Jordan T. Brantley

Bookworm Speaks!- Be a Writing Machine

Revisado: 11-19-21

This title is something of mixed bag for someone who has read several books on writing and watched many Youtube videos about the writing process. I desire to be a prolific author as the title says and therefore has studied the craft accordingly. There are several pieces of advice the author gives that feel foolish. The biggest one is the tirade against the rough draft. Almost every other instructor I have had says that the first draft is supposed to be the worst copy of all. Getting it right the first is frankly impossible and to suggest otherwise can come across as arrogant posturing. To be fair...the author does say that the aspiring author should work to hone their craft so that it increases the chances of getting it right earlier.
This and several other pieces of advice give this volume a three for Pretty Good but there is plenty of excellent advice as well. The author advocates for pantsing writing which is Bookworm's preferred style and they give permission to take naps on the job! The biggest piece of advice though is "Don't Be Afraid" Advice everyone needs if they want the life they want, writers or otherwise. Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear.

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Bookworm Speaks! - Robert E. Lee and Me

Revisado: 07-28-21

White Supremacy is the United States of America's original birth defect. Ever since the election of Donald Trump, the lingering effects of it have ridden high in the American public consciousness. The murder of George Floyd and the protests that shook the world have forced an even deeper reckoning. The lingering effects of the Civil War are often a popular starting points for such. This is a very personal book that takes a deep dive into a person who was once a firm believer of the Lost Cause. This aids the narrative as recent events have tragically shown, facts do not change minds. Robert E Lee was a traitor and should be remembered as such.

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Bookworm Speaks! - The Gun King

Revisado: 08-08-20

Bookworm Speaks!

The Gun King (The Marshall Project)

****
The reason that the social ills that plaque our world seem so intractable and difficult to solve can, at least partially, be explained by one word:

Oversimplification.

The issues such as racism, criminal justice reform, and gun control are such large, complicated issues back by multiple powerful interests and ideologies that are either in conflict with each other or completely ignorant of each other. It is truly mind-boggling how far these problems go and what they are connected to. Even though this book is short, it showcases the dangers of oversimplification. The issue of guns on the streets of Chicago is so complicated, people are willing to scapegoat someone just to make it look like something is getting done, when in reality. It is almost less than nothing.

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Bookworm Speaks! - Feeding the Dragon

Revisado: 08-08-20

Bookworm Speaks!
Feeding the Dragon
****
This a very elegant story. It describes the story of a young girl who grows up inside a library. All the good jobs always seem to be taken.Anyways, the way this story is formatting in a lots evokes the image of a fairy tale. The narrator's voice certainly conveys this image, a little girl with loving parents who grows up in a fantastical realm. Few places are more fantastical than a library! But childhood fairy tales don't last forever. This story does an excellent job at communicating the struggles Sharon Washington faces as she grows up with both the challenges of a father who struggles with alcohol and the overwhelming challenges of growing up black in the America of yesteryear. These struggles are excellently told to us through the eyes of a child that feels incredibly authentic. In spite of the short length, Feeding the dragon is an magnificent story that truly feels as fantastical as the dragon.

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Bookworm Speaks! - Payback

Revisado: 08-08-20

 Bookworm Speaks!Payback (The Marshall Project)
****
The killing of George Floyd has been a watershed moment for the United States of America. Only time will tell if such an outpouring will produce any lasting results and changes but it does seem that more and more people are becoming more aware of the vast inequities that exist within American society. This Audible original is one such example. An innocent man suffered a brutal miscarriage of justice and when the crime and corruption were exposed leading to his release, barely anything was done. On top of that, the apology was barely enough. It certainly wasn't for me! A very well produced story, short but sweet, and in spite of the outrageous subject matter, ends on a hopeful note.

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Bookworm Speaks!- Pirate's Honor

Revisado: 11-12-18

Pirates have been a mainstay of fiction for nearly as long as there have been pirates in the real world. Long John Silver and Captain Blackbeard are practically part of modern day mythology and eye-patched, peg legged figures have been staples of books, toys, video games, movies and much more. The downside to this, is that it can take a bit more effort for prospective creators

The best thing about this book is how it takes many familiar aspects of pirate lore and yet give them a distinctive level of detail that sets it apart from many other ‘traditional’ tales of the Seven Seas. It is refreshingly diverse tale in its story as well as characterization and settings.

People of Color Characters: Check.

Strong Female Characters: Check!

A Non-traditional Romance: Check!

A culture that is not based entirely on Western Culture: Check!

This book hits all the right marks and makes into a clear step in the right direction for writers of fiction while maintaining enough familiar threads to engage long time readers. There is plenty of swashbuckling, high seas action to sate any reader familiar with pirate lore but it takes itself in its own direction that makes it unique. This book takes place in a region of Golarian, the world that Pathfinder takes place in, called the Inner Seas. Unlike a lot of other pirate fiction which is more or less inspired by the pirates of the Caribbean, this book takes a great amount of inspiration from Arabic culture. Torias and other characters are often described as wearing turbans and kaftans and other such garbs and the main antagonist of the final third is described as having dark skin along with other inhabitants of his realm. The importance of diversity in literature cannot be understated.

One of the best aspects of the entire novel is the relationship between Celeste and Torias Vin. For starters, while interspecies relationships are not exactly new territory for speculative fiction writers, this one is one of the first where Bookworm one where it was explicitly between a human and distinctly non human character. In this case, a lunar naga in the form of Celeste. For those unfamiliar with the world of Pathfinder, Lunar nagas do not have arms and manipulate objects with magic. They are nocturnal, venemous and can shape shift for brief periods of time. As one could expect, this would create some sharp divisions in a relationship. Celeste is very strong and memorable as a character who possess a certain innocence about her alongside her badass magical skills.

Other memorable female characters are the courtesan Vreva Jhafae and the gnome Snick. These and other characters really make this story and each one had a distinctive voice that could be recognized regardless of the context. Just hearing these characters talk to each other was entertaining on its own.

This book is not afraid to tackle some important issues that readers can take with them into the real world. What constitutes a healthy relationship is one of them. Without giving too much away…there is a real crisis in the relationship between Torias and Celeste that can leave the reader on the edge of their seats. It doesn’t feel like the forced contrivance that so often plaques fictional romances, it actually feels like something that would crop over the course of such a relationship. While Bookworm did enjoy such a plot thread, they can see how some readers would not be so enthusiastic. Indeed, at times Bookworm did want to get back to the action and not awkward conversations between the pirate and the snake lady. We came here for swords and magic not relationship drama. Thankfully, it is only a single part of a very wide ranging story with plenty of action.

The theme of addiction and its devastating consequences is a central theme to this novel. Drugs crop up fairly frequently in speculative fiction but rarely does addiction. The text is not afraid to confront such things in manner that feels realistic rather than preachy. Major kudos to the author for daring to touch upon such a sensitive issue.

The plot as whole suffers from perhaps a few too many character perspective and plot threads that really makes the story a bit of mess. The author may have a little trouble making up their mind about what kind of story they were meaning to tell. It comes together by the end of the first act but it all comes out as a bit wobbly on its feet. The narrative was struggling to balance the various plot points. While it succeeds in the end, it did not come off as particularly graceful. The characters and action create enough suspense to keep Bookworm engage but at the same time, Bookworm was telling the story to get on with it and wrap up

The Final Verdict: The best part in reading this novel is that it does not require intimate knowledge of the Pathfinder Universe. This novel can stand on its own as action-packed seafaring adventure with colorful characters that anyone can enjoy.

Rating: Four Cutlasses out of Five

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#Pirates #Adventure #HighFantasy # #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

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