Blog - Page 8 of 30 - Gary David Gillen

Writing Progress Report January 2022

Writing Progress Report January 2022.

This is my Writing Progress Report January 2022.

Hey Ollie! Do you like the snow?

Writing Progress from December 2021.

I wrote two blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my writing progress report for December 2022, linked below.

Writing Progress Report December 2021

In December 2021, the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio skipped this month’s meeting.

I submitted my story “Explosion at Ceres Space Station” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library in December 2021.

I completed the first draft of my novel Assassin in New Marl City in July 2018. It had 99,981 words and 36 chapters. Completed pre-second draft (30 chapters long) in December 2018. It had 89,072 words. Finished the second draft edits in December 2019 which completed the second draft edit. I started writing a new chapter 1 in February 2020. Finished it in April 2020. The third draft will have 32 Chapters. I finished the third draft edits on Chapter 3 in July 2020. I hope to reset the novel and complete the revisions in 2022.

Writing Progress from December 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in December 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I have submitted in 2020 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from December 2021.

I have no events to report this month.

Writing Goals for January 2022.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for January 2022.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 16 in February 2022 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library. (The group is skipping having a meeting in January 2022.)

In January 2022, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in January 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In January 2022, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Submit the stories Space-Dog Confession, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, Grognard, LARP Film noir, Sleeping Sickness, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, and Caliburnus. to other short fiction magazines.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for January 2022 continued.

In January 2022, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for January 2022.

The next event I would like to attend is ConFusion Detroit in January 2022. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. I would like ConFusion 2022 to be my next in-person con.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

This is the phoenix logo for Rising ConFusion, rising out of the ashes of COVID-19.

Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Book #1 of the Broken Earth trilogy

Introduction

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin follows three different narratives. It’s set in the Stillness, a post-apocalyptic or possibly a second-world fantasy land. Essun is a teacher in a small town hiding from her past until someone murders her son and her daughter goes missing. These events send her on a quest to recover her daughter. Damaya is a young girl who shows signs of having Orogeny, the ability to manipulate energy. A guardian arrives to take her to a school where she can learn her skill up to her potential. Syenite is a breeder. Her next assignment is to breed with and learn from a stronger male Orogenist. The three tales intersect and come to a dramatic conclusion which is expanded on in the second novel of the trilogy, The Obelisk Gate.

Summary

The novel follows the stories of Essun, Damaya, and Syenite. Each chapter has a different viewpoint and the viewpoints do not intersect, though it is explained by the end of the novel how they are related. Two Interludes provide important information that can’t be contained in the other chapters.

Essun’s story is told in the second person. It’s like an unknown narrator is telling Essun’s story to her. Essun finds out her son is dead and her daughter has been taken. She decides to leave the town of Tirimo to search for her daughter. On her quest, she meets and travels with the mysterious Hoa and Tonkee, a woman without a community. Her quest leads to further revelations.

Damaya’s story is told in the third person. Damaya shows signs of possessing ability as an Orogenist. Guardian Schaffa takes her to the Fulcrum to be trained in Orogeny. She does well in learning and seeks the secrets of the Fulcrum. A still named Binof helps her in her search.

Syenite’s story is also in the third person. She is a breeder. Orogeny is an inherited trait, so there is a breeding program at the Fulcrum. She is assigned to Alabaster. He is a ten-ringer, the strongest level of Orogenist. She travels with him to the town of Allia. Alabaster has a mission in Allia. They learn secrets they should not have learned involving an obelisk.

The three stories are tied together and the stage is set for the second novel of the trilogy.

Recommendation

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin is a challenging novel to read, but it is a great novel. Do not DNF it, please stick with it, because it will make sense by the end. The prologue begins with an unknown narrator who is talking to someone, revealed to be Essun in the first chapter. Essun’s chapters are all in second person and past tense. Usually, the second-person point of view is difficult to read but I like its use here. Damaya and Syenite’s sections are in third person and present tense. These transitions are hard for the reader, but it pays off by the end of the story. I think what hooked me on the novel was Damaya’s tale since she’s in a kind of twisted Harry Potter story. I’m looking forward to reading the other two novels next year.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38213103-the-fifth-season

Another book that reminds me of Fifth Season is Ancillary Justice. One is fantasy and the other science fiction, but they remind me of each other, in the sense that both break old tropes of the genre. They are both kind of like Science Fiction Fantasy in the old-school sense.

In Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Breq plans her revenge on the Lord of the Radch. Her plans are in jeopardy when Breq befriends the disgraced former Captain Seivarden Vendaai. Will Breq carry out her goals or will the powerful Lord defeat her? This is a link to my review.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Writing Progress Report December 2021

This is my Writing Progress Report December 2021.

I had a nice lunch at the Welshfield Inn on December 17, 2021.

Writing Progress from November 2021.

I wrote two blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my writing progress report for November 2021, linked below.

Writing Progress Report November 2021

In November 2021, I couldn’t complete a chapter from my novel titled Cuba Liberto for the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library due to my back injury.

I submitted my story “The Crystal Ship” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library in November 2021.

I completed the first draft of my novel Assassin in New Marl City in July 2018, totaling 99,981 words and 36 chapters. Completed pre-second draft (30 chapters long) in December 2018 at 89,072 words. Finished the second draft edits in December 2019 to complete the second draft edit. I started writing a new chapter 1 in February 2020 and finished it in April 2020. The third draft will have 32 Chapters, and I finished the third draft edits on Chapter 3 in July 2020. I hope to reset and complete the revisions in 2022.

Writing Progress from November 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in November 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I have submitted in 2020 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, and Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 are 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from November 2021.

No events to report this month.

Writing Goals for December 2021.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for December 2021.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 16 in January 2022 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library. (The group is skipping having a meeting in December 2021.)

In December 2021, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in December 2021.

In December 2021, I plan to split Chapter 1 of Assassin in New Marl City into two chapters. I plan to work on these chapters and then submit both chapters to the SEL Wednesday Writing Workshop in February 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In December 2021, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for December 2021 continued.

In December 2021, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for December 2021.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

This is the phoenix logo for Rising ConFusion, rising out of the ashes of COVID-19.

Burning White by Brent Weeks

Burning White by Brent Weeks.

Introduction

Burning White by Brent Weeks is the fifth and final book of The Lightbringer series. The three main characters set up their roles for the last book in the series. Gavin has lost his powers, takes on a suicide mission, and faces the god Orholam. Teia must use her skills as a master assassin and destroy the Order of the Broken Eye. Kip must prepare his army to face the White King with their last stand at the Chromeria. Kip must defeat him or risk the colors going out of balance, leading to their destruction. Their missions lead to one ultimate question. Who is the Lightbringer and will the Lightbringer bring balance to the world?

Summary – General

Chromaturgy is the magical system of the Seven Satrapies. They call magicians who use Chromaturgy drafters, and the best drafters live on the Chromeria, the seat of the Satrapies government. Drafters can take a part of the spectrum of light and make a substance called luxin. They can shape luxin into items, with the color of the luxin determining the properties of the item. Most drafters can draft one or two colors, while the Prism can draft all the colors. There is only one Prism alive at one time and the Prism is the military, spiritual, and political leader of the Satrapies.

Summary – Characters

There are three principal viewpoint characters and three minor viewpoint characters.

Gavin was the Prism but has lost his powers. He escaped the special cells under the Chromeria. He must now find the god, Orholam, at the Tower of Heaven and kill him to save the seven satrapies.

Kip has taken the city of Dunbheo in the Blood Forest. Kip must keep his volatile coalition together to protect the city from the advancing White King. The problem is that the White King could get between the Chromeria and Dunbheo. Kip must decide who to protect. The wrong choice could lose the war and end the seven satrapies.

Teia had infiltrated the secret Order of the Broken Eye. It is a dangerous mission, complicated by her interaction with the assassin named Murder Sharp. The Order sends her on an important mission, and she must succeed or they will kill her father.

Karris White Oak is the new White. She must marshal her forces against the White King with the help and hindrance of Andross Guile.

