New Year's Eve

As 2023 rolls away I think it is only fitting to look back on this year's accomplishments:

•  Books 3-5 of Jaclyn Moriarty's Kingdoms and Empires Series.
• Books two and three of J.V. Hilliard's Warminster Series.
• Volumes seven and eight of the Novels of Tiger and Del by Jennifer Roberson.
• Greenglass House by Kate Milford
• The Swan's War Trilogy by Sean Russell.
• The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Lost Stories Collection by Michael Scott.
• The Winterhouse trilogy by Ben Guterson.
• The Gathering Storm, Book One of David Doersch's Chronicles of the Raven.
• The Foundling: And Other Tales of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander.
• Reread The Changeling Sea by Patricia A. McKillip.
• Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore, the fifth book of her Graceling Realm Series.
• The first trilogy of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms.
• The Thief and the Historian, Book One of the Runetree Chronicles by Brendan Corbett.
• The Dragon Egg Princess by Ellen Oh.
• Reread Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones
  
• The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh.
  

A busy year, to be sure. Fortunately I also got a new bookshelf and had a new cover designed for my own book as well as a trailer for it.

I have finished The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

I have finished The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh.

This is one of those tales that stays with you, for I fell into Mina's story no less than she fell into the Spirit World, the enchantment of the Sea God's city seeping into me as she used her courage, wits, and a heart the size of the moon to unravel a curse upon both worlds. "Don't chase fate, Mina. Let fate chase you." Based (I think) off Korean mythology, the story has all the breathtaking elegance and beauty of Asian art, deceptively simple and bursting like overstuffed dumplings with soul. I loved every word of it and learned much besides.

So the fairest of farewells to Mina, Shin, Namgi, Kirin, Nari, Joon, Dai, Mask, Miki, Shim Cheong, and Shiki. Until next time.

Jólabókaflóð

 

I have started The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

I have said in the past that the lore of Eastern cultures remains a largely untapped goldmine within the Fantasy genre. Fortunately that was a while ago and the gold mine has been tapped quite a bit since then. Which is why, ever on the look out for unique Fantasies, I have begun The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh... and have already fallen in love with Mina for her courage, knowledge, and determination to be the master of her fate as she navigates the Spirit World to save her own.

Of course, spirits are a capricious lot – regardless of which mythology they belong to – and this time it will take more than true love's kiss to break the enchanted sleep. Far more. Can a girl who chose herself save a god? Can she truly pick her fate, or is that Red String more enduring than it seems? Can she survive in a world where mortals are fish out of water? Only one way to find out, though it is only the second question that is truly a question.

I have finished Princess of the Sword, Book 3 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms

I have finished Princess of the Sword, Book 3 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms and the conclusion of its opening trilogy.

As I have said, I seldom dive into Romantic Fantasy...but this series caught and pulled me along with its ceaseless, heartfelt action. Seldom has any series chewed up entire afternoons the way this one has. Which is why I shall miss Morgan and Miach, for watching them first struggle against black mages and the past before ultimately besting them both while wrestling with personal feelings and duty was a gripping joy. Farewell, and rule well, my friends!

(Will I ever read the rest of the Novels of the Nine Kingdoms? Quite possibly, but twelve books is a lot even for me and shelf space must be considered.)

My father and I have for the second time finished Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones

My father and I have for the second time finished Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones, Mistress of the Multiverse and Lady of Endless Surprises.

A seamless blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, for us this is THE Jones book that set the standard for originality that is nothing short of sheer genius coupled with surprises that had us literally banging our heads against the bed, yelling "We've been Jonesed!" Yes, for us "Jonesed" is a verb. There is a reason why we view Jones as second only to Tolkien, after all. Hence reading Hexwood again for the first time in over a decade was like seeing very old friends again and reliving some of the most memorable moments in all our long years of reading together.

Fire Emblem Heroes: Book VIII

Usually I consider myself fairly quick on the uptake regarding game trailers, but this one has me baffled. That we are navigating Yggdrasill and dealing with those who inhabit it is obvious, but that is as far as I can make out. The nature for the conflict is at present beyond me.

Music to start the month

I am in a festive mood this Holiday Season, so I shall begin the month not with a quote but rather a song: