FROM THE DESK OF
DONA PENZA TATTLE, ESQ.
AND
ASSOCIATE WRYE
BALDERDASH
Greetings,
Tattle stares out at the snow blown
scenery beyond the office window.
"I like snow when we're warm and comfy inside." She turns to watch Wrye boot up. "Do you know how to keep snow from giving
you cold feet?"
Wrye gives the questioning eyebrow
lift. "Huh?"
"You don't go round
Brrrr-footed. Tee hee."
"Snoooow-funny m’snow bunny. What do snowmen eat for breakfast?"
"Easy...Frosted Flakes but what
does the snowman eat with icebergs?
Chilli sauce," she quipped before he could respond. "I can put out snowman jokes all day."
"But you won't, know why?"
"Cause is it our Love of
Literature Leap into a Burst Books review?"
He hands Tattle her coat, hat and
gloves. "Let's ride like a snowman and get
there using a By-icicle!"
Tattle
groans as they leap into Olga Godim's fantasy ALMOST ADEPT.
Tattle
settles next to the character Eriale behind the curtains as the young magician spies
on Gordin, the nobleman who had smitten her.
Tattle winces as he insults Eriale to his comrades, and then can't help
giggling when Eriale turns him into a muttonhead.
"That's
not funny," Wrye says despite his grin.
"Her father, Aram, is a mage, her mother, Leyale, is a healer and
her sister, Tamara, is the Queen, not one of them is going to be happy. The girl is in trrrrrrrouble!"
"But
look at her, a spitfire, a rebel, not to mention adorable wee bit of a thing! Trouble with her, me thinks, makes for good
reading. Besides, the sheep spell will
wear off in a week and the toad deserved it." Tattle ponders a moment. "Maybe, she should have used the toad
spell."
Wrye
double-finger-tipped his temple, like a salute to her wisdom. "You'd be right, m'danger-questing bud,
errr not about the toad spell but about this page-flipping book. It yanks you in and holds you fast. All Eriale wanted from Gordin was a decent
romp to end her bothersome virginity.
The one thing holding her back from applying for Adept testing, which
would make her a full magician in the Guild's eyes, and now that will have to
be put on hold while she unknots the fix she just put herself into."
A
twinkle forms in Tattle's eyes. "Will
she become Adept? Won't she? Is there anyone worthy to take her virginity?"
"Maybe
the hunka hottie courier who shows up at her door with a parchment for her
father. At least, she thinks the man is
a possibility. Only, Kealan isn't just a
courier, but used to be a Captain of the High Guard, the elite fighting force
of the Grumesh Republic. Now, conquered
by the Roodim Empire, all the nobility of Grumesh along with high ranking
military are being systematically slaughtered including children and babies! Kealan, using Grumesh's hidden treasurer has
been relocating his kinsmen and setting them up in new lives. He has no time for an unruly little mage in
training."
With
a twirl of skirt and a wink, Tattle spurts, "Ah ha! Look at this," points to a scene,
"her father to the rescue... ummm... kinda... sorta. Aram receives a request for help from the
same area he had intended to send Eriale to keep her from the repercussions of
her unauthorized spell. People are
missing. There is suspicion that the
Empire might have concocted a new spell or a new weapon. As a Jouneyman, Eriale is qualified to
investigate and uncover the truth."
"This
is the perfect quest for Eriale," Wrye agrees, "and despite her
mother's protests, she is soon on her way.
Actually, officially running
away from her own troubles to everyone else's eyes but on a true quest for her
father. However, she is just suppose to
report back. Eriale being Eriale,
instead involves herself to the nth degree, including helping Kealan escape
from jail and becoming involved in his own dire circumstances. Somehow, their troubles become interlocked
and...."
"Oh
no you don't." Wrye yanks her out of the story. "Let the readers take pleasure in
uncovering the plot on their own. They
will enjoy every twist and turn, every interlude and every ominous
misstep. If you like fantasy, it will
cater to those spell-twirling needs. If
you like adventure, it'll have you clamoring after every word. And if you like a touch of romance, you'll
find just enough to trigger a swoon."
"Yes,
yes, yes! As a consummate fantasy
reader, I highly recommend ALMOST ADEPT. Olga Godim's
writing style is like being on a sled ride, downward on a steep hill, without
brakes. It is smooth, racy, and
breathless. You simply don't want to put
the book aside. The only hitch is if you
start reading it at night, prepare yourself to greet the dawn without having a
bit of sleep."
"I
enjoyed that!" Wrye exclaims.
"Me
too!" returns Tattle. "Everyone’s
newest New Year's resolution should be to read CBG constantly!"
Happy
New Years!
Dona
Penza Rutabaga Tattle, Esq. and Associate Wrye Balderdash
of
Blather City, Wannachat
Created
and written by
Angelica Hart and Zi
Books by
Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER
DOLLS ~ SNAKE DANCE ~
CHASING
YESTERDAY ~ CHRISTMAS EVE...VIL
Books by
Vixen Bright and Zachary Zane
STEEL
EMBRACE
BOOK
NOOKIE-A LIBRARIAN'S BUIDE TO THE DO-ME DECIMAL SYSTEM
angelicahartandzi.com
Next on our list: Unspoken by J.A. Garland
Finally we have: Truth-Teller Revenge by Kenneth D. Schultz
