“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
I want to preface this review by saying I am not a massive Tolkien nerd. While LOTR has a special place in my heart, I'm still a novice when it comes to the lore and background of Middle Earth, etc. I'm working my way through the books at a snail's pace, but I have a… Continue reading Rings of Power: Episode 1 Review
Summary: All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the… Continue reading Thoughts on “A Natural History Dragons” by Marie Brennan (Spoiler-Free)
I have a confession to make. As someone who is vocal about my opposition to literary snobbery—making fun of adult YA readers, claiming only certain genres are "literary", etc—I must be honest. I am guilty of the same sort of pretentious douch-baggery that I so often criticize. For the longest time, I was incredibly snooty… Continue reading I Owe E-Reader Users An Apology
I have had this blog several years and, in the early days of its evolution, I wrote "writing advice." Yes, the girl who had yet to be published or showcase her writing on any sort of platform thought she would grace the world with her wisdom on writing. Since then, however, I've mostly shied away… Continue reading Most Writing Advice is Bad
Amazon Summary: After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple… Continue reading Thoughts on “The Haunting of Brynn Wilder” by Wendy Webb
Amazon Summary: Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike — particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana Andros, who was once… Continue reading Thoughts on “The Maidens” by Alex Michaelides
I will be completely honest. After the dumpster fire that was season 2 of You, I had not planned on engaging with anything in the You universe ever again. However, after about 3-months into a reading slump, I decided to give this series a chance in the hopes that it would be at least moderately… Continue reading Thoughts on The “You” series by Caroline Kepnes (Spoiler-Free Review)
I want the record to stand that I don't consider myself the moral arbiter of fiction. While I will critique until I am blue in the face, I'm not one of those people that gate-keeps topics or disallows people to use certain tropes, provided there can be an honest and intellectual conversation about them. That… Continue reading Infidelity Isn’t Sexy: A Rant About a Tired Romance Trope
I think most of us are guilty of uttering the phrase "that person has too much time on their hands." It could be prompted by any number of things: a Youtube video that splices clips of a politician's speech so they are speaking the lyrics to a pop song, an exact replica of Denmark made… Continue reading Too Much Time on Your Hands: A Mini-Essay
Warning: The following contains spoilers for the book and series of Game of Thrones. Yes, I am one of the 12 people that still cares about Game of Thrones and enjoys talking about it in spite of its dumpster fire ending. So today I was wanting to discuss my thoughts and feelings about one of… Continue reading Thoughts on “A Feast For Crows” By George R. R. Martin
The Crooked Pen 