The price of doing business

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“You will be returning the body, right?“ I ask. The man sitting across from me looks surprised by this request. 

“Whatever could you want with his body?” He asked. 

“I’m sure he has family somewhere and he had a few pseudo-friends in my organization and really, what do you need the body for?”

“What makes you assume that I still have it?”

“Because the moron only broke into your base last night and while you do move quickly, there’s no way you’ve had time to dispose of it given the weather conditions.”

“I am still not entirely sure I believe he was not acting under orders.”

“I promise you, he wasn’t. Even if he drastically misinterpreted them you have in front of you all of the communications he recieved in the past week. We have been over this.”

“Yes, yes. I am sorry for questioning again, its a force of habit.”

“Occupational hazard, I understand. There has been much cause for distrust between our factions for generations. It will take time before we have really turned our new leaf, but with these negotiations, we are taking a step in the right direction.”

“I agree, I am just wondering what his body would be worth to you. He did strike a blow against my organization and I cannot let this slide.”

“Of course, and he has already paid the price for his foolishness with his life. I promise to keep this facet of the agreement private, in order to help you preserve your reputation among your people.”

“He nearly destroyed your hard work…”

“Davis was impulsive and reckless and prone to bouts of irrational decision making, but he was one of mine and I have a reputation to uphold as well. He was also acting on what I assume to be good, if incredibly misguided intentions. I want to see him laid to rest properly. Then we can put all of this behind us and move forward in our partnership.”

He thinks for a moment, feigning like he is going to say no. I grab a pen and scratch out a few numbers, replacing them with something I think will make up the difference. It does. 

By the end of the day the agreement is signed, the peace has been declared, and we are one step closer to an alliance. Davis’ body is loaded into the back of my vehicle, as requested. I climb into the back with him. 

Once we are far enough away, I threw off the top of the barrel Davis was stuffed in. 

“I am so sorry boss…” 

“Save it, Davis. You owe me big time. Next time you pull something like that, you can find your own way out.”

Spirit of the Mountain

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Hidden within a cavern within a sprawling mountain range, seated so high that it has never not been covered in snow, there is a temple. 

Within the temple is a set of secrets that the world is not yet ready to know. For generations, that secret has been kept safe by various families from around the world. 

Each family is chosen by a spirit that calls them to trek through the mountain, overcoming challenges to both prepare them for the challenges that lay ahead. It was also a test to prove to those who wait within the temple that these protectors are worthy of the task. 

It is not an easy thing, to uproot ones life to begin anew in response to a calling you do not understand. But to answer this calling was to find oneself steeped in a life they could not imagine. So many impossible things happen within and around the mountain peaks. 

Some say that the spirit was the first keeper of the temple, perhaps even the one who created it. If it has a voice, it has not used it for some time and the truth of where it came from only it knows. But the purpose it serves now is clear. 

Once the new family is settled in to their duty, the spirit leaves and begins the search again for whoever will take up the mantle next. It roams the earth, taking care to watch and study those it thinks might be worthy until it is ready to give them the call. 

Meanwhile, the previous family dedicates themselves to preserving the temple and uncovering those of its secrets that have been lost to the time and snow. They find pieces of the history of the place, unlock some of its secrets, and preserve what was left behind by those who came before. 

They continue on in this magical world until the return of the spirit. Then they pack up their belongings and leave, letting the next family take over. 

They take their memories with them, though try as they might they will never be able to find that place again. Unless the spirit returns to guide them home.

Going Home – Flash Fiction

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It happened without my noticing it at first.  The air grew warmer and the bees began to buzz about the flowers.  The brightening of the atmosphere had an obvious effect on the townspeople.  People spent more time outside doing their laundry, allowing themselves to relax. Children escaped out the front door and ran around, chasing each other through the tall grass.  Squeals of laughter filled the air as the girls gave chase to the boys who pushed them into the flowers.  Never before had the people of the valley seen such a spring.  It was by far the best spring of my life.

After a long trek across the known world with my beloved, it was a long time since I had seen my home.  Many years had passed and I worried that my family would not recognize me.  So much has changed since I met him, my beloved.  I have seen so much, learned so much, and in my time in the valley waiting for the snow to melt I started my own family.  Even though the people of the valley were perfectly accepting, the valley was not my home.  So, when I noticed the snow began to fall I began packing my things.  Before we left I said my thanks to the leader of the town and thanked the people.