Andross Guile is shown becoming the man he becomes through the use of flashbacks.

Liv Danavis serves the White King and has come into a significant power.

Recommendation

In Burning White by Brent Weeks, the three principal characters have important tasks to perform. The tasks are straightforward but are not complete by the end of the previous novel. In this novel, the author answered all questions about Gavin, Kip, and Teia. I felt like the ending was an unnecessary Deus ex Machina. What happened to Kip bothered me. Maybe it could have gone down another way. I guess my problem with the story as written is that I felt like Kip was the main character in the novel and he would have agency at the end. I was wrong. Gavin is the main character of the series and that clouds the ending for me.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Burning White by Brent Weeks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43100496-the-burning-white

My review of Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks, book 4 of The Lightbringer series. The author sets up the last conflicts for the Lightbringer to bring balance to the seven satrapies.

Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks

Review of The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks, book 3 of The Lightbringer series. Gavin, Kip, Teia, and Karris fight the Color Prince and the Order of the Broken Eye. They face a climactic confrontation at the Chromeria. Another excellent book in the series.

Broken Eye by Brent Weeks

This is the link to my review of the Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks.

The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks

This is the link to my review of Black Prism by Brent Weeks.

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks

Writing Progress Report November 2021

This is my Writing Progress Report November 2021.

Is it fall or winter? I took this picture on November 14, 2021.

Writing Progress from October 2021.

I wrote one blog post for garydavidgillen.com, my writing progress report for October 2021, linked below.

Writing Progress Report October 2021

In October 2021, I submitted Chapter 15 of my novel titled Cuba Liberto to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I submitted my story “Cautionary Tales Revisited” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library in October 2021.

In October 2021, I submitted my story, Game Dome, to the Wednesday Fiction Writing Workshop at South Euclid/Lyndhurst, Ohio library.

Writing Progress from October 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in October 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 are 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from October 2021.

No events to report this month.

Writing Goals for November 2021.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for November 2021.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 16 in November 2021 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In November 2021, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in November 2021.

In November 2021, I plan to split Chapter 1 of Assassin in New Marl City into two chapters. I plan to work on these chapters and then submit both chapters to the SEL Wednesday Writing Workshop in February 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In November 2021, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for November 2021 continued.

In November 2021, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for November 2021.

The next event I would like to attend is ConFusion Detroit. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. I would like ConFusion 2022 to be my next in-person con.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

Writing Progress Report October 2021

This is my Writing Progress Report October 2021.

This picture is from a nice fall display in front of the Hampton Inn in Gallipolis, Ohio.

Writing Progress from September 2021.

I wrote two blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my writing progress report for September 2021, linked below.

Writing Progress Report September 2021

In September 2021, I submitted Chapter 14 of my novel titled Cuba Liberto to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In September 2021, I submitted my story Are you Worthy to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

Writing Progress from September 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in September 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 are 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from September 2021.

No events to report this month.

Writing Goals for October 2021.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for October 2021.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 15 in October 2021 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In October 2021, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In October 2021, I plan to submit my story, Game Dome, to the Wednesday Fiction Writing Workshop at SouthEuclid/Lyndhurst, Ohio library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in October 2021.

In October 2021, I plan to split Chapter 1 of Assassin in New Marl City into two chapters. I plan to work on these chapters and then submit both chapters to the SEL Wednesday Writing Workshop in February 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In October 2021, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for October 2021 continued.

In October 2021, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for October 2021.

The next event I would like to attend is ConFusion Detroit. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con that I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. I would like ConFusion 2022 to be my next in-person con.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan in January 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi, Book #2 of the Dispatcher series.

Introduction

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi is about Tony Valdez, who is a legal professional murderer. In the future, people who are murdered come back to life in the place where they find most comforting. People who commit suicide and have natural deaths stay dead. 99.99% of all Murder victims return to life naked but alive. So, murderers can keep people from dying an eternal death. Times are tough for dispatchers because legitimate jobs are scarce. Tony needs money, and he takes a shady deal that goes wrong. They implicate Tony in a robbery scheme and people are dying without being murdered. Will Tony discover the criminal’s plans before they kill him by other means?

