#Valtai

[helieanmail]

El Correo de Sinervä. 9 de Décima del 854ECO.

Alkonen Vanantir VI, reina de Vuonia.

Sinervä, Jyömmyvä 9 de Jonnulta de 1712EV.

¡Larga vida a la Espada del Invierno!

En los tiempos convulsos que vive nuestro país, Su Alteza la Reina Vanantir VI tomó ayer las riendas del Trono, poniendo fin al brevísimo reinado de su media hermana Taaru.

La coronación tomó lugar, como es costumbre, en el Templo del Altar Mayor de Sinervä, cuyas puertas se abrieron para toda Vuonia. La ciudad se volcó con su nueva reina, mostrando su apoyo y entusiasmo al abarrotar el templo y sus alrededores. Después de esta magnífica ceremonia, llena de solemnidad, Su Alteza fue escoltada hacia su carruaje por un cuerpo de infantes de marinería del Acorazado Meikka Italven, buque insignia de nuestra Armada, liderando el pelotón la Almirante Kätessilä Hyrän Rästeilänen, que ocupó el puesto que normalmente ocuparía el General Sylmääten Taalon Känvälten. La razón de este cambio de protocolo no ha trascendido.

Durante el desfile se dejaron ver caras ya conocidas entre los miembros del Consejo de Primacía, pero también otras nuevas, como la de Tella Väinneän, médico hilirio de nuestra nunca olvidada Virta. Es uno de los hombres de confianza para la Reina y firme candidato a ostentar el cargo de Granintendente del Trono.

Una vez la comitiva real se instaló en la Ciudadela, pudimos presenciar el solemne discurso de nuestra nueva Reina. Vanantir VI, antes soldado que noble, antes capitana que reina, prometió pragmatismo, servicio y elevar la dignidad del nombre de Valtai a través de elevar la dignidad de su pueblo. Atacó sin dudarlo a los Antiguos, a los que no dudó en tachar de “vagos, estorbos” o “una desgracia para todo lo que es Santo”. El origen bastardo de Vanantir no parece haber sido un problema para encabezar el descontento creciente hacia la dinastía de los Alkonen, es más, le ha servido para desmarcarse de su recientemente fallecido padre y de su hermana, y ofrecer un nuevo amanecer para el Trono y para Vuonia.

Ha generado grandes expectativas entre los ciudadanos. La impopular guerra con Itbria a la que su padre nos arrastró promete ser abordada en los próximos días. Quizás llegue a su fin. 

En cualquier caso, es tiempo de alegría, celebración y, sobre todo, esperanza.

¡Valtai en el Cielo, la Reina en la Tierra!

—Ältöjen Rihan Huuren, para el Saanutsa Sinerves, en Sinervä a 9 de Jonnulta del 1712 de la Era Valtánica.

[lazyscience]

DCC Challenge, Day 10

Time To Floor Collapse: 20 days, 3.5 hours (give or take)

Time for the recap episode!

Crawler @quartzandsundry

New Achievement! Boil 'Em! Mash 'Em! Stick 'Em Inna - Wait, Is This Revolutionary Agitprop?

I mean, that's cool if it IS, I just want to know if I should be celebrating carbs or commandos!

Reward: A gold My Preciousssss box! Inside, a liter of Hobgoblin Pus, a Ring of Divine Suffering, and a jar of Spiceology Greek Freak seasoning (With salt, good for dinner AND anti-witchcraft alchemy supplies)

Crawler @kathrynalexao3:

New Achievement! Reduce, Reuse, Reanimate!

I hear The Undertaker had to be dialed back from his originally satanic origins, because well, it was hard to sell Coke to Middle America.

Here, selling K0CQ to Central System? Sucks to suck. Who would you rather have, one aging biker in face paint or a whole pack of zombies from the dead guys he can't shovel fast enough?

I mean, I know which one I would pick.

Reward: A gold Stone Cold box! Inside, a tome of Second Chance, a scroll of You're Not Done Yet, and a Canadian flag patch - no enchantment, just in anticipatory celebration of a new chapter pending to the Geneva Conventions!

