#WWW and #WIPpet Wednesday – 13 July, 2016

Hey guys. Just letting you know that except in a couple of cases, due to blogging technology being against me, I am having trouble commenting on posts on non-Wordpress blogs. I am not ignoring you, I just can’t get them to post! 😦

It’s time for WWW Wednesday! This is a blog hop hosted by Sam over at A World Of Words. Link up with us by commenting on Sam’s post for today, and just answer the three questions.

• What are you currently reading?

I am back to reading Wonder Women by Sam Maggs. I’m still really appreciating learning about all these awesome women who history has forgotten, but I am still a little irked by the Tumblr-esque writing style. It’s fine if I’m on Tumblr, but I’m trying to read a book. I should finish this over the next few days and hopefully have a review up on Monday.

Also just started the audio book of Paper Daisies by Kim Kelly. Early days yet, and while there are a couple of things already irking me about the writing style, I think they might stop once the story really gets going, so I’m continuing for now.

• What have you recently finished reading?

Nothing,  unfortunately, apart from DNFing The Secret River by Kate Grenville. I was disappointed because I loved her other book, The Lieutenant, but this one was just so dull!

I did, however, post reviews both for All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga. Click the links to read them.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I’ve decided to start trying to whittle away at the unread stuff on my Kindle, and I plan to start with Isla’s Inheritance, the first in a series by local author Cassandra Page. My aim is to try to get through one or two Kindle books a month, along with everything else. I’m also trying to nut out how to approach my reading challenges in the second half of the year, so I have a few other things on my immediate radar for that.

And now for WIPpet Wednesday. This is another blog hop in which writers share excerpts from their current WIP that somehow relate to the date. Clicking the blue guy on the right will take you to the linkup for this one. I’m still sharing from my July Camp NaNo project. The night before, Frederick Merrow had been showing Grace some of his magic, which led to Grace being awake all night thinking about it, and being unfit for work the next morning. Seven paragraphs for the seventh month.

“It’s Frederick,” the voice outside replied, startling Grace into leaping out of bed. “I heard you were unwell. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Grace opened the door. She must have still looked exhausted because he took a step back to take her all in and then said, “I hope I am not to blame for your current state.”

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” she said. “I kept thinking about everything you showed me. So I suppose it is your fault in a way.”

Frederick barked out a laugh.

“Sir, surely you shouldn’t be down here.”

Frederick shrugged. “Why ever not? This is my house, isn’t it? I can go where I please.”

“Yes, but… going to the bedroom of one of your female servants. What would people think?”

That’s it from me, see you on your blogs!

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“The grownup who says they know what they’re doing is a grownup who’s lying // Review of “Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge” by Paul Krueger.

Title: Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge
Author: Paul Krueger
Genre: NA/urban fantasy
Date Read: 05/06/2016
Rating: ★★★☆

Review:

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book gets a whole lot of points for diversity and a bunch more for being a whole lot of fun!

Bailey Chen has a degree from an Ivy League university, but that hasn’t ensured her a job. Despite awkwardness between them, her childhood best friend, Zane, is able to pull some strings and get her a job at the Nightshade Lounge, the same bar he works at. When she accidentally concocts a perfect screwdriver using a special variety of vodka and gives herself super strength, which allows her to fight off a demon that comes after her, she is initiated into the Alechemists, a team of bartenders who fight demons using cocktails that give them special powers. But perhaps supernatural demons aren’t the only demons they should be fighting…

I mentioned diversity up above, and this book really does tick a lot of good boxes. Bailey is Chinese, another character, Mona, black, and there are both gay and transgender characters as well. These facts are referenced, but they are not part of the plot. These characters are fighting demons, and just happen have these identities as well.

I really liked Bailey, and her insecurities regarding employment, and the way she is treated by the other bartenders. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, which others tend not to notice, and this leads to her own self-doubt. I really liked her relationship with Vincent, her blind mentor (he was also awesome by the way) and the fact that her relationship with Zane was believably complicated. The other characters were well-drawn, too. Zane has some misplaced loyalties going on, while Mona is a woman of few words. I don’t want to say much about the villains because I’ll give things away, but for the fun, rollicking story this was, I thought they were well established in both crimes and motives.

As for the world-building. Let’s just say I’m surprised no one’s thought of alcohol-induced magic/super powers before. I loved the inclusion of excerpts from The Devil’s Water Dictionary, with advice on the history of the magical cocktails and how to brew them correctly so that they will manifest their powers. It was particularly good for someone like me who rarely drinks alcohol and would therefore struggle to identify the majority of drinks named throughout the book.

I read this pretty much in one sitting. If you’re looking for a fun urban adventure to read on a rainy afternoon, I suggest giving this one a try. Official release is tomorrow, June 07.

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