Starcrossed

The first chapter of STARCROSSED starts off with a chase. A nighttime chase. A very intense paragraph of chase that introduces us to Digger, the heroine of Elizabeth C. Bunce's beautiful fantasy set in the world of Llyvaraneth.

After a job-gone-wrong, accomplished thief and liar Digger is forced to flee the perilous city of Gerse. Sheer luck leads her into the hands of four young "nobs," or nobles, out for a cruise on their river boat. They offer her passage out of the city. Digger, under the pseudonym of Celyn Contrare, accepts the offer. On the boat, she notices that one of the nobles, a girl named Merista Nemair, seems to have a propensity to magic, a dangerous thing in Gerse where magic is forbidden. She does not mention this, though, for to mention it would reveal that she, too, has an affinity to magic.

Digger is taken to the home of the Nemairs, the parents of Merista Nemair. There, she is offered the position as Merista's lady's maid, a position she accepts. Later, this position obliges her to travel with the family to their keep called Bryn Shaer, where they will celebrate Merista's coming-of-age birthday. At first, all seems well and good. But then comes Lord Remy Daul, a supposed friend of Merista's father, with a bitter secret and vengeful heart bent on destroying the Nemair fanily. With his arrival, Digger's world is turned upside down, and when Daul discovers her true nature, he blackmails her into assisting him with the search that will, he hope, lead to the Nemair's downfall.

Full of unexpected twists and surprising characters, STARCROSSED is an engaging, fascinating read.


I really enjoyed this story. The first chapter was a race to read, moved along very quickly, and kept my interest completely captivated. The next few chapters, when Digger is escaping Gerse and meeting the young nobles, is a bit on the slow side, but I understand the reason of this because the author is introducing us to the complex world of Llyvaraneth, with all its politics, classes of people, and beliefs. Once I reached Bryn Shaer, though, I didn't want to put the book down until I'd completely finished.

There are "religions" in this story, as well as reference to gods and goddesses, and though I don't approve of gods and goddesses in my fantasies, the author handled it with grace and skill. She did not shove it down your throat. It was simply presented as a way of life.

Digger was an empathetic character. She was believable, captivating, and spunky without being a brat. She had a sense of honour about her, and unexpected determination to do what she felt was right.

Perhaps one of the things that I didn't like, and "censored" as I read, were the subtle innuendos and slightly offish descriptions that very, very lightly peppered this book.

I would probably have given this book at least four-and-a-half stars, were it not for the offish bits. However, because of that, I offer her four stars.

My rating:
****

If you desire, you can read the Goodreads review of this story, and the Amazon review as well.

Writing from the Heart

How do you judge a book?

I love books where I really connect with the MC, and really empathize with the situation. I love it when I'm hanging on with every breath for the character, and can't stop turning the pages.

A good example of this is Starcrossed. I really loved this book. There was a little bit of inuendo that I didn't like, but it was minimal, and the main character, Digger, was so alive that I could "censor" the bits I didn't like and devour the rest. I started the book, and though I thought it started off a teensy bit slow, there was a point where it knocked a stone loose, and the rest of the story went hurtling down the mountainside at a niftly clip. I am looking forward to Elizabeth C. Bunce's other books in her Thief Errant series, the second of which is called Liar's Moon.

On the flip side, I just finished the book The Last Hunt, the last book in the Unicorn Chronicles. I've read the other books in the series, and of course I had to read this one. Bruce Coville is a really great author. I couldn't stop reading, for all his chapters ended on a cliffhanger, and you just couldn't stop there, you know? However, I just didn't connect with his characters, ANY of his characters, the main character, the protagonist, the secondary character, any of them. So I finished that book with a feeling of dissatisfaction.

What is your opinion on books? Will you keep reading, even if you don't connect with the character?

Stylish Blogger Award, and Observations of Scotland.

I've actually just started becoming resigned to the fact that I'm here, back home in the good old U.S. of A., instead of in Scotland. My life has felt quite topsy-turvy since I've gotten back, and I've been very very very remiss in my blog posts. Apologies on that!

However, I found quite a pleasant surprise today in the comments on another post. I received the Stylish Blogger Award from Dawn Brazil, over at her Brilliant Babbles about Books. Thanks so much for the award, Dawn! I appreciate it so much.

In order to receive this award, I must now list seven things about myself that other people might not know about me. Having done this several times before, I'm beginning to run out of things to say! However, here goes.

1.) I am primarily a Fantasy writer.

2.) If possible, I will listen to conversations, but I'd really rather not engage or participate in the conversation, thank you.

3.) After the first few gasping minutes of pain and "giving-up-itis", I love to run. Once I get into my stride, running is the best thing ever!!

4.) I can be very melancholy, and down on myself.

5.) I don't notice when guys "check me out." I usually have to be clued in by my family members. :-)

6.) If I have a Borders coupon in my purse, I have to use it. I have to. It's an obsession.

7.) I have five stories that I've completed, but haven't revised yet. This is now Something I Must Do!!

Now, I need to pass on the award to some other bloggers that I feel thoroughly deserve it. These are:

Amanda at Old Fashioned Girl.
Maria at Fire, Fleet, and Candlelight.
Christine at Reading, Writing, and Random Thoughts.
Lynne at Making Stuff Up and Writing It Down.
Anne at Critically Yours.

All right, now on to random things about Scotland.

1. First of all, they drive on the wrong sides of the road. Unless you've actually experienced it, you've no idea how bizarre and wrong that feels. I caught myself a couple of times from correcting the driver by telling him he was on the wrong side of the road. I mean, duh! In Scotland, the wrong side is the right side.
2. Their steering wheels are on the wrong side, too... which is to say, on the right side. The first day I was in Scotland, I looked out the back window at a car that was alongside us, and my heart stopped. The driver was sitting and reading the newspaper, paying absolutely no attention to the traffic! When my brain finally kicked in, I realised I was looking at the person sitting on the left side of the car, and he was the passenger, not the driver. Whew!
3. Their stoplights go from green, to yellow, to red. Then, they go from red, to yellow, to green. When you are the pedestrian waiting to cross, watch out and pay attention to the lights, because as soon as the red turns to yellow, all the engines rev up. If you happen to be in the middle of the street, taking your chances by crossing before the light has turned green, your chances are slim. When the light turns from red to yellow, the drivers wait for no man!
4. All of their houses are made of stone. At least, all the houses in Edinburgh are. Even the great big hotels, hostels, and malls are made of stone. Most of the rows have iron railings about them, too.
5. The streets are narrow. NARROW! I'm glad I wasn't the driver in Scotland. I'd have done some serious body damage just by driving on the road. Cuh-razy!
6. They add a "U" to words like honour, armour, and humour. I confess, having read a lot of British writings, I generally write these words with the U. It was just nice to see that, in Scotland, I fit in. :-) They also spell words like theater and center with the "R" first and the "E" after, thusly: theatre and centre. And tire is spelled tyre.
7. F*** is not a BAD bad word over there. Neither is b***ch. In fact, that word, the female dog word, is used as a term of endearment. How very odd.
8. Scots don't usually say hello. They say "Hiya." And, when you're leaving, they don't say goodbye. They say "Cheers," or "Cheerio."

And a blog is just not complete without photos. So, here are some purty pictures of the world of Scotland.

So mon, thanks for reading, like. It was good, eh? I appreciate your interest. Until later, cheers. God bless.