Unsolicited shoutouts, I may add, so arriving as a complete surprise and even more of a buzz for that reason. 🙂

1. Gillan Polack’s Women’s History Month Series: A Guest Post by Mary Victoria

Mary Victoria

Firstly, my friend and fellow author, Mary Victoria, sent me a link, accompanied by this cryptic note:

“I hope you enjoy! NOT an April fools! 🙂 “

On clicking on the link, I found an article that began as follows:

“She writes with aplomb; with heart; with grace. She is a New Zealander, a Christchurch earthquake veteran and a lover of trees. To those of you in the know, these few words will immediately evoke the name ‘Helen Lowe’. But perhaps there aren’t as many of you in the know as I should like, so I will introduce my chosen writer for Women’s History Month with a quote from one of her books. This is how she begins the tale of Lady Mouse, or Myr, one of the main protagonists of Daughter of Blood and easily my favourite Lowe character to date …”

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Did I enjoy this introduction and all that followed? Being human, dear readers, of course I did! I also may have blushed a little and certainly felt both honoured and humbled.

To read everything Mary had to say click on the following link:

Women’s History Month: Mary Victoria Features Helen Lowe

To read the full series hosted and curated by Gillian Polack, which comprises some very interesting posts, click on the Introduction, which posted 1 March, then scroll forward from that point:

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Gillian Polack’s Women’s History Month Series: Introduction

Alternatively, Gillian says she will post a complete list when the series winds up, so keep checking her blog for that. I’ll also do my best to cross link here.

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2. Waterstones Swansea (UK) Features A “Best Of” Display

And guess what’s on it? Yep, you guessed it, it’s The Heir of Night! (Check out the bottom row, left-most book. 😉 )

So here’s the pictorial evidence — a screenshot of the tweet.

And another screenshot providing a closeup of the pic:

And as I tweeted when I saw it: so very nice to see The Heir of Night enjoying the crown of very good company.

Thank you, too, to Mary Victoria and Waterstones Swansea for adding a touch of starshine to my week. 🙂

UK cover

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In 2017, I resumed my “About the Characters” post series that focuses on the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series, because :

“I think it’s the presence of the smaller characters that “makes” a story, creating texture around the main points of view.”

~ from my Legend Award Finalist's Interview, 2013 

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m continuing on with minor characters from both The Gathering Of The Lost and Daughter of Blood simultaneously — in alphabetical order, of course!

(The quotes, together with the covers, indicate whether the character appears in both or only one of the books—although at present we’re having a run on single entries!)

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Dame Nelys:  chaperone of the Girls’ Dorter, at Normarch in Emer

“The peace lasted until he walked through the castle gate and noticed visible tension in the guards on duty. By the time he reached the hall, he could hear a woman’s flurried, anxious voice. Dame Nelys, he thought, stepping inside, and saw the chaperone…standing with Erron and Raven. She looked as though she might faint at any moment, while the handful of younger damosels in the background appeared frightened and excited at the same time. “I can’t understand it,” the Dame said, twisting her hands together. “I had no idea of this, none at all.” “

~ from © The Gathering Of The Lost: The Wall of Night Book Two, Chapter 18 — Vigil

First published a half-century ago, in 1968, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin has become a classic of children’s literature and one that I felt it was high time I revisited—which turned out to be a really rewarding experience.

The (main) character of Ged and the story being told both have real depth. The worldbuilding—particularly in terms of the magic system—is powerful and yet so understated I didn’t really notice its power overtly, but more through the innate satisfaction I felt throughout the reading experience. The writing is beautiful and evocative, too, and as elegant as the worldbuilding.

All in all, A Wizard of Earthsea is a thoroughly satisfying read in almost every way. I also believe it is a rare read in the Fantasy genre, whether for children or adults, because it is not about war and fighting, with the attendant tendency to glorify both. The focus of the book is on the inner and outward journey that the main character, Ged, also known as Sparrowhawk, must undertake to better understand himself and what it means to have a wizard’s power. He must also take responsibility for setting right a danger—chiefly to himself, but potentially to others as well—that he unleashed through arrogance and pride. In this sense A Wizard of Earthsea is clearly a coming of age story, but it’s a profound one. And despite not being about battles and war, the story is every bit as exciting and compelling as books that are.

A Wizard of Earthsea is also distinct from mainstream Fantasy because almost all the characters are people of colour: for example, Ged is far from unusual (among the people of the Archipelago) in having a coppery-brown skin and black hair and eyes, while his best friend, Vetch, is black. Overall, the societies of the Archipelago still have a medieval feel in terms of their technologies and the way people live, but there is sufficient societal diversity that the world avoids being an analogue for any one period or society in human history.

My one reservation with regard to A Wizard of Earthsea—particularly given the strengths and innovative qualities cited above—is that I have always been struck by the story’s conservatism in terms of the presence, let alone the role and status of women characters in the story. In this respect, the worldbuilding clings to the most conservative model, as the societies of the Archipelago are uniformly patriarchal. In particular, no women are wizards and very early on the reader encounters the common saw: “Wicked as women’s magic”or “Weak as women’s magic.” I still recall sucking my breath in (at around age 12) when I read those lines. Nor is this a case of the author setting up a premise in order to explore its truth, or otherwise, through the unfolding story; it’s a simple statement that encapsulates the status of women in the Earthsea world.

I remain as disappointed by this aspect of the A Wizard of Earthsea story now as I was at age 12, and also puzzled by it given Le Guin’s anthropological background and the way in which she broke the mould so comprehensively in the other areas discussed above. Nonetheless, while I feel this aspect of the story should not be glossed over, and I do not consider it a small matter for female power to be relegated so comprehensively to the “wicked” and the “weak”, I still believe that A Wizard of Earthsea remains an outstanding book in every other respect.

The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick

The A Geography of Haarth post series is traversing the full range of locales and places from The Wall Of Night world of Haarth.

From January 25, 2013 to November 25, 2014, the posts explored locations encountered in The Heir Of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost.

Now the series has returned to gazette the geography of Daughter Of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three.)  The new series comprises updates of previous entries as well as new listings.

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Keep of Stone:  fortress stronghold of the Derai House of Adamant
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” “The Earl paused again, a deep line between his brows as his right hand clenched into a fist.  When he resumed speaking, his voice was harsh.  “Your mother was sent to the Keep of Stone and no word came back to tell us how she fared until two years later.” “

~ from © The Heir Of Night: The Wall of Night Book One; Chapter 18 —Parts Of The Truth
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“Garan rubbed at his chin again; he needed to shave. “If the Stone priests are doing escort duty, they may be less inclined to pick fights.” He wasn’t going to rely on it, though, not given what he knew of Keep of Stone priests and their ways.” ”

~ from © The Gathering Of The Lost: The Wall of Night Book Two; Chapter 28 — Border Crossing
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” “What of Adamant?” Kalan asked him now. “Should we expect a force from the Keep of Stone?”

~ from © Daughter Of Blood: The Wall of Night Book Three, Chapter 51 — Out Of Time

Credit: A Robins

“The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.”

~ Isak Dinesen

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Great quote, huh?

Isak Dinesen (1885 – 1962) is the English-language pen name for renowned Danish author, Karen Blixen, who is probably best known for her memoir, Out Of Africa, which was made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in 1985.

The quote is attributed to Out Of Africa, although it’s so long since I’ve read it that I can’t be 100% certain on that point.

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In 2017, I resumed my “About the Characters” post series that focuses on the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series, because :

“I think it’s the presence of the smaller characters that “makes” a story, creating texture around the main points of view.”

~ from my Legend Award Finalist's Interview, 2013 

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m continuing on with minor characters from both The Gathering Of The Lost and Daughter of Blood simultaneously — in alphabetical order, of course!

(The quotes, together with the covers, indicate whether the character appears in both or only one of the books.)

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Dab: Red Keep guard, assigned to Lady Myrathis; watch partner to Taly

” “You can do it, Lady Mouse,” he said. Again, the ghost of his grin flickered. “And they breed us tough in Froward Hold.” Myr summoned a smile at the old joke, because it was really Forward Hold, but Dab always said “froward” because Sardonya had complained that his levity was disrespectful. It was why he had been transferred from Anvin’s household guard to Myr’s: a demotion for him, but one that had worked out for her. “

~ from © Daughter Of Blood: The Wall of Night Book Three, Chapter 24 — A Chosen Band

Anansi Boys is one of those books where I’m not quite sure why it’s taken me so long to read it. I think it was a (sad) case of being aware the book had come out, intending to read it, then being sandbagged by Other Life Events, and so the moment passed me by. But I’ve always been aware that it was a ‘miss’ and so finally settled down with the book recently with a sense of the long overdue finally happening.

And I enjoyed the read. In terms of where the book fits on my reading spectrum, I have it pegged as a fun, evenly paced, entertaining read, with a cast of interesting and well-drawn characters, and a plot that falls somewhere between supernatural adventure and detective thriller. In terms of where it sits in the genre, Anansi Boys is essentially urban fantasy with a certain coming-of-age element although it’s not YA lit.

