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Books, Out of the Box Blogs, Reviews

What’s too far in fantasy books?

Karen

I follow a few different fantasy and urban fantasy series and in the last year I’ve noticed an unfortunate trend, authors going too big with they’re characters and story lines. You see the beautiful thing to me about fantasy is that it can be anywhere and be about anything. So how does an author go too big? These are the things that have been series killers for me:

  1. Over complicated story lines. There is nothing quite like finding out that a great book you read is going to become a series. But when you get into books 3 and 4 and suddenly they completely change the story line or make the plot so complicated it’s ridiculous that’s frustrating to me as a reader. Listen if you, as an author, don’t want to write it anymore or just creativity can’t, then don’t. I know, I know, your saying but if it’s in the series you get guaranteed 5 stars from fans or maybe even you’re under contract. Think about this though what if I have someone read book four first then try to go back and read book one? Would they be confused with the stories even connecting? Sometimes you don’t even have the same characters. If you find that to be true then I’m probably going to stop reading your series.
  2. Unbelievable characters. Again this is fantasy, keep in mind readers do accept unbelievable things in fantasy. Want wings to suddenly pop out of your characters back? A-okay! But when the same character also breathes fires, is invincible and can be chopped in half by a sword and come back to life, come on. The worst is when they are horrible people treating everyone around them terribly why they themselves cry about being forgiven for every minor infraction. The result? Everyone loves them or wants to be them. I just threw up a little in my mouth. Honestly I’ve never wished for so many characters to die at the end of they’re books! But how, they’re invincible!
  3. Long, drawn out books. They’re are books I read that I never want to end, and in fantasy world building takes time so I get that some books will be a bit longer than others. But if the first book was 300 pages, with all the character intros and world building, and the new book is 800 pages some editing maybe required. There is an art in being able to tell a story in 300-400 pages and I appreciate those who do.
  4. Character addition. Stories will grow and with that characters are going to be added, I get that and support it. But when each book adds 5-10 characters and very few are being taken away, I’m starting to lose track. The main character is constantly talking to all these people I can’t remember and honestly it makes me start to lose focus on the story. When that happens I start to lose interest in the series.

I’m not an author so I can’t imagine how hard it is to keep a story line alive but I am a reader and I just can’t take it! Something different make you crazy? Comment. Don’t like my list, make your own…

Out of the Box Blogs

Black Widow Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

Les

Let me start by saying this book isn’t my usual genre, it is more Kar’s style than mine. However, that being said I told you guys that I read ANY book that catches my attention. Well this one caught it my attention.

I feel like I owe you guys a little background on me. I may be a nerd, but I do not read comic books. I am just not cool enough for that! So I knew nothing of the Avengers, or any other comic book people, with exception to Batman or Superman. Oh and Spiderman, but these only from TV. Any way Kar gave me a 1 1/2 hour lecture on who the Avengers are and all of their stories before dragging me to the most recent movie, which I owed her since I drug her to see 50 shades. HA! Poor Kar!

Ok so with the little knowledge I have I was interested in this book, which dun, dun, dun, has the Avengers in it. This is about the Black Widow Natasha, and two teenagers. It starts with action, then calms down, them throws you back into it full force. I also must say I have read Margaret Stohl before and love a lot of her stories. This one is no different. I loved it.

The main characters, are all different. Natasha is a secret agent for the S.H.I.E.L.D. government agency, and works with the avengers. She is hard and does what is necessary to survive and save the world.  She is also damaged as is Ava. Ava is a homeless teenager, who is bitter, lonely, and always looking over her shoulder. While Alex lives with his mom and is lively, but always getting into trouble, he likes to fight.

Ava’s dreams lead her into a world she thought she escaped, and all her bitterness to the front. Together they all must work together to fight the bad guys. But can they do it?

Well you will just have to read it to find out!

I love how it tells from each persons perspective and the interview parts with Natasha in between the chapters. She is kind of a smart ass.

I feel like I have been choosing great books lately, and I hope my luck holds. I really think Kar should read this one and tell you her thoughts.

Peace out

Les

Books, Reviews

Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh

Karen

I have been reading Nalini for years so when Netgalley offered me a copy of this book for an honest review I almost fell out of my chair, but I looked at it like any other.

This was my favorite of the Rock Kiss series. The book opens with a big emotional situation and it’s like a car wreck, I knew I was going to be bad but couldn’t stop. That was the hook, and at this point I had to know how she was going to build this story. Then you had the push and pull where you wanted to protect Kit, because of what Noah did, but at the same time you wanted to help Noach because he was so broken and the best way to help Noah according to him in the book? Kit. I don’t know if I agreed with him, but like Fox said who am I to say what he should do to fix himself. I was completely immersed, couldn’t put the book down, and felt like the story was well paced, well put, and written to perfection. The romance I felt was one of the best parts, not hurried so we would have a build up with the characters. I enjoyed that it took a little longer and they didn’t jump into bed right after they saw each other again. Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

This book will be available on October 6th.

Out of the Box Blogs

Confessions of a former Tom Cat by Daisy Prescott

Les

This is an amazing Story! I loved it! The characters are written well and they are believable as real people. Tom and Idaho are awesome.

Ok, so this is a very funny story about Tom a tomcat (playboy) who has no plans to settle down, and only does one night. While he is upfront about it, he can be a jerk and the girls still eat it up (like me, I love jerks). Enter Idaho, who is engaged to a douche bag and has always been one of the guys. Then it gets interesting and crazy. This book had me laughing literally out loud. I am glad I took a chance on this book, that was recommended to me. This is one of those rare finds with characters you believe they are real, and you are right there with them. Go read this book! Take a chance on this one, you won’t regret it.

So, if you read any of my other posts, you know I will never go into great detail, because I want you to experience the book through your own perspective, not mine.