Story Snippets: Illusionary (Desiree)

Hello, fellow story travelers!! Summer fun has officially bid us ado. And I’m torn on whether to mourn the loss or be excited for the next adventure I spy dancing along the horizon. 

I’m probably a mixture of both. :-) Which tends to be a new normal for me. Ha! 

Although, I am super excited for today’s Story Snippet! I do have a secret project in the works, and while I’m not sharing that one—just yet!—I would love to share a fun snapshot from my book, Illusionary, for those who are new to my writing. 

Kam and Reese are characters dear to my heart for a number of reasons. And I hope you enjoy this look at Kam’s tumble into the Land of Ur. Enjoy! 

——— 

Liv crossed over the top of the stairs as Kam turned to head out. Her sister spotted the bags in her hand. “What are you doing?” She blinked almost as if her brain refused to compute.

Kam squared her shoulders, ready for battle. “You may not like it, and you may not understand, but I have to do this.”

Liv’s brow creased. “Aren’t you a little old for running away?”

She lifted her chin. “It’s called moving out.”

“And where would you go?”

“I can crash at a friend’s house until after my trip—which would only be for a week. Not sure if nosey-Tina told butt-wipe that. Afterwards, I’ll … figure something out.” It couldn’t be too hard. People left home all the time.

She squeezed past her sister, but the strap of her camera bag caught the corner of the hand rail. Her feet staggered over the top step. She scrambled to find her footing.

“Come on, Kam—”

Liv tugged her shoulder to spin her around, but only succeeded in throwing Kam more off balance.

The soles of her flats slipped off the next step. Her fingers skimmed the railing, seizing nothing but air. The weight of her duffel bag tugged her backward and made gravity her new enemy.

Kam went airborne.

Her sister’s eyes bulged. She stretched out her hands to grab her.

The gem of her necklace heated against her chest. A spurt of golden light flashed.

Then sharp pain jolted through Kam’s hip. Another flare shot through her shoulder as she tumbled down the steps.

Over and over she rolled.

Her arm smacked against the banister. Her head cracked into the steps. Dots danced across her eyesight. Crashing into the landing, her body bounced off the floor and then sagged against the wall.

The faintest hint of earth stirred her senses from the prickling against her cheek. Golden light flooded her vision. Then everything went black. 

* 

Twittering birds tugged at Kam’s consciousness. Heat warmed her back. She groaned and stretched her legs out. Hair tickled her face, and she pushed it out of the way, propping herself up with the other arm.

Rubbing the back of her throbbing head, she blinked until squashed blades of green grass came into view. Something stuck to her forehead. She swatted at it, clearing away flecks of dirt.

She drew her legs up to sit upright. Her heart hammered into her ribs, and her eyes widened.

A wooden grove encircled her. Vibrant bushes dotted with red flecks swayed with the wind. Sunlight streamed through slits in the canopy of leaves above. Tiny, fluffy birds fluttered along the sunbeams, their merry tunes lending more credibility to her insanity.

“Whaa …” She fingered the knot growing on her head.

Unconscious and dreaming. That’s what was happening.

She staggered to her feet. Her muscles tightened, screaming in protest. She arched her back and then leaned to the side to stretch.

Pain shouldn’t occur in a dream. So hallucination was the next logical step, right? She must have cracked her head pretty hard. Rubbing her sore hip, she allowed her gaze to wander. Pieces of bread littered the ground near a far bush. She squinted, bringing cheese, meat, and a scrap of fabric into focus.

Something rustled the bush. She pressed against a nearby tree. The rough bark ground into her tender flesh.

A whoosh shot through the grove, followed by a stinging of her cheek and a vibration near her ear.

Multi-colored feathers of blue, green, and yellow stuck off the end of an arrow shaft.

Kam scooted over, her hair tangling against the tree trunk.

The arrowhead lay embedded mere centimeters from where her face had been.

“I assure you, wanderer,” a masculine voice called from beyond the brush. “That is the only warning my archer will give you.”

