvious, but your main character is the one you should be spending the most time with. It's who the whole book is about after all! The author should know this character the best out of all of them. 

Honestly, I'm slightly in love with my vampire version of Snow White. She completely fascinates me, and I think she's much different than your "typical" Snow White. Making her a vampire, and a particularly old on, gave her a much different vibe than other characters I've written before. I've loved trying to see the world through her eyes.

When you're the scariest thing in the room - what are you afraid of? When you've lived for several centuries, how do you view people and culture? What memories and time periods stand out to you the most? Why does the evil queen want you dead? What did you do to her? What is it about the prince character that you're drawn to? Why would you decide to live in a house with seven strangers? 

Slowly, the pieces of her came together. I also took inspiration from some of my favorite vampire and historical figures I think she would appreciate. Researching the origin of the tale also helped me to shape her character. 

The Antagonist

I love reading and watching a great antagonist. They can make or break a story. But for some reason, I struggle writing them. I'm still working on my evil queen/stepmother character. She just isn't coming to me. 

Maybe I'm just not evil minded enough. Who knows?

But, something I love to do when I have an antagonist is to compare them to my main character. I figure out how they're alike, and then see the ways they're different. Maybe they have similar backgrounds and personality traits, but they make different choices. 

A classic example of this is in Harry Potter. As Harry learns Voldemort's history and plans, he notices that in many ways they are very alike. But, they made very different choices, which makes them excellent foils against one another. 

Visuals

As I've said in previous blog posts, I'm a pretty visual person when it comes to my characters. On my secret Pinterest boards, I pin images of who inspires my characters and it helps a lot. When I was first brainstorming about my "prince" character, he wasn't very clear in my head. He was just "some magic warlock sexy man guy." Then, I saw a photo of an actor and it was like lightening struck. I just though "that's him." All of the sudden I could sense his personality, his background, his style, and his values. He wasn't just the quintessential love interest. He was a person. 

To Keep in Mind

When stuck on a character, the biggest thing to think of always is "what do they want, and what's preventing them from getting it?" Then, from there you can figure out why they want that certain thing, what would be the first things they try, who is in their way, etc. 

Then, I think about their core values. Are they loyal? Are they selfish? Do they put friends or family first? What's the most important thing to them? 

When you know their values, you can think of what would cause them to betray those values. You think about what can make or break the character. What's going to push them to their limits. 

If you do a search on Google or Pinterest, you can find a ton of character sketches which are really helpful to start brainstorming characters. Scrivener has a character sketch template which is pretty bare bones where you can map out some key elements of their physical features, a few personality traits, background information, and a brief bio. For some people that works well. For others, they may want more details and you can find a ton of templates to help figure out the tiniest things like favorite colors, most embarrassing moment, people they admire, and favorite foods. 

For me, I like to do these to an extent, but don't always go full out for each character. Sometimes, they just come to me and develop as I write. But, I do find character sketches useful when I'm getting stuck and they help me dig a bit deeper than just the surface level information. 

Many times, I love to do character interviews. These were fun when I had longer commutes and during my drive I could put on some music and have a "conversation" with a character. It was surprising how much information I had stored away in my head that I didn't realize was there once I started "talking" to them!

Also, I've learned that you don't always have to like a character. But I do find that thinking they are interesting is important. I remember when I read the book Gone Girl that I really didn't like any of the characters. But they were fascinating, so I wanted to keep reading. 

Who are some of your favorite characters from books, TV, or movies? What do you think makes them so great?

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Like what you read? Consider buying me a coffee.

October Reading Round Up

Happy Halloween, friends! If you want a quick, spooky, read check out my post from Friday where I try some Flash Fiction!

For October, I decided to focus my reading on thrillers, horror, and urban fantasy. Or just books which featured Halloween type creatures. Which made this month really fun and a little creepy. What more do you need at Halloween? 

