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Book Genres – Cozy Fantasy – Magical Realism – Historical Fantasy

In our last installment, we covered the top three book genres:  Urban,  Dark and Grim Dark Fantasy.  Now we will drill down into the Fantasy sub-genre categories.

As stated in previous installments on learning the various sub-genres, knowing all the categories and what makes them different from one another will help you either find the very books you love to read.  Or if you are an author, it will help you find the best genre to position your book in the marketplace.

And if you are looking to 'write to market' as some authors do, knowing the expectations and subtle differences between the various genres can help you zero in on what expectations your readership will have.

💥💥   COZY FANTASY  💥💥

Cozy Fantasy is a new sub-genre that was not a thing when bookstores were popular.   They are fantasy books but are lighter and less dark.  There's often murder and/or other mishaps, but the level of horror is non-existent.  Often the story is told with tongue in cheek or a whimsical narration.

Unlike Dark Fantasy or Grim Dark, the characters in a Cozy Fantasy may be flawed but they generally have good hearts.  There may be problems being wrestled with, but there is aren't any mean and wretched Charles Dickins like characters.  The stories have a general feeling of warmth.

Cozy fantasies are also low stakes stories with small-town charm.  There is more focus on interpersonal relationships than elaborate or complicated plotlines.  The stories often iinvolves magical elements but in a gentle, inviting or playful way.

They (almost) always have a happy and satisfying ending.  Law and order and goodness win the day.

A few classics that would fit under the category of Cozy Fantasy:

  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett:  While primarily a children's book, it features elements of magic, healing, and a strong sense of community, aligning with Cozy Fantasy themes.
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: This classic novel offers a warm and comforting story focused on family and personal growth, with a touch of magical realism in its depiction of dreams and aspirations.
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: This heartwarming tale of community and friendship, set in post-war Guernsey, evokes a cozy atmosphere and gentle magic.

💥💥   MAGICAL REALISM  💥💥

Magical Realism is a newer subgenre too.  Magical realism are low fantasy stories as they are rooted in our own world with only one or two fantastical elements -- usually at least one form of magic.   They take place in an often-recognizable place and the contemporary world.

Books written in the magical realism genre mix a fictional narrative with a little magic.  The elements of magic are often introduced into the story without explanation.  Characters often react to magical events with indifference or normalcy.

These stories are more realistic than fantasy and this is why often these books are also contained within the literature & fiction category as well.

Although the stories contain a little magic, the narratives are serious and the stories themselves are very realistic.  It is a blend of realistic narrative and fantastical elements often presenting them in a matter-of-fact manner.  They tend to blur the line between fantasy and reality, creating a sense of wonder and/or disorientation.

While Cozy Fantasy and Low Fantasy also blend magic and reality, Magical Realism is more focused on the unsettling or surreal aspect of the magical elements, often with a sense of underlying mystery or unease.

Three magical realism classics:

  • One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez: A seminal work of Magical Realism, this novel seamlessly blends fantastical elements into a realistic narrative, creating a rich and unforgettable world.
  • Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel: This popular novel combines magical realism with a coming-of-age story, exploring themes of love, loss, and family with a touch of the extraordinary.
  • Beloved by Toni Morrison: While primarily a historical novel, Morrison incorporates elements of magical realism, particularly in its depiction of Sethe's character and her relationship with her deceased daughter.

💥💥   HISTORICAL FANTASY  💥💥

Historical Fantasy blends historical fiction with fantastical elements, creating a narrative set in a specific historical period such as medieval Europe, ancient Rome, or the Victorian era, with magic, mythical creatures, or other supernatural elements.  It strives for historical accuracy as it weaves the magical elements and creatures throughout.

It differs from High Fantasy by grounding the story in a recognizable historical context.

Three classic Historical Fantasy books:

  • Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke: This novel is set in early 19th century England, a time when magic is believed to be lost. Two magicians emerge, bringing magic back into the world, but with unexpected consequences. This book masterfully intertwines historical events with magical realism.
  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White: Although often categorized as Arthurian legend, this retelling of the King Arthur story incorporates elements of fantasy and magic. The novel explores the life of Arthur from childhood to his reign, blending historical figures with mythical creatures and magical occurrences.
  • The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker: This book takes place in late 19th century New York City. It follows the stories of a Golem, a creature of Jewish mythology, and a Jinni, a spirit from Arabian folklore, as they navigate the challenges of their new world. This novel beautifully blends historical fiction with magical realism.

💥💥   ROMANTASY  💥💥

romantasy-picture

Romantasy is a blend of romance and fantasy genres, where the romantic relationship is as central to the plot as the fantastical elements. It often features strong female protagonists, complex love interests, and immersive fantasy worlds. Equal emphasis is placed on romance and fantasy; in other words, both elements are integral to the story, with neither taking a backseat.

These stories are similar to high or epic fantasy in that they can have a richly detailed fantasy world, but there is as much emphasis put onto the romance.  The romance is not just a subplot.

It can be a little harder to isolate three actual romantasy books as this genre is almost too new.  But I will list three classics that no one would argue with:

  • Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: While primarily a gothic romance, this novel incorporates supernatural elements and a passionate, tumultuous love story that echoes the intensity often found in romantasy.
  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Though not overtly fantastical, Austen's wit and sharp social commentary, combined with the complex romantic relationships, align with some romantasy tropes. It's a classic example of a love story set against a rich social backdrop, a common element in the genre.
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett:While primarily a children's book, it features elements of magic, mystery, and transformation, often present in romantasy. The blossoming of the garden mirrors the characters' personal growth and the budding romance.



