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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Lots of Updates!

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If you’re subscribed to my blog, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been fairly regularly posting reviews. That’s gonna continue. I have a lot to get through.

Next up is my Patreon! I’ve been editing a lot, and the next part is up! It’s on the paid tier, but the first chapters of all my WIPs that I’m working on will always be free. The first part of “Dewey” is here.

Smashwords has started their July sale! All my books are discounted or even free on that site! You can check them out here.

Now, time for the wordcounts:

  • First Brood 4: 19,914
  • Smut short story: 570 (published 2 stories last month)
  • Dewey: 17,316

I am doing my best to try to get out some good content. I need to treat it like a job if I’m going to make money from it like a job. It’s not going to be easy, I am going to be very tired, but I have debt and a kid to put through college. I gotta do what I gotta do.

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Lenni Reviews: “Lynx” Vol. 1, by Samuel Sattin & Tokitokoro

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After a climate disaster known as The Regression, humanity is stuck in a perpetual winter. Detective Lynx Takuma and her enhanced cat partner Skua, have investigating a series of deaths where strange feathers were found at the scene.

While this throws a lot of lore and abilities and backstories at you, it feels a bit flat. I think it’s because a lot of the backgrounds are solid whites. But it is a winter dystopia so I can’t judge it too hard for that. I do love a hard boiled lesbian detective with cool powers and a weird mystery brewing in a complicated world. I think it’s pretty cool so far! 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “After We Gazed at the Starry Sky” Vol. 2, by Bisco Kida

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*This book is for mature readers and is rated 18+

Subaru and Tougo are still officially dating, getting serious enough for Tougo to meet Subaru’s parents.

Kinda wild how fast we’re moving through this. Lots of time skips. I think this is VERY idealized. It’s at a breakneck pace to get these two to their happily ever after as fast as possible. Not that I need a lot of angst and pain in my romances but I would have liked to see more of the unique nuances that come with dating as a disabled person. Any issues that do creep up are solved in a snap. Subaru’s parents are a delight, though. Supportive parents and healthy family dynamics are great to see. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Books, Iced Coffee & a Side of Dragons” by Amanda Lovelace & Raquel Travé

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Lucinda owns Little Lighthouse Books, a struggling book store. She deals daily with the antics of her dragon and her crush on Aster, the owner of the coffee shop next door.

This does have Tea Dragon Society vibes in that this book has the coziest vibes and beautiful colors. The drama is very low stakes and grounded. This has great representation and while it’s not subtle, it doesn’t need to be. It’s a cute little sapphic romance and a slice of magical joy that’s sorely needed. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “After We Gazed at the Starry Sky” Vol. 1 by Bisco Kida

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*This book is rated 18+

Subaru Miyazawa was born paralyzed from the knees down and works as a designer. He idolizes a photographer named Tougo Amasem, so when he gets the chance to design some materials for his show, he even takes the chance to attend it and meet his idol.

I think this would qualify as an insta-love plot, or pretty damn close ot it. In fact, it all comes off as extremely idealistic. I know it may seem romantic to be literally swept off one’s feet, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to just pick up a wheelchair user? Without asking or anything? I don’t know any, and I am not one, but it still seems like a bad idea. They’re adorable and all, but not the best example. The smut is minimal, and I do love the art, so it’s not all bad. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Centuria” Vol. 3, by Tohru Kuramori

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Angvall is forced into an impossible choice: obey the orders from the empire she’s pledged her life to, or protect her found family.

This does feel like an Oedipus situation (minus the incest) where by desperately trying to avoid a dismal fate, they’re running headlong into it. Elstri is so certain that Diana will destroy the kingdom, but maybe hunting her down and killing those she loves would give her good reason to? But she’s a zealot and this keeps the story going. It’s still action packed and gives us more characters with other powers. I am super hooked and if you’re into dark fantasy, this series (so far) does not disappoint. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Shinobi Undercover” Vol. 2, by Ippon Takegushi & Santa Mitarashi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Yodoka is still guarding Aoi as they go through normal high school events like a sports festival and the school camping trip. All the while, battling those who seek to capture Aoi.

This really feels like a slice of life, YA, high school romance with ninjas clumsily grafted onto it. As a result, the original premise feels muddled. Right now, they’re just lobbing new enemies at us while sprinkling in high school drama. It’s not bad but not as amusing as I’d hoped. I hope it comes together in the next volume so it feels more like a cohesive story. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Half Is More” Vol. 1 by Yoiko Fujimi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Kazumi Mandanda and her brother, Yoneyama, are Japanese and Black (French Black to be specific). Although they have lived in Japan their entire lives, they struggle with being seen as outsiders, handling this in very different ways.

This starts with Kazumi and her brother, then branches off to the other mixed race friends she has and all the complicated feelings around this weird limbo mixed people life in. Now, I’m a mixed race person in America, where it’s a melting pot and a lot of people look different. Getting the “What are you?” is common, nobody ever guessing what mix you are correctly, getting mistaken for every race but the ones you are… Super fun in the way it’s really fucking not. I’m sure it’s a billion times worse in a homogenous place like Japan. I won’t go into all the shit I’ve been through, but I can totally empathize with a lot of what happens in this book. It’s not a DEEP dive, but it gets the point across. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Black Night Parade” Vol. 3, by Hikaru Nakamura

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The identity of the Red Santa who visited Miharu as a child is finally revealed as the intense testing to become a reindeer continues.

This volume also includes how other members of the cast were recruited into their current roles at the North Pole and how they relate to Miharu. I’m warming up to this series. It’s pretty fun and has some intriguing lore to keep things interesting. The humor is pretty good, too. I don’t wanna say too much to avoid spoilers. 4 out of 5

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Lenni Reviews: “Black Night Parade” Vol. 2, by Hikaru Nakamura

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Miharu has been working hard at The North Pole in his new role of punishing bad children and while the benefits, salary, and coworkers are miles better than his previous job, his old coworker shows up to throw a wrench in the works.

While Kaiser (the old coworker) and his antics rode the fine line between funny and annoying, the best part of this volume was the latter half when we see Miharu as a child. It’s cute and heartwarming and has some cool (if not predictable) plot points that I will not spoil. It’s all still an interesting premise and it’s a decent volume once Kaiser is set aside. 3.5 out of 5.

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