“Are we going home now, mommy?” my precious daughter asked.

“Yes, darling, we most certainly are.”

Out of Chaos

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Dear readers,

You may have noticed it has been some time since I last posted something. I had my hands full producing two podcasts and getting used to my new job. You could say time got away from me a bit. 

It has been a very productive year. I recently finished the first full draft of the novel I have been working on for over a year solid. It’s a very rough draft and no you can’t read it. It needs to be rewritten first, then it’ll be ready for beta readers. I can tell you that it is a fantasy novel about two siblings and a book that can control fate. The finer details will probably get re-ironed out in the second draft. 

I’m taking a break to work on some scripts for audio drama ideas I have. One involves a series of D&D-inspired character stories and another is set in a world where there is no death. The latter is more of a thought experiment but I am having a lot of fun with both. 

As for my other podcasting work, I have finished production on season 1 of Aboard the Opal Star and Tempus Multae. I have also edited half a year’s worth of content for season 2 of Aboard the Opal Star. It is shaping up to be an exciting season indeed, full of mystery and exciting character reveals.

We start recording for season 2 of Tempus Multae in a week and I am buzzing with excitement about that. Once again I have an amazing table full of genuinely talented people who have no idea what is coming for them. 

I also joined the cast of The Graveyard Tapes, an urban fantasy audio drama that has become very special to me. There I play a professional illusionist and talented street magician named Jackie Smoke. I’ve also started getting more and more involved on the production side as well.

I have learned a lot in the past few years, about myself and about audio production. I have learned that I find audio production to be incredibly satisfying. Having a consistent work schedule has helped me become much more disciplined with my writing, which is how I managed to finish a novel. I plan to finish some more in the future. It also gave me the space to feed my love for storytelling and creative endeavors. 

I have also gotten pretty good at audio production if I do say so myself. It is a lot of work but it is so incredibly satisfying when you get all of the music and the effects just right. It is a wonderful form of storytelling that I enjoy both sides of. 

I plan to tell many stories in the future. I also plan to post more often. Perhaps sharing some of my creative adventures, snippets of stories, or helpful tricks I have learned along the way. I still have my massive TBR list, so there will be book reviews too. 

Review: Crooked Kingdom

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SYNOPSIS

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Crooked Kingdom

WHAT I KNEW GOING IN

Quite a few people have told me that the Six of Crows duet is their favorite of Leigh’s series. At the end of the first book, I could see why. This group of misfits pulled off an impossible heist only to have things go sideways at the very end. Kaz was prepared for part of it, but he was not prepared for Inej’s capture. I knew there would be hell to pay for whoever took her. I also knew that things would inevitably get more complicated. I didn’t know what to expect but I knew it was going to be epic and full of the unexpected. So, I started reading. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I knew this story was going to be different in size and scope than the other. We pick up mere days after the end of Six of Crows where things have not progressed much. Inej has a good grasp of her surroundings and Kaz is already working on his plan to rescue her. Things, naturally, get rather complicated rather quickly. The battle to gain control over the jurda parem continues as the crows tuck their new scientist friend away somewhere safe. I got the feeling this would be less of a single con and more of an intense, delicate game of chess played between multiple players. And I was right.

WHAT I LOVED

The characters we know and love get a chance to shine even brighter in all of their messy glory. They are back on their home turf, in the city of Ketterdam, yet that is not entirely a point in their favor. Ketterdam is a messy, complicated city run by thieves and con artists posing as businessmen. Our story follows some of the best and one of the men who will one day run this city. That is, if they can survive the building battle for the jurda parem. A drug that with drastically alter the fate of all Grisha, no matter whose hands it falls into.

Instead of being one heist with a single focus, this is a series of heists and cons daisy-chained together. A domino effect of plans that work and plans than fail leading to the final showdown between Kaz Brekker and the men who think they run this city. Dreams are made and found and, in some cases, achieved. 

There may be no heroes in Ketterdam, but that does not mean the city cannot be saved.

WHO I RECOMMEND IT TO

As I mentioned, Leigh Bardugo is an excellent fantasy author who has a gift for weaving together secrets of the past with mysteries of the future to tell a story that you cannot put down. 