💥💥   STEAMPUNK  FANTASY  💥💥

Steampunk Fantasy is also a more modern 'separate book genre'.  The classics I list below have been around for sometime and lived under either the general Science Fiction category or historical fiction, depending upon how much Victorian history the story contained versus how much science fiction it contained.  .

Steampunk is similar to Urban fantasy but has the addition of Victorian-era technology, in particular, steam and steam-technology.  What fog and forests are to gothic books, steam and steam-based technology are to Steampunk.  They tend to also add some narrative about Victorian era industrialism, either good or bad.   It combines historical events, science fiction and fantasy elements.  Stories are usually set within the 19th century or a similar era.

Three classic books are:

  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: This classic adventure novel features advanced technology and underwater exploration, elements often found in Steampunk.
  • The Time Machine by H.G. Wells: Though primarily a science fiction novel, it explores themes of technology and time travel that resonate with Steampunk aesthetics.
  • From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne: Another Verne classic, this novel showcases imaginative technology and space exploration, aligning with Steampunk's fascination with invention.

💥💥   HOPE PUNK  FANTASY  💥💥

hope-punk-exampleA new subgenre for those who like the steampunk aesthetic and/or urban fantasy, Hope Punk Fantasy contains these elements but without all the hopelessness or grim outlook.  The story is more hope and/or happiness based.

These books are popular Hopepunk although not quite as old as some of the other cited classics:

  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: This novel beautifully captures the essence of Hope Punk with its focus on community, healing, and environmentalism. It presents a hopeful vision of a future where robots and humans coexist peacefully.
  • The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers: Another work by Chambers, this novel explores themes of diversity, acceptance, and cooperation, creating a sense of optimism in a challenging universe.
  • The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: Although not explicitly labeled Hope Punk, this novel showcases themes of resilience, empathy, and building community in the face of adversity, aligning with the genre's core values.

While these works might not be considered classic bestsellers in the traditional sense, they are influential and widely acclaimed examples of contemporary Hope Punk literature.



Book Review and Crossword – The Indian Fan by Victoria Holt

DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON.com:

The-Indian-Fan-by-Victoria-Holt-CoverA gothic thriller full of romance, murder, and mayhem. It begins with a priceless heirloom that turns into a horrible curse…

A parson’s daughter, Druscilla Delaney is enthralled by her wealthy, glamorous neighbors—the Framlings—and their handsome son, Fabian. They gift her a priceless heirloom, a beautiful fan, but what happens when this fan turns into a curse? Everything changes.

Beautiful as its peacock feathers may be, the fan hidden deep in the Framling mansion has a legacy of death and destruction. Druscilla has no idea she’s been marked by it. Her life is in danger.

Will the fan’s dark past prove less of a danger than Fabian Framling himself though? Dark, brooding, and dominating, could he be the one to save her from the fan’s cruel fate or do the opposite: cause her death?

Including elements of historical romance and romantic suspense, The India Fan is a spellbinding tale from the Queen of Gothic Romance. Fast paced and gripping for fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Stewart, and Daphne Du Maurier.

“A mesmerizing story of blackmail, romance, and deception.”—Associated Press

REVIEW AS A READER:

cartoon-cat-reading-chillinI purchased this book based on reading another of Victoria Holt’s books.  I wasn’t instantly in love with this book but the author’s writing style is so beautiful, that alone kept me going.  However, I slowly fell in love with the characters — but not because they were great people, most of them were flawed in one way or another.  I fell in love with the story itself and how it all unfolded to the main character, Drusilla.

Although this was not a classic gothic story, it was a story about aristocrats and the working class, the differences between them, and how it affects everyone involved in the story.  So it had a gothic feel to it because there was a mystery or two that laced all the way through the story.

The story contained a few historical elements but only in a general way.  The drama took place at a time when the British ruled India and the Indians had enough of it.  There was tension in the air and this added to the suspense of the book.   Without too much dry historical information, the conflict between the two sides played out in the drama among and  between all of the characters.  It’s a story wasn’t political at all.  It explained only in a cursory way both sides of the conflict.    Ms. Holt presented the story from characters on both sides of the conflict.

This was a family saga.  The narrative  took place over half a lifetime, and the characters grew and changed within the changing drama.   There were two love interests on Drusilla’s mind and it wasn’t revealed which way she would go until the last few pages.  I was guessing the entire way through.

This is the third book I’ve read by Victoria Hold.  The book was as beautifully written as the other two.  The story is filled with interesting characters right out of Hollywood.  The narrative was gripping, suspenseful, mysterious and hauntingly sad at certain times.  I absolutely loved this book and I would give it 5 stars and will read it again I’m sure.



MY REVIEW AS AN AUTHOR:

I learned quite a bit as an author from this novel.  I didn’t realize it would be a saga when I picked it up but the story was so riveting that it went fast.  It wasn’t until about three-quarters of the way through the book that I realized the story had covered decades of time.

It was interesting and enlightening to see how Ms. Holt handled the passage of time.  She cleverly and sometimes casually mentioned the passage of a few years here and there, and the story continued its natural flow.

The story was also broken into sections that made it easier for the reader to remember where the drama was taking place.  There was a section called India; and then another section titled England when they returned.  Even if a reader put the book down, it would have been easy to figure out where everyone was with a flip of a few pages.

Ms. Holt had a way of adding just enough historical information to enrich the story and yet, not enough to call this a historical fiction.  This was a big eye opener.  I’m so used to reading these big research dumps in fiction that I was surprised but pleased by Victoria Holt’s brevity.  She used no real dates or formal event names.  There was only a passing mention of what was in the air around them and how it was affecting everyone.  As an author, I stood in awe of her ability to write with this type of know-how and flair.