Crawler @king-ofconfusion:

New Achievement! What Doesn't Kill Me Just Pisses Me Off!

Anybody out there talking about the power of love to change the world has never met spite. I'm just saying.

Reward: A silver It's Just Us Pissed-off Cockroach Motherfuckers Now box! Inside, 10 scrolls of Summon Scatterers, a tome of Combine Critter, and a couple potions of Liquid Therapy because mayyyybe you're gonna need it afterwards.

Crawler @oreniaa:

New Achievement! We're Getting The Band Back Together!

So what do you get when you cram an eldritch horror into a guitar, string it with a siren's hair and plug it into a soul crystal?

You will ABSOLUTELY be able to save The Penguin.

Reward: A gold We're On a Mission from God box! Inside are two potions of Bard's Golden Throat, a scroll of Teleport, an enchanted M-16 Infinitely Repeating Rifle of the Scorned Ex-Girlfriend, half a pack of cigarettes, and a pair of sunglasses. Just regular sunglasses.

Crawler @cairfrey :

New Achievement! Purple Reign!

Congratulations on a successful collaboration with Prepotente! He's a fan favorite, but um...if I said 'not a team player' that wouldn't be the half of it.

That said, he does enjoy cats, pentagrams, lush gothic aesthetics, and the old Elvira tapes reminded him of his mom.

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Your hair will probably turn back to its normal color eventually.

Reward: A gold Mistress of the Dark box! Inside, an enchanted Onyx Ring of Charm Night Creatures (effective against wolf-, bat- and vampiric mobs), and an enchanted Nightdress of +5 Charisma and also +5 to Pass Without Trace/Stealth/Concealment skills.

Crawler @deathdovesong

New Achievement! Bring Lawyers, Guns and Money!

The most powerful magic words anywhere in the universe? "I want to talk to my lawyer." It's really surprising more people don't know them! But you, crawler, you get me. And you get legal representation! While the mudskippers and brainslugs would like to PRETEND to ignore that, the truth is, if they did...well, here's the thing about mercenaries? They REALLY LIKE CONTRACTS. and the thing about corporates? they're REALLY REALLY squishy. That socially maladjusted Sacc from planet Meta notwithstanding. One Shade Gnoll pissed off about his bonus would splatter his ass like all-you-can-eat calamari.

Reward: a golden Shit Has Hit The Fan box! Includes a Valtay neural interface of Start/Pause Record, a blaster pistol, and 50,000 gold - also an Enchanted Toe Ring of the Splatter Skunk. Because if Daddy's gonna bail you out...it's time to pay the daddy tax. Hope you held onto your pumice stone!

Crawler @clearbrightlight

New Achievement! Grease Monkey!

You and your engineering tables and crafting tables - who needs to farm items when you can fix the broken and upgrade the used?

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without - you are getting every scrap out of your raw materials for mayhem.

Reward: A +20% bonus to prices for your handcrafted/upgraded items on the Syndicate Market and Silk Road bazaar, and a Personal Space Upgrade to increase your tinkerin' room!

Crawler @lazyscience:

New Achievement: Walk It Off!

The crawl doesn't stop while you're processing it. Keep moving, keep training, keep maintaining. keep on keepin' on. Good job not obsessively doomscrolling on Bluesky though.

Reward: When you have decluttered the kitchen counter and run the dishwasher, we can talk about your next reward.

ATTENTION, all partied crawlers! Don't forget to update me on mobs, quests, or parties (defined at link) so I can award you achievements! Please let me know either in the replies to this post, reblogging with additions, or hit my askbox/DMs!

(please, do this, even with small and silly mobs/quests, it makes giving achievements so much easier!)

[hell-garden]

The Valtay and Kua-tin, talking about whether or not to execute me:

Me, so hard that I can't think straight because of the power dynamic: hnnggg harder daddy

[random-jot]

The WAKING LAND Trilogy | Book Review

In my latest review I discuss Callie Bates' The Waking Land, The Memory Of Fire, and The Soul Of Power and share why I think this series deserves more recognition!

