A Review of Kaitlyn Davis's "The Raven and the Dove" (audiobook)

Kaitlyn Davis’s “The Raven and the Dove” is the first book in what is sure to be an epic fantasy romance series. Mistaken identities, prophecies, and mysterious plots all play a role in the drama. In a world where the goods grant people living on floating islands the wings of birds, but magic is forbidden, Lyana and her brother enter the annual courtship rituals of the royalty. Lyana thinks she has chosen one prince but finds out she has ended up with his half-brother instead. She and her best friend, Cassie, follow him to his land for the impending nuptials. There are other plots at work, however, and the ending is not the wedded bliss anticipated by Lyana and her betrothed.

Narrated nicely by Sarah Sampino, this fantasy was an entertaining listen. The world-building was intriguing, and I look forward to learning more about the mechanics of magic versus the power of the gods as interpreted by the different cultures in the world. The love triangle between Lyana, Rafe, and Lysander was a little predictable, but it did its job in the overall story. There is no satisfying ending in this book, ensuring that you have to read it before you read the sequel. It doesn’t stand alone. I do look forward to what is next for the characters and how the conflict will resolve in the end.

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Book Review of "The Dare Club: Nita" by Laurie Bradach and Kim “Howard” Johnson

Laurie and Kim will be awarding a $20 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so make sure to leave a comment here and visit the other stops on the tour: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/11/virtual-review-tour-dare-club-nita-by.html Series: The Dare Club Format: E-book & Paperback Genre: Contemporary YA, Mystery Length: 330 pages in paperback Blurb: Nita Conroy has relocated to the most boring town on the planet. That is, until would-be boyfriend Brad Keeley spills the beans about a secret group of girls known as The Dare Club. During her subterranean initiation below the high school, Nita overhears a plan by contractors and school officials to embezzle millions of dollars in grant money. When she is betrayed, The Dare Club's pranks become deadly serious. With the clock ticking, Nita will need the help of her new friends to expose the chilling plot--and hopefully survive long enough to snag a date to the homecoming dance. Exce...

Show, Don't Tell!

Another common error young writers make is telling a story, rather than showing a story. This is probably because many of the short stories they have been exposed to are fairy tales, which have a distant point of view and summary-like narration. They start with phrases like "There once was..." and use direct characterization, like "She was the kindest girl in all the land." When we write, we need to show our stories, using vivid verbs, specific details, and deep point of view. Here's an example of a passage that is told. The action is summarized and the reader feels as if the action is happening far away: It was June of 1943. Eric's older brother had gone away to become a fighter pilot. Eric wanted to be a pilot too, so he got in the family's crop dusting plane and started it up. He flew it out of the barn and crashed it into the old oak tree in the yard. He hit his head. The doctor had to come. His brother came back, injured from the war. The two healed...

Exposition: One tool the author has to tell a story

Exposition is used in two ways when talking about fiction. First, it is the set-up at the beginning of the plot arc. Where we learn the basic who, what, when, and where. This is a necessary part of plot to ground your reader. I'm going to address the second way exposition is used in a story. This is when an author gives background information, description of characters or setting, or summarizes events that have already happened. It can happen at any point in the story. This is a necessary, key element of writing and one of the three tools an author has to tell his or her story, along with scene and dialogue. A good author does this without slowing down the forward progress of the plot. That is, the exposition makes sense in the context of the scene (or action) of the story and does not trip up the reader or bore him or her. She turned her blue gaze toward him. Here, we get the fact that she has blue eyes in the context of the action. That's the best way to give description. One...

Writer and Editor C.B. Calsing/ G.G. Royale

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