HOW I KEEP TRACK AS AN AUTHOR:

I wanted to pass on my technique in case this blog post is being read by other authors.  I would love to hear other authors’ reviews of books as a reader and author.

I read on the Kindle app on a 10 inch tablet.  I use the yellow highlighter to underscore any character names, story-changing action and anything else I want to remember.  Then I use my blue highlighter as a author to highlight my favorite turn of phrases, which I will post below.  I use blue to also keep track of any words or historical terms I want to note in a large file I’ve been nursing lately.

Reading in the kindle app allows you to look up any word that comes up that’s unfamiliar.  I love this technology and I highlight in blue if I want to make sure I put this on my list of words to learn and yellow if I manage to add a note with the definition if it’s only a word or two.

Occasionally, I will use my orange highlighter to point out something that is unusual about the book or a section I want to make a note about or revisit after I finish the book.  This allows me to go back and take the time to see what captured my attention during the read and take another look after I finish the story.

ANOTHER EXERCISE I THINK IS HELPFUL:

I plan to write a bit more gothic romance myself when I’m done with my present book – the fifth and final book in my Newport Vampire Series.  As I read through gothic books at this time, I’m keeping a running list of architectural terms, castle-part terms, gothic atmospheric terms, anything that I may want to reference as I enter into this new area of writing.

I would love to know if anyone else does this!

I’ve already rated the book five stars as a reader and I would also rate this book as a five star as an author read.  It is a great book to see how an author adds history to enrich the story, how to handle the passage of time, character development, how to present a decade’s long family saga and more.  So if you’re just breaking into the gothic romance area or you want to see the difference between adding a little history verses writing an actual historical novel, this is  great choice.

book-review-turn-of-phrasesMY FAVORITE TURN OF PHRASES:

  • She was spoken of in hushed whispers as though those who mentioned her feared they might be taking her name in vain; in my youthful mind she ranked with the Queen and was second only to God.
  • I looked fearfully at the portraits. They seemed like real people regarding me severely for having trespassed into their domain. This shows the author giving the pictures a personality while passing over background information.
  • There was a lump in my throat. I did not cry. Crying for me was for lighter emotions. Something within me was deeply hurt and I believed that the wound would be with me forever.
  • She did not mention Him because he was dead, and when people died, I realized, their sins were washed away by the all-important respect.
  • It was what is referred to as the cockney spirit; and it certainly seemed to be a product of the streets of London.
  • She had small hands and feet and sailed rather than walked, her voluminous skirt making a gentle swishing noise as she moved.
  • I thought of a sharp retort, but I spoke gently, for there is something more than ordinarily pathetic about the arrogant when they are brought low. I was looking at a very frightened girl, as well she might be.
  • It was a bitter blow to my pride rather than to my deep emotions.
  • He looked at me rather conspiratorially . . .
  • . . . poor old man who seemed nothing but rags and bones.
  • Often great beauty will disguise emptiness and sometimes evil.
  • Then there was a shattering explosion. [spoiler removal] threw up his hands. I heard the knife fall to the ground; he reeled drunkenly before he collapsed in a heap at my feet.The fact that we were women and children and elderly people would not save us. This was a war against a race, not against individual people.



CROSSWORD BASED ON THE INDIA FAN BY VICTORIA HOLT

Crossword-Indian-Fan-Victoria-HoltClick here to do the crossword puzzle online

Click here to download the crossword, the clues and the answers as a pdf from Google Drive

Book Genres – Urban Fantasy – Dark Fantasy – Grim Dark Fantasy

Books-shelves-of-booksIn our last installment, we covered the top three book genres: High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy and Low Fantasy.  Now we will drill down into the Fantasy sub-genre categories.

If you're a reader, knowing all the categories and what makes them different from one another will help you find the very books you love to read.  As an author, it will help you find the best genre to position your book in the marketplace.

And if you are looking to 'write to market' as some authors do, knowing the expectations and subtle differences between the various genres can help you zero in on what expectations your readership will have.

💥💥   Urban Fantasy  💥💥

urban-fantasy-picture

Urban Fantasy is similar to Low Fantasy with one or two exceptions.  One exception is the setting.  The story takes place in our world and in a modern city setting.  It can be at another time in the past or in the future, but it takes place on Earth in a city.

Urban Fantasy blends the mundane with the magical, setting fantastical elements within a modern urban environment.  It often explores the hidden world of supernatural beings coexisting with humans.

The other difference between low fantasy and urban fantasy is that the  environment and characters are grittier, edgier and  tougher.  Low Fantasy takes place in secluded environments like castles, or rural or suburban environments so the world can be almost fairytale like.  Urban fantasy takes place in the bustle and grit of a city.

What distinguishes Urban Fantasy from Low Fantasy is there is a grittier environment and there can be violence. The characters are more human, grittier and they can be morally ambiguous.

Three books that are examples of Urban Fantasy are:

  • The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher: This series is a modern classic of Urban Fantasy, featuring a private investigator with magical abilities in a contemporary setting.
  • Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton: A popular series blending romance, horror, and fantasy in a modern urban setting.
  • American Gods by Neil Gaiman: While not strictly Urban Fantasy, it explores the coexistence of old and new gods in modern America, blurring the lines between myth and reality.

💥💥   Dark Fantasy  💥💥

Dark-fantasy-picture

Dark Fantasy is a subgenre of the Low fantasy genre.  Dark Fantasy blends elements of fantasy with horror, with more of an emphasis on the horror aspects.  Think Cinderella vs. Dracula.  This genre explores themes of darkness, supernatural elements such as magic, ghosts, vampires, werewolves and other fantastical creatures who enter our world.