As always, likes/shares/comments on the vid/etc. are greatly appreciated ^_^

[rockislandadultreads]

Fantasy for Adults: the 1st in the series

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy #1)

by N.K. Jemisin

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle.

The Waking Land (The Waking Land #1)

by Callie Bates

Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the King who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder and must flee for her life. Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition powers that suddenly stir within her. But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart.

Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening (Monstress #1)

by Marjorie M. Liu, Sana Takeda (Illustrator)

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers.

The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1)

by Erika Johansen

Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler—and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown. Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust. But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend . . . if she can survive. This book will be a beautifully designed package with illustrated endpapers, a map of the Tearling, and a ribbon marker.

[its-ashley-95baybe]

Is taylor single? Maybe another reason why T2 is adamant about trying to be with Val during tour. 😂 besides the normal clingyness. Im lowkey rooting for a ValTay to happen. Sorry Shai😁😅😘

I heard she had a bf but that was a few months ago. Lowkey rooting for them too. I guess Shaylor can be my side ship💁🏽😂

[gohindilyrics]

https://ift.tt/3dg7VDX

याडं लागलं | YAD LAGLA  SONG LYRICS IN MARATHI | SAIRAT | AJAY-ATUL : Yad Lagla  Song Lyrics is from Marathi movie “Sairat” This heart touching Marathi song composed and lyrics by Ajay-Atul, This song is sung by Ajay Gogavale . Sairat Movie is directed by Nagraj Manjule. Starring Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar.

Yad Lagla is another best song from duo Ajay-Atul. Director’s eyes are really cinematic. He has potrayed the emotions of love on screen. The choreography and selection of body moves and the story and the locations behind, everything is so perfect. Now coming to music it’s phenomenonal. Each and every scene has a internal meaning and tells you the essence of Love. Just close your eyes.. Listen to the music.. You’ll feel like you’re in heaven. That’s the magic of this beautiful song.The feelings are very well depicted in this fabulous movie…YAD LAGLA song was recorded at the famous Sony Studios in the US with the Live Symphony Orchestra, with top most 66 musicians. A heart touching love song, portrays the devotion of lover towards his love saying he is mad in her love. 

♪गीत: याडं लागलं

♪गीतकार : अजय – अतुल

♪गायक : अजय गोगावले

♪संगीतकार : अजय – अतुल

♪चित्रपट : सैराट (२०१६)

याडं लागलं | YAD LAGLA  SONG LYRICS IN MARATHI | SAIRAT | AJAY-ATUL

याडं लागलं रं याडं लागलं रं रंगलं तुझ्या�� याडं लागलं रं वास ह्यो ऊसांत येई कस्तुरीचा चाखलंया वारं ग्वाडं लागलं रं

चांद भासतो… दिसाचं मावळाया लागलं आस लागली… मनात कालवाया लागलं

याडं लागलं रं याडं लागलं रं रंगलं तुझ्यात याडं लागलं रं वास ह्यो ऊसांत येई कस्तुरीचा चाखलंया वारं ग्वाडं लागलं रं

सांगवंना, बोलवंना, मन झुरतया दुरून पळतंया कळतंया, वळतयं मागं फिरून सजलं गं, धजलं गं, लाज काजला सारलं येंधळं हे गोंधळलं लाडं लाडं गेलं हरून

भाळलं असं ऊरातं पालवाया लागलं हे.. ओढं लागली मनातं चाळवायां लागलं याडं लागलं रं याडं लागलं रं

सुलगंना, उलगंना, जाळ आतल्या आतला दुखनं हे देखनं गं एकलच हाय साथीला काजळीला उजळलं पाजळुन ह्या वातीला चांदणीला आवतान धाडतुया रोज रातीला झोप लागना सपान जागवाया लागलं पाखरू कसं आभाळ पांघराया लागलं