If you are a fan of stories that linger near the darker side of fantasy that center around a charming group of misfits with somewhat questionable morals, this is the story for you. The world is rich and the Dregs from the Barrel may be poor but they are very good at what they do. They want to change Ketterdam, but they may just change the world. 

Review: Six of Crows

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SYNOPSIS

Six of Crows

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. 

WHAT I KNEW GOING IN

I bought this book soon after finishing Shadow and Bone mostly because we were sold out of Siege and Storm, the second book in the series. I also had all of my coworkers who had read them telling me that this second series was much better than the first. I also knew that it takes place a few months after the end of Ruin and Rising, set in a different part of the world. So the stories don’t overlap and I was assured there weren’t any major spoilers. At the time I knew it was going to be at least a few weeks before we got the second book into the store, so I decided to dive right in. Between the fact I enjoy groups of misfits running a heist and that Leigh Bardugo’s writing was already starting to grow on me, I had a feeling I was in for a good time. 

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Right off I knew the world was going to have a totally different feel and I love it. Ketterdam is a place full of gritty streets and messy people doing whatever it takes to survive. I very much enjoyed being able to learn more about the wider world of the Grishaverse and see for myself how these different companies treat the Grisha. It is a step away from the coming of age type story that is the Shadow and Bone series and into something that is more dark, more raw, and more human. I quickly found myself growing fond of several of the characters and incredibly curious about the others. When we were introduced to the impossible job and its incredible reward, I knew I wouldn’t be putting the book down for a while because I had to know if this crew of talented misfits could pull it off. 

WHAT I LOVED

Leigh Bardugo is an incredible author and seeing how much her skill has grown from one series to another was mind blowing. I love the way she toys with your expectations of where a scene is going to go in a way that feels natural and leaves you guessing. 

This story features some of my favorite things. Found families. Incredible world building. Complex characters with their own fears and dreams. HEISTS! Everything is woven together so beautifully that I devoured the book in a few days. 

Some of them exist in that grey area where they are doing the wrong thing for the right reasons and sometimes I am not sure if they know why they are doing what they are doing aside from a sheer need to survive. The leader of the group, Kaz, is an absolute enigma even after we are finally introduced to what he is trying to accomplish and why. Yet it is hard not to root for the Dregs as they lay it all on the line to follow Kaz’s plan to break into an impenetrable prison to steal a man whose invention could set the world ablaze. 

Needless to say, I loved everything about it. 

WHO I RECOMMEND THIS TO

As I mentioned, Leigh Bardugo is an excellent fantasy author who has a gift for weaving together secrets of the past with mysteries of the future to tell a story that you cannot put down. 

If you are a fan of stories that linger near the darker side of fantasy that center around a charming group of misfits with somewhat questionable morals, this is the story for you. The world is rich and the Dregs from the Barrel may be poor but they are very good at what they do. And this story has an ending that will have you immediately reaching for Crooked Kingdom. 

Review: Ruin and Rising

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SYNOPSIS

BOOK THREE of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy

Ruin and Rising

The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

WHAT I KNEW GOING IN

The end of Siege and Storm had me screaming on the inside for a variety of reasons. I had a coworker say not great things about it but I was enjoying the story far too much to bother worrying about his opinion. I was far too eager to witness the further downfall of the Darkling and whatever else happened leading up to his final showdown with Alina. 

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I had no idea what kind of situation Alina would find herself in after running to the Apparat. I also was not sure if I particularly trusted him or his motivations to begin with. But Leigh Bardugo pulled out all of the stops for this finale so I buckled myself and held on for dear life. 

The king’s former spiritual advisor has essentially become the leader of a fanatical cult that is worshipping a girl who never wanted to become a saint. The fact that he is doing what he genuinely believes is the right thing to do makes it all the more unsettling, because belief is a powerful thing. It can lead people to do all kinds of unexpected and sometimes unspeakable things. Belief is what is powering the Darkling as he continues on in his quest to make Alina his equal. His queen. And Alina has to decide just how far she is willing to go to make sure that she does not end up like him. 