There is also a focus on the psychological, how this is affecting one or more characters in the story.  Due to the emphasis on horror, there is an underlying sense of fear, unease and dread running through the story.  These stories tend to focus on the darker aspects of the human  psyche; think accidental manslaughter vs. Jack the Ripper.

Characters often face internal struggles, psychological struggles, madness, or obsession.  Magic, demons, ghosts, or otherworldly creatures are common in this genre.

Ambiguous morality: The lines between good and evil can often be blurred, although not always.  Sometimes good wins out, but in dark fantasy, you can't count on it.

These stories also takes place in our world, but unlike urban fantasy, they usually take place in secluded environments like castles, forests, rural or isolated settings.

Three examples of Dark Fantasy:

  • Dracula by Bram Stoker: A quintessential work of Gothic horror, Dracula blends elements of horror and romance, creating a dark and atmospheric tale.
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: While often classified as a psychological horror novel, it incorporates supernatural elements and explores the darker aspects of human nature, aligning with Dark Fantasy themes.
  • The Shining by Stephen King: Though primarily a horror novel, The Shining delves into psychological horror and explores the supernatural, making it a strong example of Dark Fantasy.



💥💥   Grim Dark Fantasy  💥💥

Grim-dark-fantasy

Grim Dark Fantasy is a rather new genre and it is a sub-genre of Dark Fantasy.  What distinguishes a grim dark fantasy from a garden-variety dark fantasy is that the world it takes place in is bleak, often violent and brutal.  There can be gore alongside the horror in this genre too.

This genre always focuses on morally-ambiguous characters, anti-heroes and it can be an environment where evil triumphs.  There's no promise of a happy ending.  Grim Dark fantasy also has a cynical voice running through the narrative, a hopelessness, even despair.

Three books that fall into this category are:

  • The Black Company by Glen Cook: Often cited as a foundational work in the Grimdark genre, this series features anti-heroes, morally ambiguous characters, and a gritty, cynical world.
  • A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin: Though not exclusively Grimdark, Martin's series showcases many Grimdark elements with its morally complex characters, brutal violence, and bleak worldview.
  • The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie: A modern classic of Grimdark, this series is renowned for its anti-heroes, dark humor, and unflinching  portrayal of war and its consequences.
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Book Genres – High Fantasy – Epic Fantasy & Low Fantasy

book spineBefore Amazon.com became a behemoth online bookseller, there may have been 20 genres in all of Bookdom. It was all based ono the space available, book cases available and how large he bookstore or library was. All fantasy books were in one section of the store. From there, you needed to come through the author names alphabetically or ask a store clerk if they remembered seeing the book. KDP Publishing and the Website whiz kids at Amazon put an end to that over the last decade or two.Now there are multiple genres of Fantasy and each one can be differentiated by a slight difference. Let's take a look at them starting with the three largest categories: High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy and Low Fantasy.

💥💥   High Fantasy  💥💥

LEO-high-fantasyThis genre is made up of stories that open up a whole new world, with its own geography, culture and even people -- there could be creatures of any and all kinds. These stories are alive with lots of magic, mythology, legends and folklore. High fantasy usually deals with large-scale problems and conflicts. There are life and death stakes and the main characters are heroes, heroines and most are destined for greatness. Their journey is about fulfilling their destiny and/or saving their world from disaster. High fantasy can be more personal than Epic fantasy. High fantasy can be about personal drama, relationships while Epic Fantasy is usually bigger and more about saving the Kingdoms or a whole group of people.

  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
  • The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

💥💥   Epic Fantasy  💥💥

LEO-epic-fantasyEpic fantasy is very similar to High Fantasy in that it introduces the reader to a whole world conjured up by the author, with a unique geography, weather, history and creatures.  Epic fantasy also has lots of magic and other worldly powers, all of which have rules and boundaries that are followed.  Epic fantasy can have folklore, but there is more of an emphasis on myths and legends that are weaved in and out of the story.

Epic fantasy has the highest stakes, world-altering stakes, life and death stakes.  They have sweeping narratives, a large cast of characters with the emphasis on kingdoms, countries or large tribes of people.

Epic fantasies are long sweeping narratives with complex plotlines.  They are long stories, detailed, even multi-generational sagas.

Three classic examples of Epic Fantasy:

  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:  This series, again, is a prime example of Epic Fantasy due to its vast scope, world-altering stakes, and large cast of characters.
  • The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan: A monumental series known for its intricate plot, expansive world, and numerous characters, embodying the essence of Epic Fantasy.
  • The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson: This series is renowned for its complex mythology, morally ambiguous characters, and epic scale, making it a cornerstone of the genre.


NOTE:  Lord of the Rings was cited in both High Fantasy and Epic Fantasy as it fits comfortably in each one.  It stared out as high fantasy, but due to the sequels, it is now more of an epic fantasy.

💥💥   Low Fantasy  💥💥

LEO-low-fantasyWhen I first heard of this genre and found out that many vampire books fit into this category, I wasn't happy.  It sounds awful -- 'low fantasy'.  What kind of a name is that?  However, the low fantasy refers to the level of magic and world-building that takes place in a low fantasy book.

In low fantasy, there are elements of magic, but not quite as much as you would find in high fantasy or epic fantasy.  Low fantasy is the genre where magic enters the ordinary world.  The narratives are grounded on earth, and the focus is on how the magical elements and powers or supernatural creatures living on earth interact with he real world.  It contains elements of the supernatural that take place against the normal world.

