JD’s Bookshelf
FEATURED ADDITION:
A floundering priest. A woman in a wheelchair. An ancient curse.
On the run from a cursed king and his army of assassins, priest Niels Bosch seeks sanctuary in rural Briscona. What he gets is a barrage of intimate and unsettling questions from his new cantor, Beldenka Nadinov. Questions he can’t risk answering.
Accompanied by his friend and bodyguard Mikhandor, and Bel’s protector Leks, the pair set out to challenge the mad king. But Bel has a dark secret of her own – a secret that could endanger the entire mission.
When Niels unearths the chilling truth and realises there’s much more at stake than just his life, it’s too late to turn back. He must lift the curse and end Night’s reign forever.
OK, this isn’t a book (the listing, at least), but I had to include it. Is this series produced at the level of a Game of Thrones by HBO? I don’t think so – but I’m still obsessed! I loved this series as a kid and am enchanted by the characters Amazon has cast. It’s worth a watch.
I was leery about this one, but A Hero Born became one of my all-time favorites within the first hour of listening to the audiobook. It’s a staple in the Chinese literature diet and has sold hundreds of millions of books (indie authors, just think about that)!
The writing is so compelling that I have started taking notes and writing passages to help enhance my own descriptions. From the author’s inventive fight scenes to simple images of unique characters, I’m continually amazed at the skill with which Jin paints in my mind.
This is the work of a true master.
Didn’t think I would let you get away without a bit of self-promotion in my own library, did ya?
I try to promote indie authors as much as possible, but The Poppy War by R.F Kuang merits a place on the shelf. This series is brilliantly written and details the coming of age of Rin, a war orphan trying to make her way. There’s a healthy does of Academy mixed with Hero Overcomes, and several other common writing tropes (and I loved ALL of them in this book).
The bander alone is worth the purchase price. Remember this author’s name. She’s going to be an icon among fantasy writers.
J.D. Ruffin is a member of the Apple and Amazon Associates programs. As an Associate, he earns commission from qualifying purchases.