WHAT I LOVED

This finale is absolutely epic. Leigh Bardugo pulled no punches with this one. The relationships between the characters are twisted and strained as they deal with the sheer impossibility of what they are trying to do. The Darkling has already succeeded in taking over the Ravkan throne. All he lacks is a queen. 

Throughout this book we get to see several characters who have been with us since the beginning really come into their own. Everyone gets a chance to shine, for good or for evil. 

I loved watching Alina’s continued struggle between the girl she used to be and the saint she has had to become. Couple that with the weight of the situation and the truth of the Darkling’s past that is finally fully revealed, it makes for a deliciously complicated situation. And we get the joy of 

WHO I RECOMMEND THIS TO

If you are looking for:

  • A coming of age story featuring someone who has had to fight for everything
  • Well developed characters and realistic dynamics between those characters
  • The juxtaposition between those with political power, magical power, and those who have neither
  • The impossible choices that come with being the person who is supposed to save everyone

Review: Siege and Storm

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SYNOPSIS

Siege and Storm

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

WHAT I KNEW GOING IN

I had to wait a few weeks after finishing Shadow and Bone to be able to get my hand on a copy of this book but I was so excited when I did. I had some expectations about how the story could go after the last book ended with Alina trying to kill the Darkling and then disappearing with Mal into the unknown after a long trip across the sea, but after reading the back synopsis I wasn’t sure. So I just curled up and started reading. 

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS

This book very quickly takes a turn from where I expected it to go into territory I honestly never saw coming. But looking back some work had been done to foreshadow it. You can already see a vast improvement in Leigh’s writing skills from the previous book to this one. She started off great and just keeps getting better. I quickly realized that she is yet another author where try as I might, I will never quite be able to guess where she is going to take a particular plot thread. And honestly, I love that. It just makes the journey that much more exciting. 

WHAT I LOVED

Things were not exactly clean and straightforward in the first book and they get even less so now. I was personally very excited that Alina’s relationship with the Darkling did not take the direction it felt like it was going to in the first novel. It continues to be complicated, of course, given that they are the only two with comparable powers so there is no telling how long either of them will live. But we get to watch Alina fight against the struggle to become more like him while also being drawn to the items she believes will make her as powerful as him if not more so. The way these power sources are woven into the fabric of the world and its history and folklore blew my mind. There is also the matter of the power struggle involved trying to keep Ravka safe from the threat of the Darkling who could invade from a number of directions. Most of the Grisha have fled with him since, technically, he is fighting for them. We get to learn more of his story and see how far he has fallen in his desire to make the world his version of right. 

A lot of second books can lose momentum as the story is transitioning towards the endgame, but I personally found this one did a good job of keeping the momentum going. Especially with the explosive ending that had my jaw on the floor. 

WHO I RECOMMEND THIS TO

If you are looking for:

  • A coming of age story featuring someone who has had to fight for everything
  • Well developed characters and realistic dynamics between those characters
  • The juxtaposition between those with political power, magical power, and those who have neither
  • The impossible choices that come with being the person who is supposed to save everyone

Then this really is the series for you. This book continues with the twists and turns and human complexities in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat up until the unexpected ending. 

Review: Gideon the Ninth

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Synopsis

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

What I knew going in

I have been aware of this book for a while, but I wasn’t interested in reading it until recently. I guess you could I was judging it by its cover. Sometimes I can be very particular about what I read. Other times, I am less so. When I heard a few good friends of mine discussing how much they enjoyed the book, my curiosity was piqued. So I started doing a little research. I talked to my friends about it. I read some customer reviews. I would pick it up and look at it every so often until I finally just bought it. Then it sat on my shelf for a few weeks before I decided to bite the bullet and give it a shot. 

I was also very intrigued by the line on the back about “the most fun you will ever have with skeletons”. I just had to know. 

First impressions

I went into this book without any real expectations. The pacing was different from the book I had just finished reading, so it took me a second to adjust to it. The world view at first is very narrowed but Gideon’s irreverent tone quickly endeared me to her. She is someone who does not like where she is and is willing to fight tooth and nail to find a better life for herself.  A better world. This is a universe that was once grand and full of life. Now there is an air of decay and loss, but in a world of necromancers, this is not such a bad thing. I found the world fascinating, and when the mystery came in I knew I was a goner. 