Often, the supernatural or fantasy takes place in our world but is hidden only known to one or two characters in the story.  These stories usually take place in a suburban or rural setting -- as opposed to a city setting, which would make it more of an urban fantasy -- which we will cover next.

Four classic novels that would fit into the Low Fantasy Genre:

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: While not strictly fantasy, this novel introduces supernatural elements into a realistic setting, making it a precursor to Low Fantasy.
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: This classic tale explores the duality of human nature through a fantastical lens, fitting the Low Fantasy mold.
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker would also fit into the Low Fantasy genre.   Dracula could also fit into a few other newer more nuanced genre categories which we will also cover next.
  • The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold: This is a best selling contemporary novel that incorporates supernatural elements into a realistic setting, blurring the lines between the mundane and the magical.


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Book Review – Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula-book-coverDESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON.com:

During a business visit to Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, a young English solicitor finds himself at the center of a series of horrifying incidents. Jonathan Harker is attacked by three phantom women, observes the Count’s transformation from human to bat form, and discovers puncture wounds on his own neck that seem to have been made by teeth.

Harker returns home upon his escape from Dracula’s grim fortress, but a friend’s strange malady — involving sleepwalking, inexplicable blood loss, and mysterious throat wounds — initiates a frantic vampire hunt. The popularity of Bram Stoker’s 1897 horror romance is as deathless as any vampire. Its supernatural appeal has spawned a host of film and stage adaptations, and more than a century after its initial publication, it continues to hold readers spellbound.

REVIEW AS AN AUTHOR:

Cat-as-book-reviewerI usually start with my review as a reader but today I have to start with my review as an author.  I have read this book at least twice, maybe even more, and find the story wonderful — but only because I’ve seen movies that stuck very closely to the storyline.

I found the technique of telling the story through a series of letters VERY CONFUSING.  Extremely confusing.  Reading through the letters as a reader, it is enjoyable and they do add to the element of suspense and a low-grade horror that continues through the book.  However, after reading the book several times, I would never have been able to give an account of who everyone was and where they all went in the story.  That was all too elusive with going back and forth between the letters from different people and then back to the narrative itself.



SPOILER ALERT – QUICK SYNOPSIS OF THE PLOTLINE

spoiler-alertSo for anyone who wants to see the action laid out quickly, read below.  There are spoilers, so don’t read this part if you don’t want to spoil the book plot for yourself.  I personally don’t care about spoilers as sometimes I enjoy books or movies better when I know ahead of time what to watch for!

That being said, here is a quick synopsis of what happens with the actual itinerary:

  • Harker goes to Dracula’s castle in the Carpathian Mountains.  Dracula is weird and there are women there that attack him.  He winds up sick and unconscious in a hospital in Budapest.
  • Dracula takes a ship called the Demeter to England where he has purchased an estate house.  He brings several boxes of earth from his homeland, Transylvania.
  • The captain of the Demeter leaves a log behind which narrates how all the crew disappear or end up dead one at a time.  At some point, he is alone, he binds himself to the ship/mast, and he arrives in port in England dead too.
  • Lucy Westenra and Mina Murray are best friends.  Lucy writes to Mina telling her she has been proposed to by three men:  Dr. John Seward, Quincey Morris and Arthur Holmwood.  She chooses Holmwood but they all remain friends.
  • Lucy invites Mina on vacation with her.  Since Jonathan has gone to deliver real estate papers to Dracula, she joins Lucy on holiday in Whitby, which is where Dracula’s ship lands.
  • Mina then receives a letter about her fiancé’s illness (Jonathan Harker) and she travels to Budapest to nurse him.
  • While she’s gone, Lucy begins sleepwalking while still away in Whitby. Dracula stalks Lucy. Lucy becomes very ill but no one knows why.
  • Professor Abraham Van Helsing comes to diagnose Lucy but he refuses to disclose the real reason for her illness.  Instead, he diagnoses her with  acute blood-loss.  Van Helsing places garlic flowers around Lucy’s sick room and makes her a necklace of them. Her mother, who has no idea they are to ward off vampires, innocently removes them from Lucy and from the room.
  • A wolf then shows up and terrifies Lucy and her mother.  Mrs. Westenra dies of a heart attack.  Then Lucy dies shortly thereafter.
  • After Lucy’s burial, newspaper reports children being stalked in the night by a beautiful woman and Dr. Van Helsing deduces it is Lucy who has now arisen as a vampiress.  He decides he has to do something.
  • The four men (Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris) go to Lucy’s tomb and see that she is now a vampire. They stake her heart, behead her, and fill her mouth with garlic. Lucy as a vampiress is now taken care of.  The men now decide to go after Dracula too.
  • Jonathan Harker and his now-wife Mina have returned to England and they join the campaign against Dracula.
  • As they go off to hunt Dracula, they stay at Dr. Seward’s asylum.  Van Helsing finally reveals to them that vampires can only rest on earth from their homeland.
  • Dracula communicates with Sewart’s patient, Mr. Renfield, an insane man who eats flies, vermin, and birds to absorb their life force. He learns of the men’s plot against him and he uses Renfield to enter the asylum.
  • He attacks Mina three times, drinking her blood and forcing her to drink his blood on the final visit. She is now cursed to become a vampire after her death unless Dracula is killed.
  • After a search, the men find Dracula’s properties and they find many boxes of dirt (Transylvania earth) within.   They open each box of earth and seal pieces of consecrated Catholic Hosts, sacramental bread, inside each box, now rendering them useless to Dracula.
  • They try to trap the Count in his Piccadilly house but he escapes. They learn he is fleeing back to his castle in Transylvania with his last box of dirt.
  • Van Helsing, knowing Mina still has at least a psychic connection to Dracula, hypnotizes her to track Dracula’s whereabouts on his escape route.
  • In Galatz Romania, the group splits up.  Dr. Van Helsing and Mina go to Dracula’s castle where the professor destroys the vampiresses.
  • Jonathan Harker and Arthur Holmwood go off to find Dracula’s boat on the river, while Quincey Morris and John Seward parallel them on the land on the river bank.
  • They find the box and once Dracula’s coffin is loaded onto a wagon by Romani men, the hunters converge and attack it.  There is a big fight with the Romani men and Quincy is wounded.
  • After catching up with the others, Harker decapitates Dracula as Quincy stakes him in the heart.  Dracula crumbles to dust, freeing Mina from her vampiric curse.
  • Quincy is mortally wounded in the fight against the Romani. He dies at peace knowing that Mina will be okay.
  • Seven years later, there is a note indicating that the Harkers now have a son named Quincey.

