D&D Chronicles: The Ziggurat

ZILLAH Weโ€™re not in good shape as we continue along this ancient road into the heart of the swamp. This morningโ€™s battle took its toll โ€” I donโ€™t think Squirrel can have much magic left after throwing a couple of fireballs and Alix has expended a lot of healing energy. But we cannot linger here. … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: The Ziggurat

D&D Chronicles: Journey into the swamp

ZILLAH We've been in Kelsen for two whole weeks now, but we're leaving tomorrow. Finally. It's been a bit over a week since we supposedly took over the thieves guild. In reality, Tippa and her cronies are going to run the guild -- which is a good thing because I refuse to have anything to … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Journey into the swamp

My thoughts on Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat

To start with, I want to say the Captive Prince trilogy is now probably one of my top five fantasy series ever -- just for sheer emotional power. After finishing Kings Rising (the third book, just released) last night, I feel wrung-out and satiated all at once. I'm in a post-novel fug (it's over, I … Continue reading My thoughts on Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat

Reading highlights from 2015

Well. Another year of obsessive reading. In fact MORE obsessive reading than the previous year. Did I say I was going to ease back? In the past year, I read 128 new novels/novellas, again mainly in the m/m romance genre. This is more than twice as many books as 2014. It was a year when … Continue reading Reading highlights from 2015

D&D Chronicles: In which we take over the Thieves Guild

We pick things up in the middle of a very eventful night... ZILLAH [19 Feb] The warehouse is still on fire, but hopefully the rain will put it out. Regardless, thereโ€™s nothing further we can do here. Hoping no-one follows us, we return to Somaโ€™s house โ€” to find her dead on the floor and … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: In which we take over the Thieves Guild

D&D Chronicles: Fleet and flame

ZILLAH [17 Feb] After the drama of last night, it's a relief to be back at the Temple of Emrys. My head is clear, here on the edge of the city. I can think. I pray to the god of the forests, searching for guidance, but I still can't decide what to do. I leave … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Fleet and flame

D&D Chronicles: Making friends (and not friends) in Kelsen

ZILLAH [14 Feb] All going well, we should arrive in Kelsen tomorrow. All going well... Gah! Who am I kidding? Nothing ever goes well for us. It's taken us a week to get this far and it's cost a lot of gold. I guess I'm lucky I'm not in this for the money, because this … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Making friends (and not friends) in Kelsen

D&D Chronicles: Tale of the Dark Tree

ZILLAH Iโ€™m staring into the fire in Climberโ€™s camp of outlaws, searching desperately for light in the depths of my shattered soul. They want me to tell the tale of our recent adventures. They want it to be full of heroic action and rousing arse-kicking. They want me to banish their despair and replace it … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Tale of the Dark Tree

D&D Chronicles: Triumph over the troll lord

ZILLAH We camp a few hours upstream from the goblin village. I have the goblin chief's dirt map memorised -- the all important directions to the troll lord we seek, and the Dark Tree as well. We will likely face at least one of them tomorrow. I try to mentally prepare myself for the task … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Triumph over the troll lord

Review of Captive Prince and Prince’s Gambit by C.S. Pacat

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat leapt to the top of my to-be-read pile the instant I heard about it last weekend, because it ticks three of my current preferred boxes: Itโ€™s a secondary world fantasy, written by an Australian woman (meaning I can review it for the Australian Women Writers challenge), and itโ€™s centred on … Continue reading Review of Captive Prince and Prince’s Gambit by C.S. Pacat