Subplots & Storylines: May, June, & July 2019

You read that title right—we are going to fly through the happenings of THREE whole months, so buckle up!

Last time I wrote a Subplots & Storylines post, I had just graduated college and started a new job. In the time since then, I’ve been running on too much coffee and too little sleep as I figure out a new balance to life.

Life Subplots

• My actual college graduation ceremony // To be honest, it was a whole lot of boring before and after the one victorious moment when I walked across the stage to accept my diploma.
• Moved from Blogger to a self-hosted WordPress domain // I learned heaps and still have much to figure out. And I’m planning to make it possible for you to subscribe by email as soon as I can!
• Two weddings & a murder mystery birthday party
• Gardening & sunshine
• Enjoying my job // I work with great people and am continually pushing my abilities as a writer and marketer.
• Family vacation // Lakefront relaxation and TONS of reading, ice cream, fries, and sleeping in = exactly what I needed.
• Realm Makers! // In case you missed it, last week I posted a full recap HERE.

Screen Storylines

May

THOR (rewatch) // Josiah and I are slowly catching our sisters up on Marvel. This one isn’t my favorite film in the franchise, but I do like it.

DETECTIVE PIKACHU // Saw this in theatres with my siblings! It was better than I expected; even cute or amusing at some parts.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE // I was prepared for a cheesy Christian flick, but this one was actually very moving. Bart Millard (of the band MercyMe) has quite the story, and his relationship with his dad made me CRY.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME (rewatch) // Y’all know how much I love it!

June

CAPTAIN MARVEL (rewatch) // Still good the second time around! I actually think I liked the plot more upon revisiting it.

THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (rewatch) // Hilarious and self-aware, with awesome animation.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3: THE HIDDEN WORLD // Hiccup has grown up so much! *sobs* This was a solid conclusion to the HTTYD series. Grimmel was a cool villain, Toothless was his adorable self, and the soundtrack was—as usual—fabulous.

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET 2 (rewatch) // Still funny and even heartwarming upon a second viewing!

July

DIVERGENT (rewatch) // I watched it in preparation for my Tris Prior cosplay, just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. There were a few things that didn’t age that well, like Tris’s opening and ending voiceovers. (I just think there are more skillful ways to start a movie, personally, and that narration should be used sparingly or for very good reasons.) But other than that, I still love this movie!

TV Shows

Since my progress on shows is ridiculously slow, I thought I’d throw them all together here at the end of the “Screen Storylines” section.

ONCE UPON A TIME SEASON 4 // Rewatched 2 episodes. The Snow Queen is one of my least favorite OUAT villains, especially with her saccharine voice, so I’ll be glad to finish up the first half of the season.

ONCE UPON A TIME SEASON 7 // Watched 1 episode. Ehhh… My sisters and I keep a running snarky commentary as we watch, unfortunately. But the episode we saw featured a new character, Tilly, and I like her!

THE FLASH SEASON 4 // Watched 2 episodes. It’s still early to say, but it’s looking like it’ll be a good season. I’ve missed Team Flash and hope to watch more soon!

STRANGER THINGS SEASON 1 // Watched 1 episode. I don’t have Netflix, but I got to see the first episode at a friend’s placed and I. Am. Hooked. IT’S SO GOOD. I have one or two content-related quibbles, but from a storytelling perspective, the characters, mood, setting—it’s all stuck in my mind and I MUST WATCH MORE.

EXO: CLIMB THE LADDER SEASON 2 // My sisters and I started a… I don’t know, does it count as a kdrama if it’s about a real-life kpop band? It’s cute, anyway, and brings lots of laughs.

Page Subplots

I’ve got to keep these reviews mini-sized because there are 12 books to talk about! But the links under the book covers lead to my full Goodreads reviews if you’re interested.

May

THE ERRANT KING // WAYNE THOMAS BATSON // 3.5 stars

Rereading book 2 right on the heels of book 1, Sword in the Stars (which I finished in April), was a good idea. The details were fresh in my mind. But I have to admit, I wish this book had taken an extra trip to the editor’s desk.

I loved most of the vibrant cast of characters (especially Lochlan, Alastair, Telwyn, and Cythraul), and that we got to explore the vastness of Myriad. There’s great action (particularly the barrows scene… *shivers*) and a Smaug-like dragon who causes a catastrophic ending.

However, the real plot took a long time to get going, there were recurring typos, one pair of characters seemed to exist solely to give the reader a view of some far-away action, and Ariana came across as a whiny love interest to me.

The last 200 pages were worth first 300 of build-up, though, and I need book 3 soon!

THE PROGENY // TOSCA LEE // 5 stars

It sounds cliche, but I was well and truly hooked from page one! I’d forgotten how much I love a good thriller. And Tosca Lee is a master at them.

One of my favorite tropes is lost memories, and it’s pulled off so well here. The heroine, Audra, had depth and real flaws; and the love interest—I can’t say his name because of spoilers—was fantastic! He goes to such lengths to keep her safe. (YOU PEOPLE BETTER NOT HURT HIM, OKAY.) I also loved the European setting, Bathory history, underground masquerade raves, all the riddles, and races against the clock. Plus, the plot twists kept happening right until the FINAL PAGE.

