fantasy

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: “May I Have a Taste?” Vol. 2, by Amidamuku

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

Minoru is gravely injured trying to save Yamadera after he risks his life trying to become a vampire. An older vampire, Mire, comes to assist Minoru.

I like that the world is expanding. I don’t like Yamadera, so spending time with any other character is a net positive. We do get some backstory for Mine, another new vampire, Itachi, and introduce Mei, who reminds me of Kiku from Call of the Night. I’m glad what seemed to be a predatory version of Ko annoying Minoru, who just wants to live his life, is shaping into something more. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Champion of the Rose” Vol. 1, by Cat Aquino & Dominique Duran

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

Princess Rosa’s brother tragically dies, making her hair to the throne of the Empire of Sagrada. As the largest kingdom in the Known World, Rosa looks forward to serving her people and the Dying God they all worship but instead, her father holds a tournament where the prize is her hand in marriage. Desperate to become queen and make real change, she enlists Rey as her champion. Rey is a swordsman from one of the kingdom’s colonies and only wants to earn enough money to return to his native lands.

It’s interesting that Rosa is a mixed-race princess of a kingdom fueled by colonizing others. She has to come to terms with what her kingdom has done to people who look just like her. She may have been relatively sheltered as a princess, but that doesn’t stop the whispers and judgment. Rey is a transman and a fucking badass, who literally and figuratively is infected by the evils done by those who’ve conquered his people. The combat is fantastically done. It’s ruthless and dark. It reminds me of Centuria, making this a damn good dark fantasy. 4.5 out of 5.

 

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Lenni Reviews: “Taika’s Reason” Vol. 1 by Paru Itagaki

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is suggested for mature readers.

To address the problem of declining birth rates, the Pet Humanization Policy is established, turning pets into humanoids. When Ao’s pet pitbull undergoes the procedure, she is unsure if he is behind a gruesome attack.

This is gorier than I ever anticipated. I thought this would be a goofier version of Fool Night, but instead of plants, it’s pets. I’d get some laughs over the humanized Taika adjusting to being in a human body with dog senses, but nah. There is death and gore. Major whiplash. I love how Paru Itagaki seriously explores the implications of this world and the darker implications of “what if our pets were human?” I feel the art is a bit too sketchy in some places. I feel like “sloppy” is too mean a term for it but it takes some extra effort to understand some scenes. But I’m into it. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rooster Fighter” Vol. 10 by Shu Sakuratani

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

Morio and Chicken Little head to the ocean while Keisuke and his group make a journey into underground caves on a quest to enter the Inner Yolk.

This is a lot of lore about the eggs and getting ready to train with whichever element the members of the group match with. I love that Elizabeth has her own side quest that’s relevant and shows off her skills. While this may feel a bit like filler, I’m hoping all this lore and training will have a good payoff. Chicken Little and Morio may be a complete side story, but their relationship is really sweet, and I enjoy it when they’re featured. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Lumine” Vol. 4, by Emma Krogell

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

After an emergency teleportation, Kody and Lumine are stranded alone in Terranevo, Lumine’s home country.

I’m enjoying the location change. The new characters are interesting, and of course, learning more about Lumine is a treat. He has a classic tragic backstory for a protagonist, but it makes for a good tone only to bring back a bit of humor later on. We’re slowly learning more about other characters and the world around them, and all the magic and history is intriguing. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Tales of Iga” Vol. 1, by Regujie

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

Set in feudal Japan in 1560, Masayasu wants to become a shinobi to protect is village. As he’s training with Hanzo, The Templars have come to Japan to claim three sacred treasures. Hanzo becomes embroiled in the battle with the Assassins against the Templars.

A lot of this volume is Masayasu training with Hanzo and Tsuyu, a young woman Assassin. But when the action starts, it’s glorious. The action can have blank backgrounds but the human movement is well done, which is important with you’re dealing with a franchise known for its action. It’s an interesting start and I’m curious as to where this will go, as this was a LOT of set up. A tentative 3.5 out of 5 since the pacing is off in some places.

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Lenni Reviews: “Magical Girl Dandelion” Vol. 2, by Kaeru Mizuho

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

After Tanpopo’s battle with Alice concludes, Peony discovers her connection to Shade.

Peony reacts as you’d expect, unwilling to accept that some fiends can be different. This volume expands the world and lore, using Peony and Tanpopo’s differing views on how to fight fiends. I’m sure we’ll get more backstory about why Peony is so gung-ho about killing fiends as we go. It was cool to see the two magical girls working together. They have the odd couple thing going on, and it’s interesting to see them use their abilities. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Search for Sadiqah” by Greg Burnham

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

At 13, Sadiqah is a teacher’s pet, but her life is thrown into chaos after the Tulsa Massacre. Her family gone, she embarks on a quest to find her ancestral home.

While I love me some historical fantasy with awesome Black protagonists, I feel like the pacing of this book is off. There are places where I can tell it would be so much more impactful if a moment were allowed to stretch or a scene were a bit longer. I totally understand how much work goes into creating a graphic novel. It’s not like a novel where you can sink deep into a scene with a few more sentences. Instead, you have to add multiple panels and pages. But, even still, I have to say some parts felt a bit too rushed, and I wanted more. Wanting more of something isn’t a negative here, really, since I think the book is good. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mao” Vol. 24, by Rumiko Takahashi

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

Mao and company heal with the Tazuru family, cursed by the seed of Haku. Afterwards, Mao investigates cursed beauty products and the “Box of Monstrocity.”

We’re back to what may feel like a ‘villain of the week’ format, but the Goku Clan’s artifacts are a consistent throughline. Aside for them continuing to just be the worst, it’s so cool to see Mao and Nanoka working together. Yeah, you can see the romance building, but I can see he respects not only her abilities but her drive to improve them. They have a great dynamic. 4 out of 5.

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