Some notes on how I review:

I rate books on a 5 star scale. One being the lowest, five the highest. Most of the books you see me review will get at least a 3 star rating because I enjoyed it. Usually, if I'm not enjoying a book, I don't finish it, and therefore won't have much of a review. Then, I also have included trigger warnings for those who find those helpful. If there are any I have missed, please let me know. 

These are all of my personal opinions on each book. If you would like plot summaries, click on the title of the book and it will lead you to it's Goodreads page. 

Also, when you see my use of the word "trope," do not take it as a negative comment, particularly with romance books. It is simply a term to express different standards in the genre. (Ex. friends to lovers trope)

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

• Genre: Dark Fantasy
• Format: Hardcover
• Rating: 4 Stars

I started this book in September and finished it at the beginning of October. The only thing with this book is that I personally wasn't able to focus on it as much as I would have liked. I'm not sure what it was, but I don't think I was in the right mindset for it. I may need to go back and do some re-reading at some point. 

But, I will say my favorite part of this book was Mia's emotional arc. It was fascinating to watch her see what she was becoming and having to deal with that and the choices she makes in light of it. It's intense, dark, graphic, and the end was great! If you liked the first book, you'll like this one too. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: The first book Nevernight, you like the idea of the Throne of Glass series but want something more intense and dark, assassins, gladiators
• Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, graphic sexual scenes, slavery, abuse, injury, sickness... basically the whole book is one big trigger warning. It's pretty dark. 

Learn more about Godsgrave here

The Diviners by Libba Bray

• Genre: Young Adult Historical Paranormal
• Format: Audiobook
• Rating: 5 stars

This was my favorite book this month. It was SO SO GOOD. I've been meaning to read it for years and everyone who's read it has told me I'd love it and they were right! 

Evie was such a delightful protagonist being a fun, party-girl, flapper living up life in the 1920s but showing everyone around her she's more than what she appears. But I loved all of the other characters too. It switches between several points of view and towards the end they start to come together, and I can't wait to start the second book to see how they all connect. The 1920s setting was fun, the paranormal mystery was soooooo creepy, and there are some budding romances I'm excited to see develop. This was also perfect for Halloween because it was creepy enough where I had that Halloween feel and got chills, but wasn't so creepy where I had nightmares. 

I listened to the audiobook for this and I highly recommend it. The narrator is amazing and I'll for sure be listening to the remainder of the series. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: other books by Libba Bray, the 1920s, ghost stories, ensemble casts
• Trigger Warnings: mild violence, nightmares, murders (relatively "off screen"), sexism, using religion for violence and hate, hate crimes, ghosts and occult, racism 

Learn more about The Diviners here

Magic Breaks by Illona Andrews

• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Format: Library Paperback
• Rating: 4.5 Stars

I just can't get enough of the Kate Daniels series! It's so perfect and wonderful and there aren't enough words to express how awesome it is! 

I wish I could give more details about this one, but since it's the 7th in the series, I can't share a whole lot without giving away spoilers. The book starts with an intro from the authors saying how it has the feel of a finale, but it's not a finale. It wraps up one story arc, and the next book will continue with another one. It did have that feel a bit, but I definitely could tell the story was still going to go on. The only reason I bumped it down to 4.5 stars is that the first half I had a hard time focusing and getting into it. Which, that's pretty typical for me and these books. But it was worse than usual. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: the other Kate Daniels books, urban fantasy, epic battles, love stories
• Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, torture, starvation

Learn more about Magic Breaks here

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton

• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 3 stars

I've been meaning to try the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter books for a long time now. It's one of the staples of the urban fantasy and helped bring the genre into the spotlight. Halloween was the perfect time to give it a shot.