WHAT WAS GREAT ABOUT THE BOOK:

Now that I got my negative review about telling a story with letters out of the way, I’ll go into what is great about the book.  First of all, the story was so original.  Even today, the story maintains its originality in it’s prose, it’s atmosphere and the storyline itself.  It has lost nothing over the years.  It reads as a historical novel, but it does not read as dated one bit.

As an author, I read in awe of Bram Stoker.  There was no vampire genre at the time.  There were similar horror-like creatures written about before Bram Stoken wrote this story, but in my humble opinion, 95% of his story is unique and pulled entirely from his imagination.  This is why although there may have been one or two books written before his, Dracula is the one that kickstarted the entire vampire genre.

On top of the horror story about Dracula, the mini story about the mental patient Renfield could have been a follow-up book.  It too was so original, fascinating, a classic horror tale.

Although I didn’t like the narrative device of using letters, the story itself was five stars.  It was and still is a classic gothic vampire story.  It contains all of the scary, errie, weird, unsettling, suspenseful and horrific elements, none of which are dated or have lost one bit of their effect.   I have listed below some of my favorite turn of phrases and I hope you enjoy them.

IF I HAD TO READ THIS AGAIN:

If I had to or chose to read this book again, which I will, I would read through the narrative I pieced together above — from my own book notes and the help of Wikipedia for proper names — before starting out.  This is another instance where I think a list of characters in the beginning of the novel would be helpful to the reader.

If the reader removes the job of trying to keep whose letters one is reading and what is happening before or simultaneously, it would make the story much more enjoyable.

book-review-turn-of-phrasesMY FAVORITE TURN OF PHRASES:

  • The road was rugged, but still we seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste.
  • The dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road — a long, agonized wailing, as if from fear.
  • At the first howl, the horses began to strain and rear, but the driver spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered and sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright.
  • Then, far off in the distance, from the mountains on each side of us began a louder and a sharper howling — that of wolves — which affected both the horses and myself in the same way — for I was minded to jump from the caleche and run, whilst they reared again and plunged madly, so that the driver had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting.
  • Blazed with a demonic fury . . .
  • Made a grab at my throat
  • This describes the last seaman who was found on the ship:  The searchlight followed her (the ship), and a shudder ran through all who saw her, for lashed to the helm was a corpse, with drooping head, which swung horribly to and fro at each motion of the ship.



CROSSWORD BASED ON DRACULA BY BRAM STOKER:

crossword puzzle based on dracular by bram stoker


How Can Taking a Creative Break Renew Your Energies? Free Coloring Book Page

The Power of Creative Breaks: Recharging Your Mind and Boosting Creativity and Productivity:

Sick woman at work with headache
Sick woman at work with headache

While writing a novel, or just in today’s fast-paced work environment, we often find ourselves buried under a mountain of tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities.  A feeling of being overwhelmed by your how-to lists can happen, zapping what’s left of your daily energies.

Just like a cluttered workspace, a crammed mind can hinder creativity. A break allows your brain to hit pause, letting go of unproductive thoughts and making space for fresh ideas.

Clear the cobwebs out of your mind.  It’s important to take a step back to recharge your batteries.  One effective way to do this is by incorporating creative breaks into your daily routine.

TAKE A BREAK AND COLOR SOMETHING OR ADD A PAGE TO A SCRAPBOOK:

IDEO-woman-coloring-at-deskWhen you immerse yourself in a creative activity, you allow your mind to wander and explore new ideas.  This mental freedom can shake off your daily work enough to give you a respite from things.

By delving into another unrelated creative endeavor, it can also give your mind a chance to operate on its own.  Be amazed at how new ideas will come to you regarding your daily work, including new strategies or shortcuts to help you get a better handle on things.

By setting your mind free to create something that has no deadline and no boss, you will create your own respite, a resting place to completely clear your mind.



THE RETURN OF MENTAL CLARITY:

FrustrationAfter just a short hour or so of this creative activity, your mind will be clear.  You will begin again with a rested mind, a mind that has been on a creative journey and will bring with it renewed energies and even new and better ideas.

REDUCED STRESS AND ANXIETY:

This respite will also reduce stress and anxiety.  Even if you add this respite and need to make it up on the other end, it can still make your work more enjoyable.  It can whisk you away from that point where you want to pull your hair out.

TRY IT  – HERE IS A COLORING PAGE OF A CAT WITH FLOWERS.
Click on image to download a pdf from Google Drive



 

Making Money Online – Earn more money with your typing

WHAT IS TYPING WORTH?

just keep writingThe answer to this questions is how fast you can type, what you’re typing, and what else you do besides typing.  Basic typing would be considered ‘data entry’ and this is considered an entry level skill level.  You won’t make much money by just copying something and typing it into a computer system.