Summary

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi is the second book of the Dispatcher series. In the first book, The Dispatcher, someone has kidnapped one of Tony’s colleagues, another dispatcher. Tony must rescue him, or his colleague may be killed and stay dead. Tony searches for him even though Tony faces his eternal death.

They set this novella in Chicago like the previous novella. Tony lost his role with the Chicago PD and needs money, so he takes a risky job. Mr. Peng is from China and wants a quick way home. Tony can provide that for him. He got the job from Lloyd Barnes, a Chicago lawyer. The translator is Mister Chen. Tony performs the dispatch.

Tony is at the bank and becomes involved in a robbery scheme in which he becomes implicated. People die in unusual ways. Tony has to unravel the mystery or he will be the next person to die and not come back.

Recommendation

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi was originally only released as an Audible audiobook in 2020. I read the hardback novella published by Subterranean Press in 2021. The book is 191 pages long. This, the second story of the Dispatcher series, explores another ramification of the murder mechanism that rules this world. How would you murder someone without murdering them? The solution made sense. It was an enjoyable thriller.

Links

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi is Book #2 of the Dispatcher Series

This is the link to The Dispatcher’s Goodreads page.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57590084-murder-by-other-means

John Scalzi read the first chapter in his work in progress, the Dispatcher 2, at the science fiction conference ConFusion in Detroit on January 19, 2019. This is a link to my recap of the conference and John Scalzi’s reading.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2019

The Dispatcher by John Scalzi is a police procedural set in the future where murder victims return to life. Dispatchers commit legalized murder. Will Dispatcher Tony Valdez look for his kidnapped friend even though Tony may face his eternal death?

The Dispatcher by John Scalzi

Writing Progress Report September 2021

Writing Progress Report September 2021.

This is my Writing Progress Report September 2021.

On August 21, 2021, I took a hike in Liberty Park, Twinsburg, Ohio. This picture is of one of the ledges found at the park.

Writing Progress from August 2021.

I wrote three blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my writing progress report for August 2021, linked below.

Writing Progress Report August 2021

In August 2021, I submitted Chapter 13 of my novel titled Cuba Liberto to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In August 2021, I submitted my story Are you Worthy to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

Writing Progress from August 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in August 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 are 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from August 2021.

No events to report this month.

Writing Goals for September 2021.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for September 2021.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 14 in September 2021 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In September 2021, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In September 2021, I plan to submit my story, Game Dome, to the Wednesday Fiction Writing Workshop at SouthEuclid/Lyndhurst, Ohio library. The story will be critiqued in October 2021.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in September 2021.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for September 2021 continued.

In September 2021, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for September 2021.

This is the next event I would like to attend.

They scheduled Washington Capclave as an in-person event for October 1 to October 3, 2021. The Washington Science Fiction Association holds the conference at the Hilton in Rockville, Maryland. I would like to attend the conference.

https://www.capclave.org/capclave/capclave21/

Buried Book by DM Pulley

Buried Book by DM Pulley.

Introduction

In Buried Book by DM Pulley, nine-year-old Jasper Leary finds his missing mother’s childhood diary in 1952. He searches for her using the clues in the diary, but faces encounters he never knew existed. His travels take him from his uncle’s farm in Michigan to downtown Detroit and to an Indian Reservation. Will he find her alive or dead?

Summary

The Buried Book by DM Pulley starts with Jasper Leary’s mom taking him to his Uncle’s farm. Jasper is nine-years-old and lives with his mom, Althea, in Detroit, Michigan. Uncle Leo’s farm is in Burtchville, Michigan. It’s 1952. She leaves Jasper at the farm and promises to return after she takes care of some important things. Althea doesn’t trust her husband Wendell to watch after Jasper.

The farmhouse is small. Jasper shares a bed with his twelve-year-old cousin Wayne. Uncle Leo and Aunt Velma have their bedroom. Jasper learns the farm life, does his chores, and goes to school. He has issues with Wayne. As the days go by, he wanders around the farm, looking for answers about his mom’s disappearance. He finds the burned-out family house of Althea and Leo. Inside a drawer, he finds young Althea’s diary.