Be aware there are a few fade-to-black sex scenes. It’s all off-camera, and something spoilery kind of redeemed that aspect for me, but… *zips lips*

Anyway, The Progeny truly was a thrilling ride from start to finish. Unexpected, emotional, gripping—highly recommend!

June

ACCELERANT // RONIE KENDIG // 3 stars

I read Accelerant during a very busy month. That usually makes a book harder to get into, and for that I feel sorry. I felt like the plot went in circles and that the large cast of characters was a bit hard to keep track of.

But I ship one of the side couples a lot! Also, our hero, Haegan, doesn’t hate his father—miracle of miracles! Legier’s Heart was a nicely developed corner of the world, with a bitterly cold mountain setting and a unique social structure. And several action scenes would make for awesome movie battles.

Ronie is an absolute sweetheart (whom I loved meeting at Realm Makers), so I’m sad that I didn’t fully click with Accelerant. It does have a great concept, a huge world, and cool worldbuilding, though!

TO BEST THE BOYS // MARY WEBER // 5 stars

I’m so, so glad this book lived up to—and surpassed—all the hype that surged at the time of its release. I was somewhat concerned that it’d be a heavy-handed feministic sermon, but it turned out to be the best novel dealing with feminism that I’ve ever read!

Okay, but let’s chat about the characters for a sec. Rhen was super relatable, with her big heart, steady logic, and occasional awkwardness. Lute… *swoons* He’s both strong and sweet, and treats people with the utmost respect. And warmhearted and spunky Seleni was the perfect balance of “traditional” feminity alongside Rhen’s more academic desires.

I also adored the light fantasy setting and the Labyrinth concept. The whole thing is a blend of Jane Austen, The Scorpio Races, The Maze Runner, and even The Hunger Games.

The book was SO quotable, and full of tastefully written themes. Mary Weber painted a true-to-life picture of the many stripes of femininity and does the same for the male cast. We see women who want to build a family, those who want to pursue a career, girls who tear each other down, and those who have each other’s backs. We see small-minded men, men who view women as objects, but we also see good men.

All around, one of my favorite books this year!

ASH AND QUILL // RACHEL CAINE // 4.5 stars

Ash and Quill is just as atmospheric and clever and tense as the first two books in the Great Library series. But the horrors of war are wearing down on Jess and his friends… and the sides are growing increasingly muddied. How far are they willing to go? I don’t always enjoy morally grey characters, but in this case, the choices being made and the arcs being developed feel like fascinating pieces of a greater puzzle.

As usual, I loved the setting. This time it’s a patchwork version of Philadelphia that’s been under siege for a century. Rachel Caine’s writing made me feel like I was right there in prison as Greek fire exploded overhead!

I’m also still enjoying the camaraderie between the characters, and I’m terrified for Jess. He’s never been a hero in the purest sense of the word, but this book sees him grow more desperate… and I guess book 4 will show where that lands him.

I wasn’t a fan of some fade-to-black scenes between Jess and Morgan (which weren’t somewhat redeemable like those I mentioned in The Progeny), and I’m also still in disagreement over Wolfe and Santi’s relationship. Completely adore them as individual characters, but not as a couple.

ROMANOV // NADINE BRANDES // 5 stars

“The bond of our hearts spans miles, memory, and time.”

This book was a beautiful tribute to the Romanov family. I didn’t know anything about their story until reading this historical-fantasy retelling—but the love of Jesus that they exemplified while in exile is so inspiring.

Nastya was an incredibly strong heroine in the face of heartbreaking tragedy. Her little brother, Alexei, was so precious and wise and one of my favorite characters. The two of them have an adorable sibling relationship! And Zash! He’s complicated, but my heart ached for him. I also enjoyed the magic. While much less prominent than that of Fawkes, the spell ink and Matryoshka doll were so interesting.

THE SHADOW QUEEN / C.J. REDWINE // 4.5 stars

This one’s an action-packed retelling of Snow White, with a princess who is anything but helpless and a king-turned-huntsman who can shift into a dragon at will. I loved that Lorelai (Snow White) didn’t let fear cripple her. It took me a bit to warm up to Kol (the huntsman), but their romance was pretty sweet, especially since they helped each other before ever falling in love.

Ravenspire is such a classic fairytale setting, and the whole thing gave me Once Upon a Time vibes! The magic system was cool and brought a physical toll to those who used it. Side note: there’s a gyrfalcon named Sasha with a telepathic link to Lorelai, and her bird-like dialogue is the BEST.

Docking half a star due to some light info-dumping. I’m also “meh” about shapeshifters who lose their clothing when they shift back to human form—it was played for laughs here, but still a bit awkward.

Overall, this was a really fun addition to my fairytale retelling library, and I’m excited that all the Ravenspire books can be read as standalones!

IRON MAN: THE GAUNTLET // EOIN COLFER // 4 stars

A fun book! It captured Tony Stark’s voice wonderfully, particularly the Robert Downey Jr. flavor. Lots of humor and one-liners that had me snickering out loud.