Her heart dropped to her stomach. She reached shaky fingers to her cheek, only to swallow a whimper when the tips drew back coated with blood.

Someone had shot at her. Actually shot at her! 

I hope you enjoyed this snippet of Illusionary! 

I can’t wait to share more story adventures with you soon!!

Weekend Reads: Gretchen and the Bear by Carrie Anne Noble (Lauricia)

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but let's face it: we all do.

Or at least, we are drawn to books because of their covers. This was especially the case for me with my recommendation for this weekend's read: Gretchen and the Bear.

Those of you who have been following the blog for a while know I don't often read fairy tale retellings; not because I don't like them but because my go-to flavor of the genre is epic fantasy. However, Carrie Anne Noble and I are members of the Realm Makers tribe of authors, and I had seen the book's cover often enough in group circles to recognize it on sight. It called to me each time I encountered it until, in a bit of an emotional funk and wanting to escape into a fantasy reminiscent of those I read when I was younger, I decided the pastel colors and girl-riding-a-bear silhouette looked as though it would satisfy my longing for a bit of nostalgia.

I was enchanted almost instantly because the setting of the story does something I've heard of but have yet to experience: it blends science-fiction and fantasy.

What?

Gretchen and the Bear is set in a future where humanity has destroyed the planet and must live on an orbiting space station. After the last human leaves, the fey who remain on Earth regenerate it. Once it is again inhabitable, the planet is divided into human-inhabited North America and fairy-dominated Britannia. But the fey openly despise humanity, and no one who travels to Britannia ever returns.

Unfortunately for sixteen-year-old Gretchen, her step-sister Ruby has run away to Britannia to meet her fairy boyfriend. Gretchen's step-mother has sent her after Ruby with an ultimatum: if she doesn't bring Ruby home, her father will die.

Forced to search a magic forest filled with hostile fey for a sister who doesn't want to be found, Gretchen is lost and desperately in need of help when she happens upon the cottage home of a family of bear shape-shifters and gets mistaken as the heroic Silverhair of Bearfolk legend. The mix-up completely blindsides Gretchen's search, forcing her in a new direction that turns all of her goals and plans upside down. And just when you think the story is over, it moves in a direction that's unpredictable yet true, which made the book very satisfying.

Gretchen and the Bear is exactly the type of story I was looking for. The blend of science-fiction and fantasy is masterful and the fairy tale elements are true to the genre without being cliché. This is one story you don't want to overlook.

Writing Takeaways: Notes from Realm Makers Conference (Lizzie)

 My good intentions of going over my notes from the Realm Makers Conference (a conference for Christian writers of science fiction and fantasy) soon after returning were never realized, as one thing after another came up to claim my time. But I am excited to look over the notes now and share some of the things I thought I most should remember. Hopefully those things will be of value to you as well.

As I began going through my notes, however, I found too many to type up (the sign of a good conference), so I've chosen a few inspirational comments and a few practical tips from the first few sessions I went to.

1. Don't worry about running someone else's race. Make what you can do work for you--even if it's one book a year. -Michael Anderle

2. You can make yourself do amazing things. -Michael Anderle

3. You need a short term and longterm perspective.  -Frank Peretti

4. The man who walks in integrity walks securely. -Frank Peretti quoting from the Bible.

5. A hero is someone who does something. You have to fail in half of the things you tried to know what you're capable of. Write failures into your plans so you don't get upset when you fail. Jesus is still leading. What's worth doing is worth doing poorly. You don't start walking well but have to keep failing and trying. This is part of the longterm perspective. -Frank Peretti

6. You and God are co-creating when you write. God has given us the power to create so we could do that with him.-Allen Arnold

7. Satan wants to make us believe we can't hear God's voice and tells us lies--that God is holding out on us, that the world doesn't need more books, etc. -Allen Arnold

8. Your book is not for everyone. But there is someone your book is for. Understanding this will help you handle rejection. -Nadine Brandes

9. Study the blurbs in Bookbub's newsletter and see what works to help you learn to write blurbs.  -Michael Anderle

10. Pitches are important because they help others share about your books. -Nadine Brandes

11. A pitch needs a setting/genre; a golden nugget (like a unique challenge or character); and a problem. Practice on other books. For example, "The Hobbit is a fantasy novel where a young man is hired to steal from a dragon--but he's never left home." -Nadine Brandes

12. Your pitch needs to be short and confident. Short is memorable, long is easy to forget. Short allows them to ask for more. Explain your book in a concise way to create more curiousity and wonder. Create questions, not confusion. 

13. Improve to serve your readers. -Sharon Hinck

There are always so many things to remember from a conference. What are some of the most memorable things you've learned at a writers' conference?

Weekend Reads: The Minstrel's Song series by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

We made it to Friday, friends! And I have not only a book, but an entire series to recommend for your weekend reading! I had the opportunity to meet Jenelle Leanne Schmidt at a writing conference several years ago, and I could tell right from the start that she was my kind of person. So I left the conference eager to maintain our authorly connection and to read her books, but I had a slight hang-up. Her Minstrel's Song series is epic fantasy.

Now, before you start waving your beloved copies of The Lord of the Rings at me, hear me out. There's nothing wrong with epic fantasy. It's quite epic, after all, and can make for very exciting, inspirational adventures. But I have a few qualms with epic fantasy stories that cause it to not be my favorite genre. There tend to be so many characters it can be hard to feel close to any one person, and the larger-than-life heroes can be particularly difficult to relate to. I like to think I have a pretty good handle on the English language, so I get frustrated by names and places I find entirely unpronounceable. Too many battle scenes cause me to start skimming, because I just get so much more out of emotion and dialogue than pure action. And epic fantasy romances happen so quickly or almost entirely off-screen, which just isn't as satisfying for my reader's heart that enjoys a sweet, drawn out love story.

So as a matter of personal preference, I don't always get excited about epic fantasy, and I typically don't devour it like I do other books. But when Jenelle released audiobooks of her series, I made a fun discovery - epic fantasy is ideal to listen to! The storytelling style works perfectly for being read aloud, not to mention those crazy names that would frustrate me on paper just roll off the narrator's tongue :) And between Jenelle's engaging writing style and Benjamin Fife's lilting accent and variety of character voices, The Minstrel's Song series on audiobook has been an absolute delight so far! I should be clear that they would be excellent reads in written form as well - the author has an entertaining sense of humor, a knack for building excitement and tension over the course of each book, a creative, vividly-described fantasy world to explore, and a grand battle between light and dark building with undercurrents of hope even in the most desperate moments. So it's a fantastic series no matter how you experience it! But I do have to put in one last plug for the audiobook narrator, Benjamin Fife. He is a superb storyteller who even sings and plays mandolin for the songs, adds cool clicking sounds to the gryfons' voices, and makes the dragons sound so wise and fierce. I can't wait to listen to the books again as a family someday once my kids are a little older! (Aside from the scariness and violence of the battle scenes, these books are very clean.)

I haven't yet listened to the conclusion of the series, Minstrel's Call, but here are my mini-reviews of the first three installments:

King's Warrior (Book 1)

When a foreign kingdom known as the Dark Country threatens peaceful Aom-igh, knight-in-training Oraeyn is tasked with taking Princess Kamarie to find the retired King's Warrior. Their journey brings many surprises, including new travel companions and discoveries of the truth behind some of their people's oldest legends. Not to mention the friendship that eventually arises despite their initial distaste for each other :) But when warriors from the Dark Country flood their shores, will all their preparations and the re-emergence of the King's Warrior be enough to save Aom-igh?

I'll admit it took me a little while to get into this book, but as more characters were introduced and the stakes became higher, I enjoyed it more and more! Kamarie felt a bit like a stereotypical tomboy princess confined to her needlework at first, but as her courage and vulnerability showed through I came to appreciate her as her own distinct character. Oraeyn made me smile throughout, and I absolutely fell in love with their young friend Yole! The end was just the right combination of satisfying and heartbreaking, and the author did a great job tying together all the story threads while also hinting at more conflict to come.

Second Son (Book 2)

In this prequel to King's Warrior, two princes grow up enjoying dreams of brave feats and grand adventures, blissfully ignorant of the prophecy that will eventually tear their family apart. As they age, whispers of a second son who will save the country from destruction set them on opposite paths. Older Ky tightens his stranglehold on his birthright as the heir to the throne, confused and tempted by the advice of manipulative counselors. Younger Rhoyan is sent off to learn through quests and experiences abroad, never guessing his eventual attempt to return home will force him to flee for his life.

I actually listened to this book first, which totally worked since it's a prequel! In some ways I think I appreciated the central conflict of King's Warrior more with this backstory in mind, though it also spoiled some of the aspects of Rhoyan's / Brant's character that otherwise would've been a slowly revealed mystery. This book had the least cohesive plot of the series, since it took place over many years and sidetracked into many of Rhoyan's adventures that weren't critical to the primary conflict building between the two princes. But I felt very drawn to the tragic separation of the brothers as they grew apart, which made me feel more emotionally invested in the story. And Rhoyan's adventures certainly are exciting!

Yorien's Hand (Book 3)

Disappearances, nightmares, and disturbing missives from faraway lands indicate that the peaceful start to Oraeyn's rule of Aom-igh has come to an end. A prophecy drives him, along with a band of familiar companions, to seek Yorien's Hand, a rumored piece of a star with untold power. Their journey requires courage and sacrifice, and gives the travelers a new understanding of the seemingly goofy, awkward minstrel, Kiernan Kane. In the end, not everyone's role in driving back the evil threatening to cover the land plays out as expected, and each is tested in what they're willing to give - and give up - in the battle of good versus evil.

It was fun to see this band of traveling companions reunited after years of growth and changes to their perspectives and relationships. Yorien's Hand didn't feel like quite as exciting an adventure in some ways, since most of the places traveled were already explored in past books. But I liked the way that different players and pieces of the battle came together, often in unexpected ways, and seeing how each country approached the coming attack by making the most of it's strengths. I also loved getting to know the wizardesses better - they've definitely become favorite characters! Despite so much of the romances taking place prior to the start of the book, they were still sweet to follow along the way. And I'm so curious about the minstrel now! I'm looking forward to all being revealed in Minstrel's Call :)

 So there you have it! Are you a fan of epic fantasy? Do you have any audiobook recommendations?

See you next time!

Laurie

Story Snippets: Rumpled Rhett (Rachel)

Earlier this year, I introduced you to one of my heroes in my Writer’s Life post “TheSocks Must Go.” Well, Rhett, my huntsman who hates his new wife’s hole-ridden socks, is making his literary debut on August 31^st and his book is available for pre-order on multiple ebook platforms. The paperback will be available for order on Amazon on the 31^st as well.

So, as a treat, I am going to offer an unshared excerpt from the novel below. This is before the infamous socks incident and immediately after all parties have agreed to the arranged marriage and accompanying deal. They have removed to a tavern for a meal, and all the men, except Rhett, have begun a celebratory round of drinks.

Cat has slipped into her usual place, sitting in the shadows far from the action in the center of the room.

 

Cat

The stranger (the Huntsman) was huge, tall, broad-shouldered, and very clearly at ease with his ability to physically intimidate. I had been watching Osbert (the reeve’s man of business) fidget and cough his way through their discussion. From the scribbling, the paper shuffling, and the Huntsman’s grim expressions, they were probably discussing the contract. Still, the Huntsman never relaxed into his seat. Those dark eyes routinely scanned the room, locating and noting the orientation of each of us, even me. No one ever kept track of me. I wasn’t sure I liked the fact he kept glancing my way.

Then, the tavern keeper’s wife appeared with his dinner. The smell of cooked meat, flaky pastry, and savory vegetables filled my nose as the woman passed with the two loaded platters. My stomach roiled and growled in anticipation of food, but I ignored it. The meal wasn’t for me. It was never for me. I would eat a few scraps of whatever remained from the midday meal when I returned home if my brother didn’t get to them first.

The Huntsman stood. I felt the occupants of the room tense, well, the still sober ones. Keeping my face tilted slightly down as though I studied the table, I watched him from beneath half-lowered eyelids. He spoke to the tavern keeper's wife and then Osbert. Whatever he said pleased Osbert. I hadn’t seen the man smile in ages.

A flurry of movement to my right drew my attention. Bess was on her feet. Red lips puckered, hand on her hip to emphasize her curves, and a come-hither flutter to her eyelashes, she was ready for the stranger to notice and respond to her unspoken invitation.

That must have been why he rose. I had noticed his gaze hesitating briefly in the women’s direction a few times.

Unwilling to watch Bess land another conquest, I dropped my attention to my hands. Chapped and raw, they needed more salve. Tomorrow, I would seek out Widow Louisa and ask for a refill of the jar she had given me last year.

“Mind if I sit here?”

The rough, deep tones resonated in my bones as my head snapped up in surprise. I just blinked at him for a moment. Why was he here? Bess wanted him. What Bess wanted, she took.

“Nod if you can’t find your tongue, or Osbert might attempt to murder me.”

“Osbert would never.”

He chuckled that odd rusty laugh of his and set his mug on the table between us. Strangely, the liquid inside didn’t smell of ale or cider. He placed the platter of food next to the mug before turning around to look for a chair. Moments later, he was sitting just around the side of the table to my left, his knee almost bumping mine.

I tucked my knee further under the table.

Despite the fact he made no indication that he had noticed my movement, I had the impression that he observed it all. I suspected that nothing slipped his notice. Instead of commenting on my avoidance, though, he calmly leaned back to untie a pouch from his belt before dropping it on the table. Then, inclining forward with companionableness as though we were the best of friends, he began rummaging through the interior of the bag.

“I have something for you.” His long fingers pulled out an even smaller pouch. This he spilled onto the tabletop beneath the protective curve of his other hand. No one could see the contents save the two of us. It was just as well because my brother and his associates might’ve been very tempted to do something rash if they could. A small pile of gold flans, three signet rings clearly made for large male fingers, and an intricately detailed moonflower made of silver and gold. From the midst of this collection, he plucked a delicate band of gold. Fashioned in the likeness of a vine, it curled in and out, winding around itself in an endless circle.

“What is it?” The question slipped out before I could hold it back. Surely he didn’t intend for me to wear it.

“A symbol.” He met my gaze. His eyes weren’t black or even brown. They were a blue so dark and intense that it swallowed the light. The color reminded me of the evening sky as the light faded, taking the wild, colorful sunset with it. The blue of the sky right before the blackness of night crept across to rule till morning.

“A symbol of what?” I fixed my attention on the ring instead.

“Fidelity.”

The reverence in his voice made me glance at his face again. Strong features, a rather large nose, and a defined chin gave him a face that could not be called handsome, not that there were many handsome men for me to compare him to. His face fit the rest of him, clearly masculine and intimidating without being ugly.

He continued. “It was given to my grandmother by my grandfather and then passed down to my father. He gave it to my mother. It is one of the few things I still possess that I know for certain was my father’s.” He set the ring on the table next to his mug before sweeping the rest of the expensive trinkets back into the tiny pouch. He returned it to the larger bag. Then, he plucked out another small pouch, which he set on the table too.

“Master Huntsman.” The tavern keeper approached the table hesitantly. “The food you ordered.” Setting a platter slightly smaller in size and content before me, he cleared his throat expectantly.

“Would you prefer ale or cider, Cat?” the Huntsman asked.

“I don’t drink ale,” I reminded the tavern keeper, not that he would know since I never frequented the tavern.

“I thought as much.” He motioned to his wife, who brought a mug of cider and set it before me. “Is that all?” he asked my companion.

“Yes, thank you.” The Huntsman didn’t bother looking up from whatever he was doing with the new pouch.

The scent of cooked meat filled my nose, making me dizzy.

“Eat, Cat.”

I glanced at him. He hadn’t even looked my way. Instead, he was fully intent on pouring some dried leaves into a small ball made of metal mesh attached to a delicate chain. This he closed and dropped into his mug, clasping the chain around the handle so it didn’t disappear into the liquid in his cup.

“What is that?” I asked.

He closed the pouch and returned it to his bag, reattaching it to his belt. “Tea.”

“Are you ill?” He didn’t appear sick.

“No.”

“I only drink willow bark tea when I am sick.” My nose wrinkled of its own accord. I hated the bitter taste.

“This isn’t willow bark tea.” A flick of his glance my way with a slight smile made me blink.

“What kind of tea is it?”

“A combination of a couple spices and herbs. A friend of mine makes it for me. Would you like to try?”

The smell rising with the steam from his cup was tempting, but I wasn’t in the mind to take another risk this day. “Perhaps another time.”

“I realized that I didn’t ask you.” He stirred his tea with a spoon.

“Asked me what?”

“To marry me.”

 I frowned at him. “You asked me if I was certain.”

“And you said you didn’t have a choice. I am giving you a choice.”

I frowned down at the ring. It lay on the rough-hewn tabletop, glinting faintly in the dim light. Around us, the crowd roared with laughter at someone’s joke, and the women in the corner chattered. Meanwhile, the man next to me waited. His calm silence enveloped us, stilling the panic that had been breaking over me in waves. Perhaps this might not be as bad as I feared.

  

To find out her answer, you can pre-order the book here.

Weekend Reads: John Eyre (Sarah)

 

 

While retellings of Jane Austen’s novels are plentiful, I’ve encountered fewer reworkings of the works of the Brontë sisters. So I was pleasantly surprised to hear the word spreading about John Eyre, a new rendition of Jane Eyre. As a novel in the Gothic tradition, Jane Eyre is well-suited to the addition of a supernatural elements which Mimi Matthews infuses into her version of the classic tale, taking it into the realm of speculative fiction.

John, our protagonist, is a kind, well-educated man fleeing a painful past. He comes to Thornfield, home of Mrs. Rochester, to serve as tutor for her adopted sons…and finds nothing there is as he expects, beginning with the boys themselves, who appear as though they’ve fallen victim to a terrible wasting disease. He’s determined to see them hale and whole and bends his energies in that direction, despite the peculiar happenings at Thornfield.

I appreciated that John has a strength which comes from a gentle, steadfast nature, in contrast to Bertha Rochester’s more tempestuous determination. The layered approach to unfolding the reality of the situation in the Rochester household drew me along, and though I guessed fairly early the nature of the supernatural villain, the unfolding was still intriguing. Many elements of the story will be quite familiar, but the story still feels fresh and compelling.

As a gender-swapped retelling of a classic with a chilling Gothic flare, John Eyre provides a page-turning read. I’d recommend it for those who enjoy speculative fiction, even those who aren’t huge Jane Eyre fans—however, knowledge of the classic story as well as folklore will enhance your enjoyment of the novel.

Have you read any Brontë retellings? Do you enjoy Gothic literature?

CONTENT WARNING: There are a few instances of bad language as well as several passionate kisses.

Plan the Work, Work the Plan Part 2

 

Source: Pixabay.com

Setting Goals Makes Gretchen Happy

Oh the irony. My single post on "Plan the work, work the plan" didn't exactly go as planned. But I rescued it. It's April 2021, and I have already started this post, Work the Plan Part 2 and my next Writer's Life Post, Work the Plan Part 3, which will drop in December just in time for planning 2022. That bit of working ahead gave me four months to improve my goal setting and tracking before reporting in on how I Plan the Work for my writing life. And eight months to learn how to Work the Plan, which is not my strong suit.

And yay for back-to-school and September-ending fiscal years. It gives me an opportunity for a plan checkup. Also, discounted school supplies. A sale on quad-ruled composition notebooks brings me joy.