♪Song: Yad Lagla

♪Movie: Sairat

♪Music Director: Ajay-Atul

♪Lyricist: Ajay-Atul

♪Singer: Ajay Gogavale

♪Label: Zee Music Company

♪Recorded At:Sony Scoring Stage

♪Release Date:May 26, 2016

याडं लागलं | YAD LAGLA  SONG LYRICS IN ENGLISH | SAIRAT | AJAY-ATUL

Yad Lagla Ra Yad lagla Ra Rangala Tuzyat Yad Lagla Ra Vas Hyo Usat Yei Kasturicha Chakhalaya Vara Gvad Lagla Ra

Chand Bhasto…Disacha Malvaya Lagla Aas Lagli…. Manat Kalvaya Lagla

Yad Lagla Ra Yad lagla Ra Rangala Tuzyat Yad Lagla Ra Vas Hyo Usat Yei Kasturicha Chakhalaya Vara Gvad Lagla Ra

Sangavana, Bolavana, Man Zurtaya Durun Paltaya Kaltaya, Valtay Maga Firun Sajala Ga, Dhajala Ga, Laj Kajala Sarala, Yendhala He Gondhalala Lada Lada Gela Harun

Bhalala Asa Urat Palavaya Lagla He..Odh Lagli Manat Chalavaya Lagla Yad Lagla Ra Yad Lagla Ra

Sulgana, Ulgana, Jal Aatalya Aatla Dukhana He Dekhana Ga Ekalach Hay Sathila Kajalila Ujalala Pajalalun Hya Vatila Chandanila Aavatan Dhadatuya Roj Ratila Zop lagana Sapan Jagavaya Lagla Pakharu Kasa Aabhala Pangharaya Lagla

The post याडं लागलं | YAD LAGLA SONG LYRICS IN MARATHI | SAIRAT | AJAY-ATUL appeared first on Go Hindi Lyrics.

[surejaya]

The Soul of Power

The Soul of Power by Callie Bates

One young woman learns the true nature of power--both her own and others'--in the riveting conclusion to The Waking Land Trilogy. "Bates brilliantly concludes an impressive high fantasy trilogy with this tale of scheming and magic."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) Sophy Dunbarron--the illegitimate daughter of a king who never was--has always felt like an impostor. Separated from her birth mother, raised by parents mourning the loss of their true daughter, and unacknowledged by her father, Sophy desires only a place and a family to call her own. But fate has other ideas. Caught up in Elanna Valtai's revolution, Sophy has become the reigning monarch of a once-divided country--a role she has been groomed her whole life to fill. But as she quickly discovers, wearing a crown is quite a different thing from keeping a crown. With an influx of magic-bearing refugees pouring across the border, resources already thinned by war are stretched to the breaking point. Half the nobility in her court want her deposed, and the other half question her every decision. And every third person seems to be spontaneously manifesting magical powers. When Elanna is captured and taken to Paladis, Sophy's last ally seems to have vanished. Now it is up to her alone to navigate a political maze that becomes more complex and thorny by the day. And worse, Sophy is hiding a huge secret--one that could destroy her tenuous hold on the crown forever. "Sophy is truly a feminist hero: she embraces equality and justice for all--a theme running throughout the novel--while challenging societal norms."--Booklist Don't miss any of Callie Bates's magical Waking Land trilogy: THE WAKING LAND - THE MEMORY OF FIRE - THE SOUL OF POWER

Download : The Soul of Power The Soul of Power More Book at: Zaqist Book

[stacks-reviews]

New Releases 6/27/17

Happy New Release Day! This weeks consists of robots in space, everyday life of a fledgling superhero, a trip across Europe, a power called Geass, a class made of assassins, and more.

