Saturday, April 26, 2008

Camp Fire Ghouls

*Warning* The author of this post is still coming off a Girl Scout Cookie binge and her brain is clouded with sugar. There will likely be no enlightening, entertaining or otherwise worthwhile material in this post. If you keep reading, you do so at your own risk.

That said, I figured since my last blog was in February, I ought to at least put up something. It's embarrassing. In self-defense, however, I have been extremely busy with working two, three and sometimes four jobs, running back & forth to the doctor's office, and trying to keep my juvenile delinquent out of jail. That's a full-time in itself. Most days, I'm too tired to breathe, much less write.

Anyway, in the interest of at least something book related, I read Karen Miller's EMPRESS last weekend. Jury's still out. The main character was not particularly likable through most of the book--in fact, I even began to despise her--yet I kept reading. I felt the author too often went with the cheap emotional shocks, yet I kept reading. I was annoyed by much of the language, yet I kept reading. Most likely, I will even read the sequels, because I still want to see what happens. How's that for a rousing review? Lol

Apart from the aforementioned drawbacks, I still found the overall story interesting, the pacing on target, and the secondary characters very well drawn.

From the back cover:
"In a family torn apart by poverty and violence, Hekat is no more than an unwanted mouth to feed, worth only a few coins from a passing trader. But Hekat is not born to be a slave. For her, a different path has been chosen. It is a path that will take her from stinking back alleys to the house of her god, from blood-drenched battlefields to the glittering palaces of Mijak."

I think I'll try Ms. Miller's MAGE books and see if I like them better. Have any of you read those? I'd be interested in your opinion. Also, your opinion of EMPRESS if you've read that too. Or heck, just make some recommendations - what's the last thing you read that you really enjoyed? I'm re-reading Christopher Moore's LAMB, because it's one of my favorites.

7 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I sympathise with all your hassles. Though not working so many jobs, the one and the writing are keeping me busy, as well as more recent money issues that have reared up just when I was hoping to relax for the summer. It's good to see you are still in there pitching though.

Luck with everything.

Travis Cody said...

I'm having a similar reaction to Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series. I finished the second book today.

I've had problems with the language, but the characters are mostly interesting and I'm curious to see where he takes the story. I'm find myself not caring all that much who wins the epic struggle, but I'll pick up the third book and continue with it.

Hang in there!

RK Sterling said...

Thanks, Charles. I hope your "zombie invasion" passes soon.

Travis, I haven't heard of that series, but sounds like you can relate. I do think Karen Miller has talent - some parts were really good - I just couldn't connect with the main character.

AvDB said...

Hi, Kate! Nice to see you back. I haven't read "Empress" but I think I will, after your review. My main character has been accused of bein unlikable and I'd like do some comparisons.

I just finished reading "The Book of Lost Things," a fantasy that incorporates traditional fairy tales into the plot. It was a good, light read. I'm now working on the Sci-Fi novel, Outrageous Fortune," which, if the first several pages are any indication, is downright hilarious.

AvDB said...

Oops. Sorry for writing, "bein," instead of "being." I was momentarily possessed by Desi Arnaz.

Steve Malley said...

Kate! Good to see ya, cobber. Or some similar Down-Underism...

Hm, lately I'm constantly lending out Charles DeLint's The Blue Girl. Great stuff!

Also having the odd bit of fun with Terry Pratchett and with Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books.

I have one odd but nettlesome reservation about Empress: the part where she's not 'born' to be a slave. I'm not a big fan of 'destiny stuff', prefering to believe we choose our own paths...

LoveRundle said...

Miss you! I hope everything is going good for you. I finally hooked a few jobs and now I find myself extremely busy as well. I hope you drop a line here in one of your blogs soon to let us know you are well and doing fine.