Plot-wise this is a story about two brothers, both sons of the African spider god, Anansi, who has been transposed into a North American context (the general hows and whys of which are covered in its predecessor, American Gods.) The story revolves around the brothers resolving their relationship with each other and their father, and an ancient feud between Anansi and a Tiger deity, as well as a murder mystery centered on a City of London actors’ agent. Needless to say the stories overlap, and ghosts and mermaids, birds and a lime, also have their part to play in the story.

Although Anansi Boys is a sequel to American Gods in the sense that it’s set in the same urban fantasy ‘verse and the character of Anansi appears in both books, overall I think it’s far more a standalone novel that can be read quite happily in its own right. For me, it was also a less demanding story, but not a facile one: a great book to take on holiday or to while away a wintry afternoon.

If you enjoy Neil Gaiman’s writing or books such as Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London, Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson novels, Tim Powers’ Fault Lines trilogy, or Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely, you’ll probably enjoy Anansi Boys.

The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick

The A Geography of Haarth post series is exploring the full range of locales and places from The Wall Of Night world of Haarth.

From January 25, 2013 to November 25, 2014, the posts traversed locations encountered in The Heir Of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost.

Now the series has returned to gazette the geography of Daughter Of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three.)  The new series comprises updates of previous entries as well as new listings.

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Jhaine:  one of the Southern Realms of Haarth
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“He, at least, seemed prepared for trouble, with the multiple braids of his hair clubbed into a knot and a pair of short, curved swords strapped to his back.  Asantir’s brows had risen again when she saw them, for swallowtail swords were a weapon of Ishnapur.

“And Jhaine,” Tarathan had answered, when she said as much, “but they are popular now in the cities of the River.” “

~ from © The Heir Of Night: The Wall of Night Book One; Chapter 10 — In The Old Keep
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” “Except Jhaine,” Audin said, when she asked. “The Jhainarians are horsemen beyond compare and say they have no need of Lathayrans to swell their ranks.”

“What you really mean,” Kalan drawled from behind them, “is that Jhainarians are xenophobes with little love for those beyond their borders. Besides, they’re mercenaries themselves: Jhainarian auxiliaries are among the Shah of Ishnapur’s elite.” “

~ from © The Gathering Of The Lost: The Wall of Night Book Two; Chapter 30 — The Welcome Cup
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“… instead she saw Raven, riding the length and breadth of the Southern Realms along both high roads and back trails, serving as sword-for-hire and household warrior from Emer to Ishnapur through the course of a millennium. “Is there anywhere in the Southern Realms that you have not served?” she asked softly. “Even”—remembering the blood magic and the fire elemental—“Ishnapur and Jhaine?” “

~ from © Daughter Of Blood: The Wall of Night Book Three, Chapter 38 — Dawn Wind

Pied Beauty

Glory be to God for dappled things —
…For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
……For rose-moles all in stipple on trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
…Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
……And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
…Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
……With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
………………………………Praise him.
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Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844 – 1889

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It’s been a while since I posted a poem here, but this poem—and the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins generally—is a favourite. I love the sense of delight in the poem and the intense observation of nature and differing aspects and textures of the world. I also love Hopkins’ famous sprung rhythm and use of alliteration, which remain distinctive but were very different from the poetic norms of the Victorian era.

Gerard Manley Hopkins, who converted to Catholicism in adulthood and was ordained as a Jesuit, is now regarded as one of the more significant poets of the Victorian era, although his work was not published until some time after his death.

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In 2017, I resumed my “About the Characters” post series that focuses on the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series, because :

“I think it’s the presence of the smaller characters that “makes” a story, creating texture around the main points of view.”

~ from my Legend Award Finalist's Interview, 2013 

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m continuing on with minor characters from both The Gathering Of The Lost and Daughter of Blood simultaneously — in alphabetical order, of course!

(The quotes, together with the covers, indicate whether the character appears in both or only one of the books.)

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Corlin: warrior-priest from the House of Adamant
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“Torlun shrugged, but jerked a thumb toward the storerooms built into the tower wall. “Sird, you and Corlin lock them in there.” He watched the unconscious marine and the ensign, who was in little better shape, dragged away, before rounding on Hur. “Have the yard swept and fresh dirt laid over that blood. We’d better muster an honor escort as well, since we’re to show this Stars lot respect.” “

~ from © Daughter Of Blood: The Wall of Night Book Three, Chapter 48 — Watchtower