In Books --The Adventures of a Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks “What if you can leap tall buildings and defeat alien monsters with your bare hands, but you buy your capes at secondhand stores and have a weakness for kittens?” The everyday tales of a super girl as she saves people, as she updates her family on how she is doing, and as she tries to keep a part-time job but forgets to remove her mask before work. With an arch-nemesis who’s only superpower is letting our hero know she is doing the superhero thing wrong. This particular version of this graphic novel is a expanded edition. It was originally printed in 2013 but has been reprinted a few times since. This edition will include two new stories and new art. I have never read it before but I really wanna give it a try.

--Descender volume 4 by Jeff Lemire, artist Dustin Nguyen One day giant robots appear out of nowhere bringing death and destruction across the galaxy. As a consequence all robots are now outlawed and are hunted and destroyed by bounty hunters. Ten years after the attack an android named Tim-21 awakens to find his home destroyed and the human boy he was bought for gone. Tim sets out to find his human along with his robot dog and a mining droid. But Tim will be hunted down as his robot DNA might just reveal how to defeat the giant robots if they ever return. I love this series. This is probably my favorite release for this week. I started reading this series early this year. It is very good and the art is amazing. Dustin Nguyen did a wonderful job with the watercolor. There’s a great cast of characters but Tim is probably my favorite character. I would definitely check it out. I recommend it to everyone that I help in the graphic novel section at work. If you love robots, robots in space, and the exploration into what defines being human (there’s rogue robots who just want to live instead of being destroyed and will fight back) then read Descender.

--The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee I first wrote this down to research it because I was imagining the worst. I was thinking something along the lines of, ‘they are not publishing a book that says treating women in such a way is okay’. But then it became so much better. Henry Montague’s days of pleasure and vice; with both men and women, are rapidly coming to an end. His father is going to force Henry to start taking care of the family estate. As a final hurrah, Henry invites his best friend and secret crush; Percy, to travel across Europe with him. When one of Henry’s reckless decisions sends him and Percy into a manhunt it will have Henry questioning everything he knows. Including his thoughts about the boy he secretly adores.  The description of this book did not go at all the way I was expecting. I’m really excited to give this a try. I love everything about it already. As long as it doesn’t end up supporting treating people like crap, basically. 

--Land of the Lustrous volume 1 by Haruko Ichikawa The Lustrous are crystalline lifeforms; each gem has unique powers, who are hunted by a group called lunarians who would turn the Lustrous into decorations.  I mostly want to read this cause I immediately thought of Steven Universe when I read the description. 

--The Waking Land by Callie Bates Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to her King who raised her like a daughter. But when he mysteriously dies, Elanna is accused of murdering him and must flee to her homeland full of magical legends. And to her birth father who was branded a traitor. Now she must confront the powers that have stirred within her and seem to grow as she connects to the natural world. Now Elanna must stop the threat that has chased her to her homeland and rebel against the kingdom she once called home. It reminds me of Uprooted by Naomi Novik and I really enjoyed that book.

In moives/tv shows --Assassination Classroom S2P2 The conclusion of Assassination Classroom is finally out today. The truth about Koro-Sensei will finally be revealed. But once Class E learns the truth, will they be able to assassinate the best teacher they’ve ever had? If you haven’t seen this series before or haven’t read the manga yet, you should. This series has had surprisingly good character development. When I first started reading the manga I thought it would just be this silly series but then it became so much more that just silly. It’s a really good blend of comedy, action, and can be very sweet. I haven’t seen the anime yet; although I own the first season, but from what I’ve seen and heard it follows the manga very well.

--Blue Exorcist Complete Box Set (blu-ray) For the first time the hit anime is out in a complete box set. Twin brothers; Rin and Yukio, were raised by an exorcists named Father Shiro Fujimoto. One day their home is attacked and Rin finds out his biological father is Satan. In order to avenge those that were lost during the battle Rin decides to train to become an exorcist in order to defeat Satan. Blue Exorcist is a really good series if you haven’t seen it yet. I’m not sure how well it follows the manga though. I think the end of the first season was different from the manga but I’m not 100% positive. I did flip through some of the volumes when season two started and it looked like the first part of S2 followed the manga pretty well. The set does cost $159.98 but the first season is available for streaming on Netflix and both are on Crunchyroll.