The plot was basically a series of showdowns with the Mandarin, so it felt like one giant 3rd act (an interesting choice in terms of pacing). And it took place in Ireland! I wasn’t very invested in the larger stakes at play, but I did care about Tony and another character name Saoirse, so that helped make up for it.

My brother recommended this to me, and I’m glad he did!

LUCKY IN LOVE // KASIE WEST // 5 stars

I’m SO glad to have found someone who writes *clean* YA romance! It’s been a while since I’ve read anything in that genre, but I wanted something I could fly through in a day. This was it. And it was stinkin’ adorable.

I loved the main characters: Maddie, a studious high schooler working hard to earn a scholarship; and Seth, who loves filmmaking. They work at the zoo together and are absolutely precious. Everyone’s dialogue was smooth and snappy, and there were realistic family/financial issues at play.

There were a few things I wanted to have bigger consequences, but it didn’t detract much from my enjoyment. I’ll be on the hunt for more Kasie West books next time I want to take a break from universe-shattering fantasy novels!

WONDERS NEVER CEASE // TIM DOWNS // 4.5 stars

You don’t often read a story told from the antagonist’s perspective. The antagonist in question is Kemp McAvoy, an utter scumbug who schemes to manufacture an angelic experience by manipulating a famous actress who’s in an induced coma. Yep. And then he plans to turn her “angelic visit” into a bestselling book. Ick.

Don’t worry, there were good people to cheer for instead, especially Leah (a little girl who claims to actually see angels), and Emmett (the kindly hospital janitor). I liked that the story didn’t draw any conclusions but rather encouraged me to consider whether I’m WILLING to believe something outside my normal paradigm.

It wasn’t my favorite Tim Downs book, but still had a great sense of humor and pacing.

(...Yeah. Clearly June was a great reading month! Going away for a week of vacation and turning off all internet devices is my favorite.)

July

RED RISING // PIERCE BROWN // 4 stars

Whoa. I’ve been wanting to read this for a couple years now, but I had no idea how intense it would be. Darrow’s tale is not for the faint of heart, and it’s definitely not YA, as I’d weirdly assumed. It’s brutal, cunning, and bloody, and riddled with quite a bit of language. But I somehow loved the story anyway. It looked at the depravity of mankind and asked, “Can we be better?”

A few things I enjoyed… Darrow’s transformation was dramatic, Mustang kept me on my toes (love that girl), and Sevro and his Howlers were epic. The genre straddles the line between fantasy and sci-fi, and although it’s revolution story, Darrow’s not the first “chosen one” to be prepared for his role. (Thank you, Mr. Brown.) And there are consequences. BIG ones. Heart-wrenching and gut-turning ramifications that made me care.

I would’ve pared down the language if given the chance, along with the crude terminology bandied about. Also, due to a few off-screen rapes that occur, I wouldn’t recommend this book for anyone under 16. As a whole, though, a very thought-provoking start to the series.

STRANGE THE DREAMER // LAINI TAYLOR // 5 stars

Excuse me, I’ve fallen into a book and can’t get up.

Strange the Dreamer came highly recommended to me, but I knew next to nothing of what it was ABOUT. But the moment I opened it to the first page, that prologue sucked me in. And then chapter one introduced me to Lazlo Strange himself, and that’s when I fell in love.

Lazlo is a junior librarian and a passionate bookworm with a heart of gold. His nose was broken by a book of fairytales when he was younger, so how perfect can you get? I ship him with Sarai, the daughter of a goddess, sooo much. (She has a great arc, by the way.)

The writing is magical. The dialogue and imagery are rich. And the DREAMS. Good heavens, those scenes were amazing. (And you can bet I’ll be using this as a comparative title when pitching The Brightest Thread one day.)

My only quibbles are that some kisses take 2-3 pages to describe, Ruby-and-Feral scenes were a little TMI if you get my meaning, and there are a few mentions of a lesbian couple.

Otherwise, this book was just about perfect. I found myself grinning like a dork or gasping aloud while reading, and that ending B R O K E me. (Thank goodness there’s a sequel.) It’s a magical, lush, golden tale populated by winsome characters and an unexpected vein of truth. Truth about the power of stories and dreams, the strength of undeserved goodness, and mercy in the face of prejudice.

Also I just want Lazlo to be a real person, thanks. <3

This is one of my favorite books of the year—hence this review getting too long! Highly, highly recommend!

Written Storylines

May

In May, I wrote and edited a flash fiction titled Ordained… which is the one that got published (as a staff feature) in Havok’s Rebirth anthology, alongside a few friends like Christine and Savannah and a pile of other talented writers!

I also picked up The Brightest Thread again for the first time in nine months: I read over the first 11 chapters, then went on to edit chapters 12-13.

June

Not much happened here! I edited chapters 14-15 of The Brightest Thread.

July

As you know, I participated in Camp Nano, where my goal was to finish editing TBT. That… did not happen, unsurprisingly. But I did manage to edit eight chapters (16-23)! Here’s hoping I can wrap up this round of edits by September or so.

Whew. If you stuck with me that long, you’re a real trooper! tell me how YOUR summer is going!