This book was... okay. The world was interesting and the villain was fantastic. But compared to other urban fantasies, I felt it didn't really live up. If I had read this book as my introduction to urban fantasy as so many other people did, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more. At the same time, I also know that when I start a new urban fantasy series it takes me a couple of books to really get into it. So, that being said, I'll still try the next one or two to see if my opinion changes. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: Vampires, zombies, urban fantasy, books with creepy children antagonists
• Trigger Warnings: violence, sexual abuse, scars

Learn more about Guilty Pleasures here

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

• Genre: Young Adult Slasher/Horror/Thriller
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 3.5 Stars

This was... interesting. I literally never read slasher/horror/thriller books. Or at least it's pretty rare when I do. Back in Jr. High and High School I read some Lois Duncan books (she wrote I Know What You Did Last Summer) but since then... not so much. Therefore, I don't have any reference as to what to compare this book to. 

Stephanie Perkins is popular for her adorable contemporary romances, and I'm a HUGE fan of her books. But, she's a big fan of horror and slasher movies, so she gave writing this book a try. There was definitely the cute teen romance Perkins excels at, and I liked them a lot. (Although, not as much as her others.) The mystery was... fine. There were a couple moments I got creeped out, but not as much as I would have hoped from a book of this genre. But, it was entertaining and a good quick Halloween read.

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: Lois Duncan Books, Slasher Movies, Contemporary Teen Romance, bad-boy-loner trope
• Trigger Warnings: Blood, gore, violent murders, hazing

Learn more about There's Someone Inside Your House here

I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

• Genre: Horror/Thriller
• Format: ebook
• Rating: 5 Stars

This book was the surprise of the month. I read it in practically one sitting and it was incredible. Dan Wells is one of the hosts for my favorite writing podcast, Writing Excuses, and I've been wanting to read one of his books for a while. This one I had found on sale for Kindle a while back and it became a movie so I figured it was a good place to start. I knew I'd probably enjoy it, but not as much as I did. 

I loved that John Cleaver grew up in a morgue because I grew up in a funeral home, so that was really fun for me! And I learned more about body preparation in the first four chapters than I did in the 18 years I lived in a funeral home! 

This book is more of a character study than anything else, and it was fascinating. It was like being in the mind of a serial killer, but the character isn't ACTUALLY a serial killer. Then seeing his spiral downward and the paranormal twist... SO GOOD. This book was incredible and I can't wait to read the next one and watch the movie. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: horror, character studies, psychology, paranormal, unique home settings
• Trigger Warnings: dead bodies, brutal murder, sociopathic tendencies 

Learn more about I Am Not A Serial Killer here

The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu

• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Format: Paperback
• Rating: 3.5 Stars

This book's concept is super fascinating! She's a demon hunter (the last demon hunter) but has these tattoos covering her body which are also demons who protect her. The tattoos are passed down from mother to daughter with each generation. The world was dark and gritty, and I really liked how the focus of the book was more on the bond between mother-daughter-grandmother vs. the romance. There is a romantic interest(who is a Pied-Piper former priest who has to walk with a cane and is AMAZING), but they're already in a committed relationship and it's not the main focus. Which, that is unusual in books in general but particularly for this genre. 

The big thing that made it not a full 4 or 5 star book is that it was hard to follow sometimes. Part of it was also my fault because I was reading it as part of a read-a-thon at the end of October, so I did a lot more speed reading than I normally would have. But, I definitely want to continue with this series. 

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: urban fantasy, own voices, demons, magic, family-focused stories
• Trigger Warnings: abuse, torture

Learn more about The Iron Hunt here

The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson (aka: Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

• Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
• Format: Paperback
• Rating: 3.5 Stars

Surprisingly, I did not read this book because the actress who plays Tara from Buffy wrote it. I found it on the Barnes and Noble website for like $2 and when I realized who the author was it was just an added bonus. 

I really liked how the focus of this book was on the bond of the blood sisters. It's definitely a female-squad-goals type of a book which I really like. You get the different perspectives of each of the sisters and you see flashbacks of what happened in the past which I really enjoyed. Benson has a beautiful writing style as well. It felt a little cramped though. She wanted to put so much into it that things felt rushed. There also were some moments which dealt with sexual abuse and a drugged sex fantasy scene which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. But, I would be open to reading other books in the series.

