Life Subplots
Between the epic Silmaril Awards (thank you all for you wonderful enthusiasm!), catching up with friends, gardening, sort-of bingeing Stranger Things, editing, and lots of rain… well, it’s been a busy month!
Not that rain makes things busy. I’m not sure why I added that to the list, except that it’s kind of an autumnal aesthetic.
Screen Storylines
Stranger Things Season 1
I UNDERSTAND THE HYPE NOW. This show is crazy addicting, with amazing writing. I blazed through episodes two to eight this month and finished season 1! I’m not usually one to binge shows, but some friends and I packed in half of this season in one night, haha.
Already I want to rewatch it and take notes on the plotting and characterization. Well, after I watch the next two seasons, that is!
Once Upon a Time Season 4 & Season 7
Just a couple rewatched episodes of Season 4 (which brings my siblings and I to about the halfway point), and three episodes of Season 7 with my sisters only. My thoughts on both seasons are pretty much the same as last month.
The Flash Season 4
Watched two episodes this month. They weren’t my favorite, but I’m still excited to see where the season goes.
Exo: Climb the Ladder Season 2
Saying I saw seven episodes of this sounds like a lot, but they’re so short, it’s really not. Still having fun watching my/my sisters’ favorite kpop band on their travels.
Page Subplots
THE WAY OF SHADOWS // BRENT WEEKS // 3 STARS
Okay, I read mostly YA. But The Way of Shadows is adult fantasy. Grimdark adult fantasy, at that. There is a spark of hope, but you have to wade through over 500 pages of heavy darkness to find it. So let me start out with the disclaimer that I don’t recommend it for younger readers, or even teen readers. (For a more details, you can click the link to my full review under the book.)
Besides the content, I found it hard at times to keep track of the large cast of characters and all their subplots, and grew weary of how few truly good people there were. Even the mentor character was unlikable most of the time.
That was… sort of the point, though. Our main hero, Kylar (the apprentice of a “wetboy,” aka assassin) is on a dramatic arc of growth. By the end, I could see why he begins in such a dark place, and I’m hopeful about where the series will take him. Vengeance, justice, and mercy show up in startling places.
Some other things I liked…
- The plot twists had plot twists, with all the important clues buried deep in what initially looks like simply worldbuilding
- Some gut-punching character deaths
- One fantastic prophet who’s slowly going mad
- A cool magic system
All in all, I had pretty conflicted feelings about this book. But I really do appreciate what the author said about it:
“Hope isn’t vibrant unless it has to be chosen over despair. Redemption is cheap unless there’s a suffocating darkness in which even the hero is tempted to hide.”
Brent Weeks
THE HUNTERS // JOHN FLANAGAN // 4 STARS
Ah, it’s been a while since I visited the world of Brotherband/Ranger’s Apprentice. Reading this took me back a few years! I loved the classic Flanagan-style humor, suspense, ships, characters being clever, and simple plotline. One scene in particular where Hal and his crew have to navigate some wicked rapids was a lot of fun!
It took about 100 pages to get the main story rolling, and the villain wasn’t quite as smart and scary as I’d hoped he’d be. But with pirates, revenge, and the end of a wild goose chase, I enjoyed this one!
AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS // MARGARET ROGERSON // 5 STARS
MY FAVORITE BOOK THIS MONTH. I fell in love within a few pages and proceeded to ignore several responsibilities for five days so I could finish reading! In this world, fair folk and mankind have a tenuous relationship based on the creative craft that humans provide in exchange for enchantments. Of course, such enchantments rarely end well.
I adored the main characters—smart, careful, creative Isobel (a young artist) and vain, lonely, hilarious Rook (the autumn prince). The entire supporting cast was great too—Isobel’s mischievous twin sisters, the enigmatic Gadfly, the chilling Hunstman, all of them. Plus, the prose flowed so elegantly, painting scenes as rich as Isobel’s artwork. (I just want to live in the autumn realm, okay.) And gosh, I won’t delve into spoiler territory, but I’m a sucker for love stories woven with magic and strong themes, and THIS IS IT.
I didn’t love the obligatory make-out scene, unfortunately. But other than those two-pages, this is an utterly LOVELY book. I’m so glad the contents lived up to that gorgeous cover. Isobel and Rook are precious, and I love how their story explores what it means to be human, to create, and to love.
Written Storylines
September started out with brainstorming what to fix in draft 6 of The Brightest Thread! I feel like I have a better handle on my next action steps now. Throughout the month, I addressed some of the issues in the first half (chapters 3 to 17, to be precise)… but there’s plenty more to revise in the second half!
This stage of editing is always weird. I have to work up the courage to make big-ish changes, and it feels like the book is a strange Frankenstein creature, with nothing fitting together the way it should. But when it’s all done and I take a step back, I know it’ll work.
On top of that editing, I also took a few days to write and edit a short story called Petrichor, which landed at 2400 words. Wish me luck—it’s going to be entered into a contest this month!