What I loved

This whole book is a puzzle. The world is much grander than is shown at first but throughout the story more and more of the greater universe is unfolded. And it’s amazing. I also loved watching the contentious, complicated relationship between Gideon and Harrow evolve as they faced various challenges scattered about the haunted castle. I don’t want to spoil too much about the story, so I am not going into a lot of detail on the situation. But reading this book is like solving a puzzle where you don’t yet have all of the pieces. I actually enjoyed the fact I had no idea where things were going. Like Gideon, I was just along for the ride. 

There are also some things about this book that I can’t quite put into words. Even though the world is so incredibly unlike ours, I found the story incredibly human. The characters are real and they are messy and they are complicated. They all have their own conflicting goals and dreams. They have their own (metaphorical) ghosts haunting them. It’s raw and it’s beautiful. 

Who I recommend this too

Gideon the Ninth pulls elements from science fiction, fantasy, and horror. But, if you ask me, it is ultimately a mystery. It’s an escape room for the characters and a multi-layer puzzle box for the reader. If you are looking for something fresh and new, I highly recommend this. It will take you by surprise into a world unlike any you have ever seen and leave you wishing there were more like it. And it will leave you screaming a little at times. It’s great. 

Review: Shadow and Bone

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SYNOPSIS

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

For more information on Shadow and Bone, you can check out Leigh Bardugo’s author website.

WHAT I KNEW GOING IN

This is a series I have been eyeing for a while now. It first caught my attention when I was working my way through the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. Part of this was its proximity on the shelf and the other part was hearing my coworkers say good things about it. I had a great amount of curiosity when it came to the series. I also had 50 other books on my to-read list. So I put it on the list of books that I will buy and read eventually. 

Fun fact about that list: it’s not as much a list as it is an amorphous entity containing countless titles that will eventually be a part of an actual list. There is no rhyme or reason to where books fall on this ‘list’ because I am very much an impulse shopper when it comes to books. 

It got moved up on the list when I learned there was going to be a Netflix show based on it. Then one day I finally gave in and bought it because I knew the show would be out soon. I have a thing with TV shows based on book series where I have to read the book before I watch it. So I did, not knowing much about the book beyond the description on the back and the fact there is a duet somehow connected to it. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

There is a bit of a time jump between the first two main scenes that threw me for a bit, but the story quickly reeled me back in. I always have a soft spot for found families, even if it’s just a single person. So the dynamic between Alina and her best friend, the boy she grew up with, was something I latched onto pretty quickly. I also enjoyed how she went about introducing the world state leading up to the reveal of Alina’s unique abilities. It paints a clear picture without feeling like she is holding your hand or doing an exposition dump. This story hooked me pretty quickly. 

WHAT I LOVED

The world-building was very well done. You can tell that Ravka is based on Russia (I mean, look at the character names), but it’s not a carbon copy. The world is rich and varied and seeing the difference through the eyes of someone who went from having nothing to being viewed as a future savior and the favored one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. 

The Darkling is an interesting character. He is both enigmatic and charming, but he also has an undeniable connection to the Fold, a strip of darkness and death that is slowly crippling this kingdom. A previous Darkling created it and now people are looking to him to find a way to end it. And that way could very well be Alina. 

I know this sounds like the oh-so-common YA fantasy trope of the teenage girl who discovers her power and becomes extra special because she is the only one who can save the world. And yes, she is special and yes, she could very well save her country. But trust me when I say this story does not indulge in tropes. It may play around with some of them, but Leigh Bardugo has a different story to tell. And Alina Starkov’s story is one you don’t want to miss. 

WHO I RECOMMEND IT TO

If you are looking for:

  • A coming of age story featuring someone who has had to fight for everything
  • Well developed characters and realistic dynamics between those characters
  • The juxtaposition between those with political power, magical power, and those who have neither
  • The impossible choices that come with being the person who is supposed to save everyone

You should read this book. It is a fascinating tale that I devoured in 3 days (only reading at night before bed because my life is chaos and that’s my only reading time). I went from there to Six of Crows, book one of the accompanying duet. I am still waiting to grab a copy of Siege and Storm so I can finish out that story. I am probably going to get the final duet as well, so I can have it. 

I started reading because I was interested in the show. It quickly added a new name to my list of favorite authors.