• You'll like this book if you also enjoy: Movies like Practical Magic and The Craft, witches, magic, squad goals
• Trigger Warnings: sexual and physical abuse

Learn more about The Witches of Echo Park here

Currently Reading:

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

• Genre: Mystery
• Format: Audiobook

With the movie coming out in November, I decided it was high time I read the book. I read And Then There Were None back in Jr. High but nothing else by Agatha Christie. I know, it's a crime.

It's good so far, I'm about halfway through. I'm listening to the audiobook narrated by Dan Stevens (Matthew from Downton Abbey and the beast from Beauty and the Beast ) and OH GOODNESS HE'S AMAZING. All of his voices are perfect! I will definitely listen to other books he's narrated after this. 

Learn more about Murder on the Orient Express here

So, what have you been reading this month? Do you do anything particular to get into the Halloween spirit? 

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Like what you read? Consider buying me a coffee.

Flash Fiction Friday- Under the Bed

I've been brainstorming ways I could try and share my fiction writing with you. Instead of just talking about writing all of the time, I want to show that "Yes! I do actually put words to a page which aren't a blog post!" None of my novels are published (yet), so it's not like I can share a link of where you can purchase one. I thought about maybe sharing peeks at what I'm working on such as sample scenes and chapters, but I'm not sure how publishers and agents feel about that when you're trying to go the traditional route of publishing.

But, what about flash fiction?

Flash fiction is a form of short story where you write something 1000 words or less. I'll be the first to tell you - I'm not good at short stories. I'm a novelist, and a long-winded one at that. Even when I was in elementary school and was told to write a one page story it would end up being at least three. 

Short stories just aren't my thing.

But, I also know it's a good skill to have, and one I should be practicing. This in mind, I thought it might be fun if here and there I added an additional blog post to my schedule where I try some flash fiction.

Have prompt ideas for any future flash fiction? Let me know in the comments, shoot me an email, or reach out via Facebook/Twitter!

Here's something I thought of for Halloween! I had a lot of fun with it, and I hope you do too.

Under the Bed

"And they all lived happily ever after. The end."

I heard the book shut and the mother placed her feet on the ground. I jerked my bony hand underneath the bed before she could step on it. 

"Good night, Sweetie."

The mother's feet made their way to the door until the child cried out. "Check!"

I heard the mother sigh and I slunk further into the shadows. The mother and child knelt down next to my entrance and shone a flashlight. The child's brown pigtails bounced as she examined the area. They couldn't see me in the light. No one could. But I could see them. 

"There's nothing there," the mother reassured her as she helped the girl back into bed.

"But I saw it!"

"It was just a bad dream, Sweetie. But, I can give you Bear. Will that make you feel better?"

I snarled at the sound of Bear's name. I had tried to get to it during the story while they were distracted.

The mother left the room and turned out the light. The glimmer of the moon and stars plugged into the far wall was the only thing which would make me invisible again. The moon couldn't even gaze inside with the dark curtains shut. Now, it was my time.

I waited until the child's breathing slowed as she fell asleep, then slid out of my dark home. Slowly. Slowly. Slowly. It couldn't know I was there. It would ruin everything. My nails gripped the floorboards and made a small creaking sound, and the child gasped. 

I froze. Maybe she would go back to sleep. Something brushed against my hand. 

Aha! Gotcha!

I grasped it in my fist. Something smooth and cool. The girl's foot. 

She yelped and jumped back in bed and I slid my hand back where it was. 

I waited again. I needed to be more patient. She would be asleep soon. I let my breathing slow, matching hers in a peaceful rhythm. When it was safe, I slid out once again. The girl shivered and tugged her blanket close around her tiny body. The bear was snuggled against her chest, dressed in its little knight in shining armor uniform. I swore it smirked at me as I hovered over the bed, my shadowy cape filling the room. 