Jasper uses clues from the diary to search for his mother. He travels to a rough neighborhood in Detroit and an Indian Reservation. What he discovers surprises him.

Recommendation

I liked The Buried Book by DM Pulley. Jasper is an interesting viewpoint character, and I thought the mystery surrounding his mother fits together well. The life on the farm sections was detailed and exciting. I wondered about the age of Jasper. His thoughts read to me like an older child. I don’t see a nine-year-old being as independent and resilient as depicted in the novel. The bus driver’s scene surprised me. It didn’t seem to fit with the story to me. The mob connection to the Indian Reservation seemed to cliché to me. I felt that the strengths of the story overweighed my concerns.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Buried Book by DM Pulley.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29105591-the-buried-book

No Ones Home by DM Pulley

In No One’s Home by DM Pulley, the Spielman family buys a mansion named Rawlingswood in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in this ghost suspense thriller. Will the Spielman’s survive the mansion, unlike the four families that preceded them?

Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley connects the stories of Ethel from March 1938 and Kris from April 1999 through the Torso Killer of Cleveland. They are targets. Can they survive? Link to review.

Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley

This is the link to my review of The Dead Key by D.M. Pulley.

The Dead Key by D M Pulley

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson, Book #3.5 of the Stormlight Archive

Introduction

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson is a long novella set in between Oathbringer (Book 3 of the Stormlight Archive) and Rhythm of War (Book 4 of the Stormlight Archive). The novella follows the mission of shipowner Rysn Ftori and Windrunner Lopen which was not detailed in either novel. Rysn and Lopen must uncover the secrets of the lost island of Akinah or it will doom Roshar.

Summary

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson has two viewpoint characters, Rysn and Lopen. They are minor characters from the series that get a starring role in this novella. In the prologue of the book, a ghost ship appears off the coast of Aimia. Something odd is going on in those waters.

Rysn is a shipowner. She was paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. Her pet is Chiri-Chiri who is a larkin, a type of flying crustacean. Chiri-Chiri is sick and Rysn learns that the larkin must return to its home, Akinah, an island off the coast of Aimia, to be healed. Rysn meets with Queen Navani Kholin to arrange an expedition to the lost city of Akinah. Queen Navani agrees because she thinks there is an unknown oathgate in the lost city that would help them in the war effort against the Voidbringers.

Lopen is part of the group that Kaladin assembles to go on the expedition to Akinah with Rysn. Lopen is an original member of the Bridge Four crew and is Herdazian. He is an optimist, always looking for the positive in life and he uses humor to lighten the mood of any group he is in. He lost his left arm, so he understands the challenges Rysn faces overcoming her disability. Lopen became a Windrunner and regrew his arm using his new powers.

Kaladin also assigns to the expedition: Huio, Lopen’s reserved cousin who Kaladin hopes will balance Lopen’s exuberance; Cord, the Horneater daughter of Rock, and she is also a cook like him; and Rushu, an ardent who is researching using fabrials on a ship.

They sail on the ship Wondersail to discover the secrets of the lost city of Akinah.

Recommendation

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson has two minor characters from The Stormlight Archive shine with their own story. It was fun to see Rysn and Lopen lead an expedition and solve problems. The action in the story was swift and the plot was complete. I liked the development of the secondary characters’ interrelationships. Huio, Cord, and Rushu have their moments. I wanted more but this story was not novel length and I appreciate the story as written.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54511226-dawnshard

My review of Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. In book four of the Stormlight Archive, the war between humans and Voidbringers intensifies.

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. In book three of the Stormlight Archive, Dalinar learns the truth of his past through his flashbacks.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson, a collection with nine stories that are part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere interrelated many of the author’s works. He set the stories of the cosmere on a group of worlds that are connected by magical means. He set six stories on the worlds of his published novels, and three stories are about worlds that have not had a novel-length story treatment. All the stories in this collection are excellent.

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson