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Sunday, January 24, 2016

On Writing: My Kingdom Come

This is just going to be a short post about one of my current projects. It's not going to go crazy in depth-- only the basic idea and most important characters.

If you've been around for... I don't know, a while, you know that fantasy is not my thing. I don't write it. I rarely read it. I write futuristic, sci-fi-y (that's a word), dark stuff. I write stories about angry ghosts and alien races and girls with guns. So, of course, the only logical thing for me to do was to sit down and start plotting a giant fantasy book. Go me.



I'm very extremely psyched about it. Mainly because this is something that has been a part of my life for the past forever. I can't even remember when I started it. I was probably four or five, or even three. I've written (awful) versions of this story before. The idea of revamping it is, honestly, irresistible.

The story focuses on the lives of various people-- but, perhaps most vital to the story, are Princess Naomi and the High Princess Katherine. (Note that all of the names used are original and very extremely liable to change).

Naomi. After a thing happens.


Princess Naomi is the heir to the kingdom of Fenn-- the only heir with a bloodline that goes back to the first ruler. The one with all the magic. This kingdom is known for its strategy, as brute force isn't possible with such few numbers. Engaged to wed the High Prince Matthew (name is also going to change) to solve the years of unrest between their kingdoms, Naomi travels to the other kingdom to meet him a month before the wedding.












While there, she meets the High Princess Katherine (her name is 100% going to change), the daughter of the Blood King-- the man who sent the Aeron back to its home in hell. To him, she's invisible, a placeholder for the greater power her future suitor will bring. But there are many, many secrets an invisible princess can learn. Her father will learn to regret what he forced her to endure.




History lesson.

Roughly thirty years ago, there was a war that shook the world to its core. The Aeron had been in the world for years, corrupting and killing. The Blood King united the people and, since the Aeron is indestructible, used the last bit of magic in the world to lock the Aeron away, saving the world. He was immediately chosen to be the High King (which is the highest ranking you can ever have, ever).


Now, even though it's been a short time, children roll their eyes when their parents or grandparents tell them to be careful of the demons.

Of course, the Aeron is nothing if not resourceful. Crossing dimensions are nothing. Just knock on the door. Someone's bound to open it.

_________________________________

A lot of this is still under serious editing. Serious, as in, I haven't even started writing yet. It's a huge thing to tackle-- especially since I want to make each of the three kingdoms as unique as possible, with their own customs, languages, etc. because that's what real countries are like. It's hard. I've been questioning my sanity on a daily, if not hourly, basis. 

About the new blogging schedule: It's hardly anything, really. I'm going to be posting once a week, but I haven't picked a day yet. It's going to be either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. They'll be scheduled to post at around 9 AM. Again, nothing is set, but I'm working on it. 



Sunday, January 17, 2016

Reviewing: Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

I am simultaneously heartbroken that The Lunar Chronicles are over and super, duper relieved because GOOD GOD this book is huge.

I have no idea what I should talk about first, because everything was pretty much flawless (even though there were a couple things that I will mention later).

The couples are all here, and excuse me while I cry over Scarlet and Wolf, please. I am also so, so ridiculously proud of Cinder. She accomplishes so much and gets hurt so badly, but she's still herself. Still her stubborn, sarcastic, heroic self. The book does, in fact, kind of focus on her more than in Scarlet and Cress.

Cress gets so much stronger and braver (I'm really happy that she is portrayed as brave and strong even though she's not like Cinder or Scarlet), Thorne becomes the hero we all sort of knew he was, Iko is remains the quirky best friend, Winter is crazy strong and lovable (I love how she stays so loving and gentle despite all she goes through), and Jacin, that little prick, is actually a (selective) sweetheart. I AM SO PROUD OF EVERYONE. (And may I just say that my respect towards Kai has skyrocketed). And Cinder and Thorne have more sarcasm! Yes. I love it when they sass each other.

I'm not disappointed about what happened. At all. Which is crazy, because with everything that happens you'd think at least one when get on my nerves. Don't get me wrong-- it is emotionally devastating and I'm pretty mentally exhausted right now. I'm probably going to be stuck in this haze for a couple days. But the things that happened seemed like they could and probably would if such a world existed.

The ending felt like it was wrapped up in a pretty bow very, very quickly compared to everything else. But I wanted it so badly that I wasn't even mad. I mean, c'mon. Look at everything that they have all sacrificed! They all deserve to be happy, so that Scarlet and Wolf can be together on their little farm and eat tomatoes together. (I think tomatoes are the grossest things ever but each to their own). They all kind of go their own ways, but with bonds that will never be broken and friendships that will last for the rest of their lives. I could legit cry from how close they've all become.

As always, Marissa Meyer's descriptions are flawless. The world of the Lunars is beautifully written and the emotions that the characters feel are written in such detailed beauty that you can't help but feel some of it yourself.

One thing that became exhausting is the length. It's 800+ pages long. THAT IS TOO LONG. My head hurt, my eyes hurt, everything kind of hurt because I'm suicidal and have to read everything in one sitting. (In case you're wondering, no, I did not read it in one sitting, I read it in two). I finished this in a total of 7 or 8 hours. That's a little more than 100 pages per hour, each page packed with action and important information-- so, yes, my mind is currently numb, thanks for asking.

My advice? You know how Marissa Meyer splits her books into littler books? Winter has five (FIVE. I am in disbelief). Read one each day. You'll finish it in 5 days, but you also won't feel like passing out afterwards. (Or you might, if the feels are just too much, which they probably will be).

ALSO. Reading Fairest will help your understanding of what happens in this book. A lot. It's not like it's absolutely necessary, but, regarding Levana, you know so much more about why she does what she does. And it's not terribly long. (LIKE WINTER).


Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Hi, 2016

Obviously, I'm a little late. I wanted to post this on the 1st of January, but... I got distracted. That being said-- I'm back! At least... for a little while. School isn't heavy right now at all, so that means I will be posting more.

Anyways. This post is just going to be a list of resolutions. A lot of them are going to be simple, but hopefully they won't be too boring (who am I kidding-- it's probably going to be 90% school).

2016 | Resolutions

1. Get my driver's licence.
2. Join a club at my school.
3. Keep my 4.0 GPA.
4. Check out dual-enrollment at my local college.
5. Try something, anything new. (because my comfort zone is about the size of a miniature pea)
6. Finish one WIP-- this one. (I am too distracted to hope for more than one)
7. Get down to some serious plotting for Shadows Dancing. (I think I've put this off for about 2 years)
8. Expand my music horizons. 
9. Spend more time outside, just because.
10. Try to find more beauty in the simple things and not to get too caught up in what hasn't happened yet. (because I have a tendency to hyperventilate if I think about the future for too long)
11. Actually make a reading/posting schedule for my blog. (I think everyone can agree that it's about time)
12. Spend more time with my family.
13. Send my sister at least one letter while she's at college this year/semester.
14. This year, I really, really want to find my happy place.