--Code Geass: Akito the Exiled The OVA series of the hit anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. It’s five episodes but each episode should be around 50 minutes. Characters from the series will make an appearance. I’m really excited for this release but all it has made me want to do is to rewatch the original series. Characters will be returning for this but I’m not quite sure how or what part they will play. 

--Panda Go Panda (on blu-ray) A little girl who lives with a Panda and it’s baby. I didn’t know much about this title until it was mentioned in a panel at a con I went to this year. Afterwards, I found out that it was getting a blu-ray release. From what I remember our main character either thinks that PapaPanda is her father or PapaPanda offers to become her father while her family is away. Throughout the town tries to let her know that her Papa is a panda and the police and most the town try to catch them. It looks really cute. It’s only 80 minutes long. It’s two episodes.

--Sea Prince and the Fire Child (on blu-ray) One long ago fire spirits and wind spirits lived as one till one day the Lord of the Winds drove a rift between the Queen of Fire and her brother, the King of Water. Ever since then, the fire spirits and water spirits have been at war with one another. One day the Prince of Fire and the Princess of Water met and fell in love. Their only chance of living together means traveling to a distant star where fire and water spirits live in peace but they much reach the hill of Elysium by the next solar eclipse. 

--Sword Art Online Box Set (blu-ray) One of the top favorite ‘getting stuck inside a video game’ series around is now available in a box set. All 25 episodes with some special features. The blu-ray is $159.95 and the dvd set is $69.98 BUT the dvd won’t be out until 8/1. Personally, I am holding out a small, small hope that I might come across the limited editions of the parts. I have the first one but missed out on the rest. If I break and buy the set someday, I’ll probably get the dvd. Unless the blu-ray set happens to have a good sale someday. I’m in no hurry cause my heart still heavily belongs to .hack//sign. SAO has some great fight scenes but I have stronger feelings toward .hack//sign. 

--Yu-Gi-Oh Dark Side of Dimensions The original crew is back! Yugi and the gang are about to graduate from high school. Then trouble starts when a boy named Aigami arrives. He blames Bakura for the death of his mention; and former holder of the Millennium Ring, and it out for revenge. It’s up to Yugi to save Bakura and the rest of his friends. I managed to catch this movie when it came to theaters. It was great because I hadn’t seen Yu-Gi-Oh in a long time. Most of the original voice actors returned to dub it which I was very happy about. There was a minor change in a characters back story but it had been so long since I had seen the series that I didn’t notice it until someone pointed it out to me.

[snark-notes]

Book Review: The Waking Land by Callie Bates

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book site

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Elanna Valtai was taken from her family at the age of five and has grown up in the castle of their enemy. After fourteen years living there, she’s grown to consider the king a father and longs to live out her life as a botanist. But when he is killed unexpectedly, and she is framed for the murder, she has to flee back to her homeland. Once there she realizes that the magic she has been hiding her entire life is an asset, there are hundreds of people ready to rise up in rebellion, and that her life is going to be anything but simple.

Ah, man. I really wanted to like this book. So much about it was really exciting: female characters with agency, an interesting take on magic, and all the elements of a high fantasy adventure. Sadly, things just didn’t seem to ever come together. As I wrote in my brief Goodreads synopsis: imagine you have a bunch of really great ingredients to make a really delicious meal, but you don't really know how to cook so you just throw things in and hope it works. Thus, when you give it a try, it's okay but you are overall fairly unsatisfied.

My biggest frustration with this book was how the inner monologue was used. Yes, this is a first person narrative and I expected some, but I didn’t expect the author to return to it every three or four pages. And what was worse is that Elanna liked returning to the same four freaking topics every time. The book comes in around 400 pages and I feel like it easily could’ve been trimmed down to 320 without this useless narration.

I think that someone (the author? The editing team?) assumed that the audience was dumber than they are. After introducing names, ideas, or places specific to this world, all of the characters or the insufferable inner monologue repeats them so many times that I just wanted to beat the book against my head. We get it. You’re the warden of the land. We get it. You wedded the land. WE. GET. IT.