Work the Plan Part 1

Source: Amazon.com

Rabbit Trail! Or not. I don't like secular self-help books. Hard pass 99% of the time. That said, I do have a weakness for ones on productivity. A colleague of mine recommended Atomic Habits by James Clear. I checked the audio version read by the author out of the library. James Clear has a website with tools and templates. Loved it!

There are so many tips and tricks for setting up good habits and breaking bad ones. It's not as much about goals as it is self improvement over incremental successes from habits and routines. As a person who loves change and chafes at routine, I needed this. Good habits give us more time to pursue what we love.

My Progress

Professionally, I am in a great place after having a rough first half of 2021. Mid-May marked a dramatic shift in my career. I managed an intense quick-turnaround project that my client couldn't praise enough. I taught an internal training and was invited to present the same topic to one of our major program clients. I'll be presenting next week. Pray for me! Lastly, I am leading a team in a new practice for our business group that goes beyond traditional environmental compliance and remediation. So exciting!

It really fits my personality when approached with the opportunity, I was told the role my involve "jumping on a client call with a whiteboard and no agenda." Most engineers: dive under the desk and develop cold sweats. Me: Yes please! Where's my virtual dry erase marker?

Writing is going well too. I attended Realm Makers. It was a Thanos snap from 2019 to 2021 completely bypassing The Year That Shall Not Be Counted™. I was with my people learning, praying, catching up, connecting, and hugging. Normally a bit of a cactus, I was in fully on hugging mode! At Realm Makers, I had great publisher and mentor appointments. I've scheduled a critique/edit for early next year. The wait has inspired me to complete my next manuscript and dust off a couple of others. So many ideas.

I'm making lifestyle changes too. I've been reading through a Psalm and Proverb each day since March. I just completed both books (over 150 days!). Atomic Habits inspired me to remove some clutter. Social media, streaming apps, and games have been removed from my phone and Merge Dragons (my biggest time suck) from the iPad. I've been waking up early for Bible study since March. Increased exercise and dropping the 15-ish pounds I've gained over the past 3 years is my next thing to tackle. I've figured out how to incorporate daily Bible reading with more exercise. I'm going to run about 20 minutes in the morning while listening to the Bible chronologically. I will still do a traditional Bible study but this new habit will allow me to incorporate two things I find important that have been neglected and yet part of my identity.

Do you use back-to-school to recalibrate priorities and goals?

Weekend Reads: The Magicians and Mrs. Quent (Mary)

 Blame it on my rebellious streak, my desire to be unorthodox and live off the beaten path, but when I see every bookstagrammer in the world gushing and fawning over the same book, when Barnes and Noble has entire kiosks set up to display their selection of different cover art and themed merchandise from said book...I usually have no interest at all in that book.

I much prefer the books nobody has ever heard of, those quirky, out-of-the-way titles you won't see on bookstagram or in glitzy Barnes and Noble displays.

And I love, love, love historical fantasy.

So when my best friend loaned me The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett, I was utterly captivated.

In an Austen- and Bronte-esque fantasy world where no two days or nights are ever the same length, Ivy Lockwood and her sisters and mother are struggling to keep their family together after their father, a brilliant scientist, has lost his mind. With a mysterious star growing brighter in the sky, greedy relatives circling like jackals to snap up their home, and their father's invention - a model of their solar system - slowly revolving towards a catastrophic conjunction, Ivy is forced to turn to unusual sources for help. Along the way, she finds unexpected love...and unexpected abilities.

Don't get me wrong, the story is great. But it was the world building that made this book so utterly, incredibly captivating. Maybe it was the similarities to the worlds of stories like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Maybe it was the detailed exploration of what life would be like in a world with erratic days and nights. Whatever it was, I felt like I could get transported into this world and know my way around perfectly. It is absolutely delicious and I could read and re-read this book over and over, just to keep living in the story world.

So if you're looking for something a little off the beaten path, and you love both fantasy and Jane Austen, you will go crazy over this book. It's the best fantasy experience you've never heard of!