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damkiannaSo, today was super fun. My supervisor was out after 11:00, and in the afternoon all of a sudden there were two new projects that needed to get done right away, and I had only about half the InDesign knowledge necessary to complete them. Thank god for Google and the internal search function. :P
But! I got a ton of outlining done, which was great, and also I held it together reasonably well, which was pleasant in retrospect, if not at the time. \o?
Anyway, books! I finished them a couple days ago, at least, but I have not had time to sit down and be organized about it until now.
Very interesting book. I adored Ai Ling - I thought it was excellent that she wasn't handed a weapon and instantly turned into a total badass, but she could still handle herself okay just by being smart and brave. And Chen Yong and Li Rong were both pretty awesome; Li Rong's flirting grated on me a bit, but it was sort of adorable how Ai Ling learned to handle it and sass him back a little. :D
There were some more abstract things that bothered me, but I think they were mostly a function of the YA-ness, specifically the length - I felt like there were some pacing issues with her discovery of her power, and a little with her relationship with Chen Yong, though some of that is probably just me being picky.
But! I loved her secret studying of the Book of the Dead - that was rather Sabriel-esque - and the other books, and her spirit-throwing talent was very cool. It felt tauntingly unkind to lead up so much to the Silver Phoenix reveal and then tell us so little about her; but I'm hoping the next book will talk about her some more. Also, I REALLY REALLY WANT TO MEET AN XUE. Well, and I really want Ai Ling to meet An Xue, too. And I never thought I would ever have to say this in my life, but: I AM SO GLAD she set Li Rong's heart on fire. I would have sworn that plot thread was going to end in tears, but I should have trusted Ai Ling to be smarter than that. Overall, big hearts, and I'm glad I made my sister get it for me.
Again, length made this book ever so slightly more difficult for me to really enjoy - YA books so often tell stories I am interested in, but not at enough of a length. ... Of course, my taste in writing obviously tends toward the epic, so that's at least partly just me.
And I can't say I didn't love Nimira, the worldbuilding, or the general storyline, because I adored them all. FAIRY PRINCE TRAPPED IN CLOCKWORK. **flail** An awesome chromatic heroine who makes friends with other women and together they save the day in a universe with hints of steampunk? I am SO THERE. Just, more longerness! More exposition, even! Although I should probably keep my mouth shut, since this one has a sequel on the way also, which might take care of some of these issues. Again, mostly full of yays, I just need MOAR. **grabby hands**
I have a whole list of other books I want to buy, but I'm trying to be restrained and adult and not just get a dozen at once on a whim. :P It's just that I love them so.
But! I got a ton of outlining done, which was great, and also I held it together reasonably well, which was pleasant in retrospect, if not at the time. \o?
Anyway, books! I finished them a couple days ago, at least, but I have not had time to sit down and be organized about it until now.
Very interesting book. I adored Ai Ling - I thought it was excellent that she wasn't handed a weapon and instantly turned into a total badass, but she could still handle herself okay just by being smart and brave. And Chen Yong and Li Rong were both pretty awesome; Li Rong's flirting grated on me a bit, but it was sort of adorable how Ai Ling learned to handle it and sass him back a little. :D
There were some more abstract things that bothered me, but I think they were mostly a function of the YA-ness, specifically the length - I felt like there were some pacing issues with her discovery of her power, and a little with her relationship with Chen Yong, though some of that is probably just me being picky.
But! I loved her secret studying of the Book of the Dead - that was rather Sabriel-esque - and the other books, and her spirit-throwing talent was very cool. It felt tauntingly unkind to lead up so much to the Silver Phoenix reveal and then tell us so little about her; but I'm hoping the next book will talk about her some more. Also, I REALLY REALLY WANT TO MEET AN XUE. Well, and I really want Ai Ling to meet An Xue, too. And I never thought I would ever have to say this in my life, but: I AM SO GLAD she set Li Rong's heart on fire. I would have sworn that plot thread was going to end in tears, but I should have trusted Ai Ling to be smarter than that. Overall, big hearts, and I'm glad I made my sister get it for me.
Again, length made this book ever so slightly more difficult for me to really enjoy - YA books so often tell stories I am interested in, but not at enough of a length. ... Of course, my taste in writing obviously tends toward the epic, so that's at least partly just me.
And I can't say I didn't love Nimira, the worldbuilding, or the general storyline, because I adored them all. FAIRY PRINCE TRAPPED IN CLOCKWORK. **flail** An awesome chromatic heroine who makes friends with other women and together they save the day in a universe with hints of steampunk? I am SO THERE. Just, more longerness! More exposition, even! Although I should probably keep my mouth shut, since this one has a sequel on the way also, which might take care of some of these issues. Again, mostly full of yays, I just need MOAR. **grabby hands**
I have a whole list of other books I want to buy, but I'm trying to be restrained and adult and not just get a dozen at once on a whim. :P It's just that I love them so.