However, if you can add just a few extra skills to your typing skills, you can double or triple your salary.

HOW TO QUICKLY UPGRADE YOUR TYPING TO AN ADVANCED SKILL:

One rank up from data entry is secretarial.  So if you can develop telephone

Young beautiful woman with laptop

skills and a workable message system, you can move into a secretarial job with very little additional education.  This would require the ability to take messages, keep a running log of them, and deliver them to whoever needs to receive them.

Often there could be an additional task or two that you will need to perform based on whatever business you enter, but it’s nothing that you will need extra training for.

Once you have experience in secretarial, you can climb up to administrative assistant and even up to legal assistant and that is where you will double and/or triple your salary.



FOUR OF THE MAIN JOB AREAS WHERE TYPING IS A STAPLE:

1. Data Entry:

  • Accurately entering and updating data into databases and information systems
  • Maintaining data quality and consistency (checking errors)
  • Verifying and correcting data errors
  • Following data entry procedures and guidelines.  Each office has their own procedures,
  • Working efficiently to meet deadlines.  For this you will need a good tickler system.
  • May involve using specific data entry software such as Word or Google Sheets, or even one unique to the business you will be working with

2. Secretarial:

  • Providing scheduling and calendar management for executives or teams
  • Answering phones, taking messages, and directing calls
  • Composing and formatting business letters, emails, and reports.  Often this will entail listening to audiotapes and typing from them.
  • Proofreading and editing documents
  • Managing travel arrangements — nothing you can’t learn from watching about 10 YouTube videos
  • Preparing presentations and meeting materials.  This could entail using PowerPoint or some other software.  This would not be expected in an entry level position.
  • Maintaining office supplies and equipment.

3. Administrative Assistant:

  • Providing general administrative support to a department or executive.  Be sure to see my next blog post about analyzing the job you just got!
  • Managing calendars and scheduling appointments.
  • Composing and formatting business documents
  • Answering phones and emails
  • Organizing and maintaining filing systems
  • Preparing presentations and meeting materials
  • Booking travel and making arrangements
  • Performing research and compiling reports
  • May involve social media management or light bookkeeping tasks

4. Legal Assistant:

  • researching-law-courtsAssisting lawyers with legal research and case preparation.  This would require a bit of additional study from an administrative job, but nothing you can’t self-study.
  • Drafting legal documents (e.g., motions, letters, pleadings)
  • Managing and organizing legal files and documents
  • Scheduling appointments and meetings with clients and attorneys
  • Communicating with clients and court personnel
  • Preparing legal correspondence
  • Maintaining confidentiality of client information
  • May involve legal research databases and online court filing systems



QUICKEST UPGRADE IN A TESTING FIELD:

You can test out your a new position by becoming a ‘virtual assistant’ on Fiverr.com.  This way you can test out and get basic experience in doing many of the tasks you will need to do in a secretarial and/or administrative assistant job.

 

Book Review – Pride and the Peacock by Victoria Holt

book-review-pride-and-the-peacockAmazon Description of the Book:

A young woman uncovers her family’s dark secrets in this mystery and her connection to a famously cursed gemstone in this Victorian gothic thriller from an internationally bestselling author

To secure her inheritance, Jessica Clavering agrees to a marriage of convenience, but will her handsome new husband’s desire for her ever surpass his obsession with a famously cursed opal?

Raised in the shadow of her family’s financial ruin, Jessica has never felt as though she fit in. When her only friend, an elderly neighbor, offers her the chance at a new life, she’s eager to take it. His only condition: she must marry her son, Joss.

The newlyweds inherit a fabled opal mine in Australia. It’s only once they arrive on the faraway continent that Jessica starts to uncover her family’s dark past and her connection to the Green Flash, an exquisite and spellbinding opal. The stone arouses a dangerous desire in anyone who sees it—even her husband.

Blending historical romance with elements of the paranormalThe Pride of the Peacock is an exhilarating tale from the Queen of Gothic Romance. Fans of Susanna Kearsley, Daphne Du Maurier, and Kate Morton will be spellbound by classic story of an overseas voyage, a cursed opal, and forbidden desire.

MY REIVEW AS AN AUTHOR:

This was the second Victoria Holt Gothic book I read.  I loved this one as well. I can see that the her style is formulaic — but in a good way.  She includes all of the elements of a great gothic story:  A large house, a story weaving around the wealthy vs. a lower caste in society, a family secret, a mysterious question arises that weaves all the way through the story.  As an author, I could see the formula, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story, not one bit.

This story included a journey into the world of opal minors and it gave the reader a historical view and close up view of the life of an opal minor.  This was the educational part of the plot, and it was very enjoyable.  I would never have chosen to read a magazine article about mining for opals, but the way Ms. Holt weaved it into the story added a depth to the story and gave the reader the experience of entering a different world.

Her writing style was just as beautiful as the first novel.  I found myself watching what verbs she chose to use, and how she described her scenes.  I learned a lot about weaving descriptions into the storyline.  Below I have a few of my favorite ‘turn of phrases’.

I don’t want to go into the storyline too deeply, but it was a story of a young woman who saved the life of a neighbor, who is intricately involved in her family in ways she has no idea of in the first half of the story.  She learns about this connection one secret at a time, and her fate is also taken up by the man she saved.

I went through my notes after reading the book and put together a crossword puzzle for anyone who also read the book and wants to try their hand at it.  I used mostly the words I either had never heard before or had to look up!  Below, I will speak to the gothic issues that we are all interested in.

SUSPENSE:  For suspense, I give this a nine out of ten.  This story twisted and turned in a few different directions, enough to keep me reading chapter after chapter, long after I planned to put the book down.

