Blood by Ruth Miranda Book One in the Blood Trilogy ^_^

I bought Ruth Miranda's Blood Trilogy and am reviewing each novella after I read it to keep it simple. In Blood, you come into a world equally as real as our own. But then reality begins to bend and shift in these twisty little ways, and I love how she does this. The majority of the novella is told from Cai's POV and in his voice, and this works well because you learn what drives him through his actions and in the meanings between the lines. There is a duality to his view of blood that multiplies by the end -- the blood on his hands, the blood that binds, the blood that gives life, the blood that takes, etc. It's an interesting concept furthered by magical/mythological additions still set within a very real and gritty reality. By the end of BLOOD, I was ready to open Scars and keep going! If you're a manga fan, there's a mythology in the Vampire Knight series regarding vampire hunter twins that I kept wondering about as I theorized. But, no spoilers from me. :) This first part is short, but it does its job quite nicely to start the trilogy. @kitchenwitchmiranda 🖤🖤  Originally posted HERE.

P.S.  I finished the second book, SCARS, last night.  Review coming soon!  I definitely recommend reading these books back to back as a complete story.  It helps maintain the connection to the characters.  I'll expand upon this more, but I love that there's no lamenting or acceptance of what the brothers are - they simply are who they are, love each other, and have an incredibly tight bond, AND how the world around them expands without stealing the focus.  This is their story, which is contained within their radius without narrowing the world at large.  I'll begin the 3rd book, MARIANNE, today or tonight. 

Into the Light by Serene Conneeley ^_^

Review:  Into The Light by Serene Conneeley, YA Magical Realism/Fantasy/Slice of Life
 
Love! "Into the Light" by @sereneconneeley completes the "Into the Mists" ya trilogy. This 'slice of life inside magical realism' begins at the end of book 2 and follows 17-year-old Carlie through the end of her journey of grief and self discovery. As someone currently grieving, I sympathized with Carlie's process and found myself empathizing with her at varying points such as the discovery of a new furry friend or her friend's unexpected aloof attitude in her time of need. Serene has a way of weaving magic into the page and pulling you in so you're sitting in Rose's kitchen, petting Luther, and smelling all those wonderful herbs and breads and cookies! (She needs to do a cookbook.) The descriptions of the rituals impress upon you the character's delight and wonder, and offer a sense of the power that Carlie can grow into - which is never explicitly mentioned, but lingers like a thread for the reader to pull and discover. Magic doesn't take the spotlight. Carlie's growth and acceptance of the self is the star, making her relatable and likeable as she navigates school, life, death, and everything in between. 🖤🖤  Originally posted on Instagram HERE.

The first two books in the trilogy, Into the Mists and Into the Dark, are both equally as good.  This trilogy follows Carlie on her life-changing journey as she moves halfway around the globe following a devastating loss.  Life throws hard lessons at her that nearly close off her heart, but she learns how to push forward, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and is ultimately able to open her heart to love and friendship.  This trilogy is quite insightful and deep in ways that will keep you thinking for a while.

Also!  Serene interviewed me for her Camp NaNo WriMo monthly challenge for today!  Check it, and her books, out HERE.  (http://www.blessedbeebooks.com)

I'm on Instagram!

Background Image:  Public Domain License;  Quote Credit:  Kastie Pavlik

If I didn’t neglect this blog, I’d probably write shorter posts.  Imagine that!

As is the norm of my life, I am overwhelmed with lots going on, especially in the health department.  But!  As much as I want to update on that, it’d be best to wait for concrete results.  For now, we are assuming the worst (with just cause - there is 0% chance of good news).  Soo, let’s talk about Instagram.

I am so late to the party.  I never understood the appeal of a platform based on photographs – and I love photography.  But I get it now.  It’s pretty cool seeing all these little slices of life from around the world.  And I’ve connected with an awesome writing community and readers, and all around fun.

Being new means I’m learning and experimenting.  Blog upon blog offers the best hashtags or ways to boost follower numbers.  I’m not going to do that.  It’s not like I know enough to do that anyway!  But!  I will say this:  most Instabloggers recommend a streamlined page.  You know – find your one thing, stick with, and post consistently.

None of those bloggers have met me.  Have you met me?  Yes, I could exercise some self-restraint, I suppose.  But that’s rather unrealistic.  Because, again, have you met me?  Or seen my leaning-to-be-read pile because I have NO self-restraint at book buying?  My name is the antonym of self-restraint.

Thus, express no surprise at a feed that looks like random circus puke.  Hm?  But maybe prettier than that sounds?

I have too many hobbies and enjoy too many things.  This is nothing new, but it’s gotten worse – which is actually a good thing – with each new diagnosis or new symptom or new day stuck in bed.  (Oh woe is me . . . or whoa, if it’s a Bill & Ted moment – queue guitar riff.)  It means I'm busy carping all those diems!  (Thanks, Summer.)

Excluding the first month or two, there is a method to my Instagram madness.  Starting on the right, I post about writing, then cats in the middle, and then random but usually comic/cat/art-related something or other on the left.  Three posts every morning.  The weekends mess up the order sometimes.  And I do free-peak fridays where I post a page from one of my books, which, with the current writer's challenge, also sometimes messes things up.

The gist is, my one thing is *everything* under the sun and moon, and sometimes beyond.  My passion is writing.  I love my cats.  And I enjoy life.  I’m eccentric, eclectic, and unique.  I’m something of a medical mystery, so I want to bring awareness to my health.  Hopefully, I can inspire someone else who is suffering.  You know?  Finding your passion, reveling in what you enjoy, and embracing your life can be the most cathartic thing you can do.   I put it on a picture.  It must be true!

 

I’m certain my feed will evolve.  And I hope it continues to grow.  I’m not a Follow-for-Follow person (sometimes I will, though).  I don’t want to superficially inflate my numbers or (no offense) junk up what I see.  Instagram is freeing, in a way, and I truly enjoy interacting with the other authors, writers, readers, artists, cats, and people that I’ve never met.  When I friend someone on Facebook, I interact with them.  I don’t just collect people.  It’s not quite as easy to do this on Insta, but liking someone’s photo is a simple interaction.  I'm still in that awkward "what to write or respond" stage, so forgive me when I put my foot in my mouth.

Finally, if you know me, then you’ll love this:  Instagram limits posting length and hashtags.  No novel-length postings there!  LOL – you can find me easily, or check out the linked feed on my website for a quick peek.  

See ya on Insta!

PSA:  All photography/imagery posted is mine and copyrighted unless otherwise credited.  Please credit on reposts or contact me for usage rights.  I will give credit to any image used that is not my own or in the public domain, and will remove any image I've used at the request of the image owner.  Don't be a jerk.  Respect and give credit to the creators/copyright owners.