The bear slid out from the girl's arms and climbed up to the headboard. It lifted it's shield and sword up at me. The shield reflected the night light and it shone upon me, pushing me back away from the bed. 

No. I wouldn't let it get me. I needed to be closer.

I stretched my arms, embracing the air in the room, then pushed it toward the bear in a wave. He fell off the bed and I flew to where he landed. The nightlight no longer reflected off of his shield and he pointed his miniature sword toward me, his arm shaking. I pushed it aside and it slid across the hardwood floor. 

The bear shook as I pinned it to the ground. I had it now.

A small gasp came from the bed. The wind I created had swept off the comforter. Her lip trembled and her eyes sparkled. I swept to her side and held a bony finger to her mouth before she could cry.

"Shhhhhhh." 

Before I could move on, something thudded against my head. The bear had retrieved his sword once again. He reflected the nightlight toward me once again and I flew against the back wall then rushed to my hiding place. 

The girl started to cry and within moments the mother returned, turning on the light, and sat on the bed. She cooed soothing words to the child. I wouldn't be coming out again that night.

I pulled out the small bottle I had snatched from the bear labeled "Child Poison." I sneered then smashed it against the wall. It vanished in a purple haze.

I hadn't intended for the child to wake and cry. But, it didn't matter. She was safe. At least for tonight. 

Stuff

I feel like October has been one big blur. Which, most months kind of go by like that for me, but this month especially. 

It all started the last week of September when I was at work and my mom texted me that she found a condo not too far from us with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, first floor, and pet friendly. (No, this wasn't super random. We've known we'd be moving for some time now, but weren't sure when.) I texted her back that it was great and she should give them a call to check it out. A few hours later she tells me that she already wrote them a check and we could move in October 1.

That was in exactly one week.

Yeah. ONE WEEK.

Thankfully, we were able to keep the old place for another couple of weeks so we could clean out and move things over or put them in storage. After living in the same place for nine years, your stuff starts to pile up. 

Photo by Nastco/iStock / Getty Images

All month, our lives have been consumed with moving. Packing, unpacking, throwing things away, deciding what was worth keeping and what wasn't. Apparently in the process we accidentally forgot to bring with us the kitchen pan covers and our kitchen towels. Whoops. 

Moving is not only time consuming, but it's hard too. Particularly when you need to get rid of things. We've been trying to prepare ourselves for this and clearing out unwanted or unneeded items for awhile. But, when it comes down to the wire, you need to make some tough choices. 

A friend of mine, Sarah, has been going minimalist and has launched a great blog about it. I've been going to her for advice on purging our closets and basement, but even with all of her wonderful guidance we still had so much stuff. 

Things from the funeral home and my dad's office. Old childhood things. Items handed down from previous generations. I'll admit, a lot of it was junk and things we don't need. But a lot of it wasn't. How do you decide to get rid of a lamp your grandmother made? Or plates you don't necessarily like, but have been in the family for years?

And we had a lot of random stuff too which I'm sure other households don't. Things like ashes from the funeral home family members never picked up years ago. Or all of the x-ray files from all of the broken bones and surgeries I've had. And a printed out copy of the first full-length novel I wrote in high school. (I still haven't dared to read it because I'm sure it's awful.) Stuff piles up.

You'd think that purging would be easy. If you haven't used it or doesn't bring you joy, get rid of it. But for some reason, it's harder than it sounds. As I've been telling my family, "it's just stuff." But I'm also convincing myself of it. I know we can't take it with us, and these things don't last. Yet, it's still difficult. Things are complicated. 

We made it though, Most of the boxes in the condo are unpacked and everything else is in the garage. It was nice to see that a majority of our neighbors also used their garages for storage and parked their cars outside. 

Looks like we all have stuff.