PLOTTING:  I give this book a perfect 10 too.  The story and relationships were well planned.  The clues were dropped into the storyline in a way that kept the reader — and the main character — guessing.  Just when you thought you had figured out where the story was going, there was a plot twist.

GOTHIC ELEMENTS:  I give the story an 7 out of 10, not because it was lacking anything.  This is more of a rating based on how gothic the story was in it’s setting and timeframe.  Dracula would get a 10 in gothic elements, but this story was less than that level of dark or scary.  I would say it was more of a gothic intrigue.  I would give it a 10 in gothic intrigue.

CLARITY OF WRITING:  I give this book a perfect 10 just like the last one.  There was never a time when I had to re-read the story to figure out who was talking or what was going on.  The story was quite intricate, but Victoria Holt’s writing style is so crisp and clear, the reader is never abandoned on the page.   It was easy to read and clearly written.  The editing and grammar were perfect.

PROSE:  I give this book a perfect 10 again because she is a master at writing prose.  I read a bit about the author’s story and she wrote for many years and wrote I think well over a hundred books or more, so she rose to the top in my opinion.  I enjoyed every page of this book, just as I did the last book.

I have even chosen another Victoria Holt book to read next.  I may have found my favorite author!



BELOW ARE MY FAVORITE TURN OF PHRASES:

❖ He was an actor of a kind, for when he talked of people his voice and his expression would change.

❖ Hers was an evil sort of beauty. She was what was known as a siren, the sort who would lure men to destruction.

❖ Little eddies of dust swirled just above the ground, and I thought: The wind is certainly rising.

THE CROSSWORD:

CROSSWORD – Click on the graphic below to get he google drive file to download.  It has the puzzle, the clues as well as the answers (on page 3)
Do the crossword online here.

Crossword-pride-of-the-peacock



 

 

 

Book Review – Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt

Book-review-mistress-of-mellyn

Amazon Description of the Book:   Mount Mellyn stood as proud and magnificent as she had envisioned…But what about its master–Connan TreMellyn?  Was Martha Leigh’s new employer as romantic as his name sounded?  As she approached the sprawling mansion towering above the cliffs of Cornwall, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her.

TreMellyn’s young daugher, Alvean, proved as spoiled and difficult as the three governesses before Martha had discovered.  But it was the girl’s father whose cool, arrogant demeanor unleashed unfamiliar sensations and turmoil–even as whispers of past tragedy and present danger begin to insinuate themselves into Martha’s life.

Powerless against her growing desire for the enigmatic Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets–as passion overpowers reason, sending her head and heart spinning. But though evil lurks in the shadows, so does love–and the freedom to find a golden promise forever…

Cat-as-book-reviewer

I loved this book and everything about it.  There was a mystery at the core of the story, but at the same time, this was a family drama that played out among several interesting characters.  It was a love story, but it was also a gothic story.  It had all the elements of a gothic novel, and took me away as a reader to another time and place.

Although it was a classic gothic novel and had all the elements — spooky house, odd suspicious characters at every turn — there was also a mystery that the main character was trying to solve the entire story.  This made the story all the more enjoyable.



MY REIVEW AS AN AUTHOR:

I got so much out of this book being an author myself.  It was intricately plotted and executed with mastery.  I was in awe of the author’s talent as a writer.  It held my interest the whole way through.

Part of the story was a bit educational about the historical times and I personally love when an author adds this level to the book — but also knows where to stop.  Victoria Holt had the perfect mix.

Her writing style is beautiful.  I was in awe of it the entire way through.  There was another almost poetic turn of phrase on each page.

I don’t want to go into the storyline itself other than to say it was the story of a young woman who is chosen to be a governess at a time and place when being a governess was considered a ‘lower class’.

I went through my notes after reading the book and put together a crossword puzzle for anyone who also read the book and wants to try their hand at it.  I used mostly the words I either had never heard before or had to look up!

SUSPENSE:  For suspense, I give this an eight out of ten.  It was very suspenseful, but I wouldn’t call it a suspense book.  It had a ribbon of suspense throughout the book which added very much to the gothic novel.

PLOTTING:  I give this book a perfect 10.  The story was well planned.  There was enough foreshadowing where it didn’t feel like anything was pulled out of a hat at the last minute.  The story was complex enough to remain interesting the entire way through, but not over complex where I had to keep notes.  This balance and mix made the book completely enjoyable.

GOTHIC ELEMENTS:  I give the story an 8 out of 10, not because it was lacking anything.  This is more of a rating based on how gothic the story was in it’s setting and timeframe.  Dracula would get a 10, but this story was less than that level of gothic.  It was the perfect amount for the story that was told.

CLARITY OF WRITING:  I give this book a perfect 10.  There was never a time when I had to re-read to try to figure out who was talking or where everyone was.  It was easy to read and clearly written.  The editing and grammar were perfect.

PROSE:  I give this book a perfect 10 here too because I love Victoria Holt’s style of writing and her style of storytelling.  I literally enjoyed every page of the book.

BELOW ARE MY FAVORITE TURN OF PHRASES:

❖  We climbed to the plateau and a pair of intricately wrought-iron gates confronted us.

❖  This was a phrase I never heard before and I was not even able to find a definition on the internet.  If anyone knows what this means, please let me know!  there was a whatnot in . . .

❖  I deliberately bearded you in your carriage . . .

❖  dangerously demure

❖  tomb of a place

CROSSWORD – Click on the graphic below to get he google drive file to download.  It has the puzzle, the clues as well as the answers (on page 3)

Do the crossword online here.