Tag: Dystopian

Book Review: The Reflections by E.K. Seaver

Book Review: The Reflections by E.K. Seaver

Y’all get a bonus review this week because today I have the privilege of participating in the blog tour for E.K. Seaver’s upcoming book, The Reflections!

What is The Reflections?

Everyone in the Alliance knows about the Reflections. It’s the opportunity to get into the University, the only government-recognized form of education, and those accepted are guaranteed success and comfort for the rest of their lives. Thus, when Em Gades receives the silver invitation, her future is secured. The worst that could happen is she gets sent home, right?

Until she arrives, and the rumors about the Reflections prove true. The only way to live is to get into the University, and to do that you must be one of the four remaining Chosens at the end of the competition. Although she was warned beforehand to trust no one, Em quickly forms attachments to her fellow teammates with the hope that as many of them can survive as possible. However, as Chosens are rapidly executed for failing competitions, Em struggles to understand that, if God is real, why he would let something so terrible happen to a group of mostly innocent teenagers. With likely no more than a few days left to live, she and the other Chosens must navigate life or death situations and find answers to the question:

Are their lives worth the deaths of others?

Review

I enjoyed Continue reading “Book Review: The Reflections by E.K. Seaver”

How to Write Fashion – Guest Post by Victoria Smith

How to Write Fashion – Guest Post by Victoria Smith

Last week I talked about how to develop purposeful fantasy fashions. This week Victoria Smith is going to take over and talk about some of the more practical elements of using the fashion you’ve developed. Enjoy!

Worldbuilding is hard. Being a fantasy writer—a novice one, mind you—I should know. While I’d like to think I have a natural talent for certain aspects of writing, I am by no means an expert. Still, I will offer my personal opinions, tricks and tips to help you with the tangible parts of worldbuilding. One for today: fashion or clothing. 

Before really diving into fashion in worldbuilding, there are four questions Continue reading “How to Write Fashion – Guest Post by Victoria Smith”

Book Review: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Book Review: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

I finished Mortal Engines three weeks ago, but between procrastination and sleep deprivation and more procrastination I didn’t get past the basic outline of this review. So. Today I’m gonna fix that. But, fair warning, this review might not be as orderly as most because I don’t remember details well and I forget books annoyingly fast.

Overall rating: 3 stars

So first off, I’d just like to ask WHY Continue reading “Book Review: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve”

Book Review: Azalei’s Riders

Book Review: Azalei’s Riders

Azalei’s Riders is a book I’d read before perhaps one and a half times when I had it on Kindle (I have a terrible memory when it comes to remembering to read Kindle books, hence the half), but it recently came out on paperback and since I ordered her book box I got all three books in the Fire Rain Chronicles on paperback, along with various other goodies (including a candle that smells amazing). So of course I had to read it again, both because it’s amazing and because I’d totally forgotten what happened and needed to read it again before reading Azalei’s Strategy and Azalei’s Fall. *dun dun dunnnnnnn*

I think the different aspects in this book didn’t stand out to me as much since this was a reread, so this review might be kind of short, but I’ll preface by saying that this is an awesome book.

My absolute favorite thing about this book is Continue reading “Book Review: Azalei’s Riders”

N: Names in Writing

N: Names in Writing

Names have many uses in fiction, both inside and outside of the book. (Pen names, anyone?) As such, this is going to be split into three sections.

​Character Names

This is probably the first thing you think of when you think of names in stories. After all, the characters are the most important part, right? Well I don’t think that’s entirely accurate, but character names can play a big role in your story. Continue reading “N: Names in Writing”