But here are some things that I liked:

Some have said that the romance in the book was evident and boring, but I don’t fully agree with that. I appreciate that the author stayed away from a love triangle and that there was some actual sex in a YA book. The sex isn’t explicit or anything, but it’s refreshing that characters get to finally indulge in something they clearly want to do.

I also enjoyed the potential of the characters. While not were all fully realized (and some had some dumb backstory and motivation), many had some good groundwork that may help them be really great in future installments. I particularly liked that Elanna was older than a typical YA heroine at 19, that she was studious, and that she had flaws.

I can’t really say that I would recommend this book, but I have read worse in the past year (See the godawful A Court of Thorns and Roses). Plenty of people seemed to enjoy it on Goodreads, though.

I would give it a 2.5, but rounded it down to a 2/5 on my Goodreads account which translates to “It was okay.”

[lazyscience]

DCC Challenge, Day 5

Time To Floor Collapse: 25 days, 3 hours (give or take)

Time for the recap episode!

Crawler @quartzandsundry

New Achievement! "Dave's not here, man"

And neither are you - at least, as far as mobs, crawlers, and even your party can detect. Stealth is a critical advantage in the crawl; least in sight, least targeted. But watch out - when nobody can see you, nobody knows when you're falling behind. And the mobs?

the mobs can smell you.

Just a friendly reminder!

Reward: A silver Griffin box! Inside are High Elven Stormtrooper boots of +3 Stealth (unlike those city elf knobs, these work), and 3 scrolls of Ping because the only thing more fun than not being found -is knowing how to find someone else.

Crawler @kathrynalexao3:

New Achievement! Don't Stop Till You Get Enough!

The problem with fighting your way to the top is the fight at the top, of course, but you twisted, shimmied, slid and slipped through the grasping claws. Insufficient backup? you know what winners call that? MORE ROOM FOR FIREBALL.

Reward: A Legendary Who's Bad? Box, including a headset of Bard's Golden Throat and sheet music for Entourage, so you can be your OWN backup!

Crawler @king-ofconfusion:

New Achievement! Ya Gotta Have Faith!

After a long, painful slog (be sure to use your pedicure buff) you have cut through the Confusing Fog to achieve your objective. Take a deep breath and appreciate it while you have it, before the map closes in again.

Reward: A silver Shell Shocked box! inside, a tome of Wall of Fire, scrolls of Heal Critter x3, and 100 Pet Biscuits!

Crawler @oreniaa:

New Achievement! I'm An Old Gymnast!

Sometimes I even surprise myself with the shit I come up with. I'm just THAT GOOD, crawler. But here's the thing, it's all worth it when the screaming starts. I don't ask for much, just abject horror at the work of my hands. The pliable, pliable work of my hands.

Reward: A silver Druk box! Inside are 2 jugs of Rev-Up Toilet Grade Moonshine, a pair of Dexterity +10 ballet slippers, and an inexplicable bundle of white rhubarb.

Crawler @cairfrey :

New Achievement! Here Comes The Old Boss...Same as the New Boss?

A lot of people thought this one was dead, until SMASH goes the cockroach and up jumps the boss once more time with FEELING. What, you all thought crawlers were the only ones who could do that? That's precious. I didn't think anybody in here could have ANY scraps of naivete left.

Not you, though. What can I say, I do have to respect a challenge.

Reward: A Silver Don't Gaslight Me Jesus box! Inside, a box of impact-activated HobLobbers and Hobgoblin Smoke Curtains. They might be, um, a bit mixed up. I hope you've got a Sapper's Table to sort 'em out! Also included, 5 doses of Rev-up Immunity Smoothie. Tastes like ass, but takes the edge off. Also something tells me immunity is going to be more important than ever going forward!

Crawler @deathdovesong

New Achievement! Duck! No, Duck! In a top hat!

