Monthly Archives: December 2013

Final Exams

We’ve got one day of final exams left.  I’ve given mine, but I’ve barely scratched the surface with grading.  I spent the better part of the last week dealing with a major academic dishonesty situation involving a group of students.  It’s still ongoing, so I’ll not say anything more about it at this time.  Anyway, between that and getting the lab grades to the lecture faculty, I’ve been rather busy.  I failed to post anything at Amazing Stories for yesterday, the first time since I started blogging for them.

Anyway, it’s going to be a few days before I can get my head above water and post more.  I finished with Chuck Wendig’s latest Miriam Black novel, Cormorant, over the weekend.  The review will probably be the first thing I post.  Then some short fiction, and a review of Brian McClellan’s Promise of Blood.

Just so you know I haven’t dropped off the planet.

Tis the Season for Theft, Snark, and Widdershins

LostCovenantLost Covenant
Ari Marmell
Pyr Books
279 pp, hardcover $17.99 US/$19.50 Can
ISBN 978-1-61614-811-9
ebook $11.99
ISBN 978-1-61614-812-6

At this time of year, it’s customary to reflect on upon the things for which one is thankful.

I’m thankful for Mastercard Fraud Division.

I’m thankful that my car, which normally runs perfectly but lately has developed the troublesome habit of dying without warning while moving, hasn’t killed me yet.

I’m thankful this blog was shortlisted for an award.

I’m thankful that there’s a new Widdershins novel about to hit the shelves.

And of course I’m thankful to Lisa Michalski at Pyr books for sending me an ARC so I can read it ahead of time.

You’ll recall I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Widdershins novels, Thief’s Covenant (reviewed here) and False Covenant (reviewed here).

In this one Widdershins becomes aware of a plot against House Delacroix,.  Since it was Alexandre Delacroix who rescued her from life on the streets, she takes it upon herself to intervene on behalf of the House as a way of repaying the late Alexandre.  She ends up in the town of Aubier trying to convince the last matriarch of the house that she’s a friend.  All the while dealing with a mad alchemist, a brutal gang of thugs, and the matriarch’s son, who is somewhat smitten by Widdershins (perfectly understandable). Continue reading