AND… cue gasps… I started plotting my first-ever NaNoWriMo project!!! Keep a lookout for more details on what I’ll be writing!
So glad your enjoying Stranger Things! Who is your favorite so far?
I loved Enchantment of Ravens too! Despite that one scene, so unnecessary, but her writing style is stunning.
Oooo, that’s tricky. I LOVE the “main” four (Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will)… but also Joyce and Hopper… I’m not a fan of Steve, but so many people love him that I suspect he has an upward arc in the next season! 😛 Who’s your favorite?
Yay! I didn’t know you’d read it too. Such gorgeous prose, I agree! <3
Happy October, Skye!
STRANGER THIIIIINGS. YOU UNDERSTAND NOW! SO MUCH GOODNESS. Although I’ve still not watch the 3rd season. SHAMEFUL. I just haven’t had tiiime. And I’d love to rewatch the first two season…with pen and paper at hand, YEP. Because the writing. UGH. How do they make you care so much??? I must learn their secrets!
I was sad to hear everyone say how much content Brent Weeks’ books have, because he was such a great keynote speaker at RM. Buuuut yeah, I’m not sure I want to wade through that much content. I guess there’s a time and place for it if you’re making a point but…eh. Conflicting feelings there.
BUT ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS NOW. I MUST HAVE IIIITTTT. I’ve had my eye on that one for a while now, and hearing your talk about it is confirming my utter NEED for it. Gimme gimme gimme!!!
Soooooo excited about all the writing updates. Editing and short story writing and NaNo plotting YES. GO, TRACEY! And just EEP. Our Tracey is doing NaNo! I can’t stop screaming about it. It’s gonna be AMAZING! Can’t wait to hear more about your novel! 😀
I LOVE IT SO MUUUUUCH. There’s a tad more language than I’d prefer, especially coming from kids, but the WRITING. *faints from the sheer brilliance* I definitely need to watch with a pen and paper at hand too. I hope you get to see season 3 soon! I just started season 2 last week. 😀
I know! I’m still sorting through my thoughts on “The Way of Shadows” even though I’ve already written my review. There is a time/place for content, but I’m a little torn on the amount of it there… *shrugs*
YOU MUSSSST, CHRISTINE! I think you’d ADORE “An Enchantment of Ravens.” The characters are fantastic and the writing is gorgeous and the fair folk are so fascinating! I’m so eager to see what you think of it.
Eeek, thank you!!! I cannot WAIT. And your Know the Novel linkup is going to help so much–both in helping me plot and in giving me a framework to share more details with y’all. 😉 Hope your Preptober is going well!
There’s been quite a bit of rain over in my area, too. I find rain can make things busy, actually. A lot of rain means a lot of reading, a lot of illustrating, a lot of entertaining cooped-in kiddies, and– if I’m being especially good– a lot of writing.
I’ll have to check out An Enchantment of Ravens. I think I’ve heard it praised before, and it sounds interesting (aside from that one bit).
You too, huh? That does sound like a lot of busy (but mostly fun) things. 🙂 One has to get creative when kiddos are stuck indoors! I hope your writing is going splendidly.
It’s one of my favorite books so far this year! 98% perfection, haha. 😉
Best of luck with the contest, Tracey! I’m about to sub a short story somewhere myself. It’s an online magazine, not a contest, but it’s the first time I’ve subbed anything this year. Glad you liked An Enchantment of Ravens. I liked it too (besides that one Scene we both didn’t care for. :p). I’m casually participating in Nano but don’t yet have the ability to hit 50k in one month. There will be many sprints going on though and those help me make progress, so ever since last year, I’ve decided to just tag along. :p Any progress is good progress, especially since my brain decided I MUST buckle down and get a complete draft of my epic portal fantasy done.
Ooooh, good luck to you as well! 😀 Let me know how that goes. Putting yourself and your writing out there is such a courageous step.
Glad you enjoyed Enchantment as well! Wasn’t it beautiful?
You’re a NaNo rebel, yay! The enthusiasm of all the NaNo-ers is contagious, so I hope the sprints and shared energy make it a great writing month for you. 🙂 (Also… portal fantasy??? *grins* I love that genre.)
I reaaally want to watch Stranger Things, I hear only good things about it XD
Good luck with the contest and Nano! 😮
It’s suuuper creepy, haha! But just ask Lostfairy… I can’t stop talking about it. XD
Thanks, Sarah! <3
Oh, maybe I should give Stranger Things a second chance … I don’t know ;p
And that dark fantasy sounds good if not only because I love finding hope in the darkest of places ;D
MB> keturahskorner.blogspot.com
PB> thegirlwhodoesntexist.com
How much of it have you seen?
Yeah, maybe give it a read, then! It’s got a lot of cool elements, and I do want to read books 2 and 3 to see how it ends. 😉