Fantastical histories for modern feminists
Tony over at Liminal Press reviewed The Vitruvian Mask and something about it made me laugh and say, YEAH…the line in particular that tickled me was “Let’s be honest, The Vitruvian Mask is a bit of a misery fest while also being quite a great read.”
A misery fest? I hadn’t conceived of it that way, but it is a bit grim…I guess I LIKE grim!
In honor of Bastille day (which didn’t happen in the Roboticist of Versailles because no French Revolution of 1792, ergo, no fall of the Bastille and no Bastille Day), I’m stealing BookBub’s idea of a list of novels set in France. But my list is more skewed towards France in the 18th & 19th centuries, so no WWII dramas here (not that there’s anything wrong with WWII dramas, I happily read those too). I haven’t read these books yet but they are on my TBR!
First up is Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman because The Scarlet Pimpernel with vampires? Oh yeah. It’s billed as a supernatural swashbuckler that appeals to royalists. <grin> Sounds like fun, non? This is the first in a trilogy.
Next, a gender-bending version of the Three Musketeers, One for All by Lillie Lainoff. A young girl with a chronic illness is sent to a finishing school that actually exists to train young women defend their country. A YA historical fantasy that sounds like a ton of fun. I mean, look at the cover, right? http://www.lillielainoff.com/one-for-all
A female artist in Paris during the Belle Epoque? Check, check, and check. Plus there are duchesses and it’s a historical romance with people of color? And there are LGBTQ folks represented? I’m in.
For all those reasons, An Island Princess Starts A Scandal by Adriana Herrera is definitely high on my TBR. https://adrianaherreraromance.com/an-island-princess-starts-a-scandal/
I’ve always wondered about the story behind those (kinda creepy) wax statues. I didn’t realize that Madame Tussaud got her start during the French Revolution. So this one definitely looks like an interesting read.
http://www.michellemoran.com/books/madame-tussaud-a-novel-of-the-french-revolution/
And finally, some more scandal. The School of Mirrors is a “discreet villa” where potential mistresses for Louis XV were groomed by Madame de Pompadour. I love books about behind-the-scenes of historical events and a bit of scandal is fun too. https://www.evastachniak.com/project/the-school-of-mirrors/
The Travelling City : A Fantasy Action Adventure by Adrienne Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The idea of a floating city created by people’s thoughts is both fascinating and terrifying. What is real and what an illusion? Adrienne Miller weaves an intricate tale of created people who are more human than some of the humans they serve. They live in a city of illusions and danger where those with power to manifest illusions are the only people who matter.
The main characters are flawed, wonderful beings; one a human with immense powers and the other a servant, created by hidden aliens for the good of the human inhabitants. I loved both of them, because their struggles felt so real and relatable despite being in a fantasy world.
I was completely immersed in this fantasy, a rarity for me. I am looking forward to Book 2!
View all my reviews
Kindle Giveaway on Goodreads! If you want a free copy of this book, there’s a Goodreads giveaway going until July 27!
Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos all month! Sale ends 31 July 2023. #SWSale2023 #Smashwords
What is your favorite season of year? Why?
It’s my FAVORITE season of the year, Autumn, and my favorite indie musician Unwoman has just released a new album, Desire Paths! You can listen to it on Bandcamp now: https://unwoman.bandcamp.com/album/desire-paths
Enjoy this extremely lovely and hot image from the album’s promo materials. Desire Paths indeed!
Lots of authors worry about the number of words they write per day. Some even post the tally on Facebook or Twitter as if they’re in some kind of competition. And if they’re not writing at least 500 or 1200 or 2000 words or whatever quota they’ve set, they feel miserable. Why aren’t they working […]
Is Writing a “Muscle”? Should You Write Every Day?
After hearing SO many people claim that ‘real” writers write every day, it’s refreshing to hear an alternate approach.
True confession: I don’t write every day (gasp!) but even the days when I am not writing, I am thinking, planning, researching, editing, etc., my stories.
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
…there are three hens in my back garden who are silly, silly creatures. They don’t do anything in particular that’s odd for a chicken and yet their antics make me giggle. Just watching them run across the garden to get to their favorite spot to scratch makes me laugh every time. Running chickens are so very silly, all waddly and plump. If I need a mood boost, I go out and watch my chickens.
W.A.Stanley’s lovely review of The Vitruvian Mask was a delight to read.
Written by BJ Sikes
There are two sides to every story. This is a truism of life that people have a tendency of forgetting, and it’s a truism that fiction often ignores. It’s far easier to tell a story where the focus is on one side, fighting for what’s right… or what the author wants the reader to believe is right. It can also result in a satisfying read that doesn’t get bogged down by presenting all sides of the argument in equal measure. The Vitruvian Mask, BJ Sikes’ follow-up to the fantastic The Archimedean Heart (my review for that went live yesterday; click here to check it out), does a wonderful job of telling the other side of the story in the battle between Naturalists and Scientists (both are proper nouns in the book’s world), without becoming the least bit bogged down. Not that The…
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I really appreciated W.A. Stanley’s in-depth, thoughtful reviews of both The Archimedean Heart and The Vitruvian Mask.
Written by BJ Sikes
Riddle me this: When is a steampunk novel not a steampunk novel? That’s a trick question, because the answer is never. Like most genres, authors can bend it to their will, to tell the story they want to tell. Author BJ Sikes is the perfect example of how an author can do exactly that, as exemplified through The Archimedean Heart. While it includes many of the trappings that fans of the genre—myself included—love, the author has written a novel that, in many ways, feels more akin to straight historical fiction than steampunk.
While the above statement may alarm the steampunk faithful, it’s no cause for concern. The Archimedean Heart is a stronger book for feeling more like a classical historical fiction. While set in a steampunk world during the Victorian Era—although in France, an unexpected location that offers a distinct European flavour—Sikes…
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This is a really fun (and droolworthy) post on Jamaican fruit. Fruit seasons!
I’m working on final (?) edits to my next book, The Cultist’s Wife whichgv is set in the Bahamas and fruit is a big deal for the children in the book. They are English and the fruit they encounter on Andros Island is like nothing they’ve ever experienced.
I did a lot of research on native Bahamaian fruit like guavas and sapodillas to make their experience more real. I’ve never had sapodilla so didn’t know what it tasted like. Ripe sapodilla is described as exceptionally sweet and malty, almost like caramel. Yum! I obviously need to visit the Bahamas again, this time to try the native fruit!
BJ Sikes, author 