A sense of humor goes a long way in the dungeon. Well, it goes a lot farther with a great big blaster on your hip, but well, this ain't a Valtay crawl, I don't know what to tell you. But you're not boring me! and that's a good way to make it to the next floor.

Reward: a silver Angel of the Night box, including Claw Gauntlets of +5 piercing damage, two Poison Antidote scrolls and one of Phase Through Wall.

Crawler @clearbrightlight

New Achievement! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!

...you understand you're supposed to KILL mobs, not tame them and send them before you as your savage minion army, right?

I mean, not before you have the mana points to CAST that, at least!

Reward: A Gold Who's A Good Horde Then? box! Inside, Pet Biscuits x100, a Stable upgrade for your personal space so the Bopcas don't riot, and a scroll of Pied Piper in case you run out of pet biscuits and have to improvise.

Crawler @lazyscience:

New Achievement: Killer Queen!

You kept the PAT from biting you in the ass; the collaborator mob took a chunk out of your hindquarters (sorry about that, that glitch has been patched) but the mobs are down, at least until the next boss quest...Now go get your ass in the training room for your next level in Not Falling and Being Unable To Get up!

Reward: A silver I Want To Break Free! Box with a scroll of Get Out Of Jail x3, a scroll of Siren's Voice and a pair of Adidas Superstars with a +3 to Dexterity.

ATTENTION, all partied crawlers! Don't forget to update me on mobs, quests, or parties (defined at link) so I can award you achievements! Please let me know either in the replies to this post, reblogging with additions, or hit my askbox/DMs!

(please, do this, even with small and silly mobs/quests, it makes giving achievements so much easier!)

[agrimscythe]

Book Review: The Waking Land (The Waking Land, #1) by Callie Bates

Book Review: The Waking Land (The Waking Land, #1) by Callie Bates

© Del Rey Books, 2017.

Synopsis:

“Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the King who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder and must flee for her life.

Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a…

[random-jot]

Fan-Casting for 'The Waking Land' by Callie Bates

Jessica Henwick as Elanna Valtai, 'The Caveadear' & Kit Young as Jahan Korakides, 'The Korakos'

[rockislandadultreads]

Fantastic Worlds: a reading list

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

The Waking Land by Callie Bates

Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the King who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder and must flee for her life. Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition powers that suddenly stir within her. But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box. But when the Eastwood sisters--James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna--join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive. There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

Gods meddle in the fates of men, men play with the fates of gods, and a pretender must be cast down from the throne in this breathtaking first fantasy novel from Ann Leckie, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Awards. For centuries, the kingdom of Iraden has been protected by the god known as the Raven. He watches over his territory from atop a tower in the powerful port of Vastai. His will is enacted through the Raven's Lease, a human ruler chosen by the god himself. His magic is sustained via the blood sacrifice that every Lease must offer. And under the Raven's watch, the city flourishes. But the power of the Raven is weakening. A usurper has claimed the throne. The kingdom borders are tested by invaders who long for the prosperity that Vastai boasts. And they have made their own alliances with other gods. It is into this unrest that the warrior Eolo--aide to Mawat, the true Lease--arrives. And in seeking to help Mawat reclaim his city, Eolo discovers that the Raven's Tower holds a secret. Its foundations conceal a dark history that has been waiting to reveal itself...and to set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Iraden forever.

[varpusvaras]

feliscybernicus replied to your photo: Iskä kaivoi tän mun upean luomuksen jostai...

Lähtisköhän Morsokin maanpakoon, vai yhdistäisköhän ne voimansa ja valtais maailman tyyliin Äly ja Väläys. :–D

Toivon todella ensimmäistä.

[thefandomnet]

Book Review: THE WAKING LAND by Callie Bates

THE WAKING LAND has a great high fantasy feel, but could use a little more development. The Waking Land by Callie Bates is, in some ways, a coming-of-age book set in a magical world. The plot revolves around the first person narration of Elanna Valtai, an ambitious and curious rebel’s daughter...

http://bit.ly/2y3h7Y0