This post brought to you by the idea of piranhas attached to gasbags. Contrary to popular opinion, this would in fact be amazing.
Anyway! Leaving aside half-baked thoughts of world domination, some news. I've just finished The Overlord Rising, a very satisfying fantasy in the more traditional vein - proving that even the traditional can still be done extremely well. So look out for a review over the next few days. Likewise, I've been reading a new historical fantasy ('new historical' sounds an oxymoron, I admit :P ), so a review of that will be coming up soon - along with one of Issue 4 of Bourbon Penn, a new-ish speculative magazine.
What about the pleasant surprise? Well, that one's more personal - when looking at the finished version of The Alchemist of Souls, I found that Angry Robot actually quoted my review inside. Might not sound like much (or the inverse - might sound very egocentric), but I'm pretty amazed! It's been great running Drying Ink, and I hope to keep doing so for the forseeable future (and thanks to all my readers and fellow bloggers for following along - and hopefully my posts have been vaguely useful along the way! Heh)
Anyway! Leaving aside half-baked thoughts of world domination, some news. I've just finished The Overlord Rising, a very satisfying fantasy in the more traditional vein - proving that even the traditional can still be done extremely well. So look out for a review over the next few days. Likewise, I've been reading a new historical fantasy ('new historical' sounds an oxymoron, I admit :P ), so a review of that will be coming up soon - along with one of Issue 4 of Bourbon Penn, a new-ish speculative magazine.
What about the pleasant surprise? Well, that one's more personal - when looking at the finished version of The Alchemist of Souls, I found that Angry Robot actually quoted my review inside. Might not sound like much (or the inverse - might sound very egocentric), but I'm pretty amazed! It's been great running Drying Ink, and I hope to keep doing so for the forseeable future (and thanks to all my readers and fellow bloggers for following along - and hopefully my posts have been vaguely useful along the way! Heh)
Egocentric or not, that's still an accomplishment - congtats!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think everyone likes to see people are using their reviews, so it's pretty fun
DeleteThat's fantastic news, good on you! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks! I was pretty chuffed - though I guess the novelty wears off. :P
DeleteCongrats Jacob!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's just a nice feeling for a reviewer, I guess - and it doesn't hurt that I absolutely loved the book in question, too. :P
DeleteYou're living the dream! That's a pretty awesome pleasant surprise. Also, I have a copy of Overlord so that's good to hear. Definitely moving up on my list yet again.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I guess so - thanks! :D You're right - it was a pretty awesome surprise! Drying Ink hasn't been going properly for that long, so I'm pretty happy - though I guess you must be used to it by now! :P
DeleteOverlord's definitely a nice read - if you've read Michael J. Sullivan, it's vaguely similar - in that it takes a quite a few familiar tropes and a world, but does them well and minus a LOT of the cliche. Not the best thing I've read this year, but definitely enjoyable. Be interested to hear what you think when you get to it :)
Oh yeah, I can't pick up a book without seeing this jackalope's quotes...actually you beat me to the punch. I've had a bunch quoted for indy publishers, but nothing for any of the big-leaguers.
DeleteTo be fair, it would be hilarious if that happened (the quotes! They stalk me!). Sorry, I kind of assumed. :P Must be you being a reviewing veteran and all that.
DeleteNo problem, we all know what assuming does... :D I probably should focus less on what I think are hilarious jokes for publishers to actually consider my reviews. :)
DeleteNoooo, never surrender the jokes! :P That way lies gradual transformation into Terry Goodkind. And writing about 'evil chickens' with a straight face - the ultimate evil.
Delete:P
Grats on the quote man. I sense more ARCs in your future.
ReplyDeleteThanks! And heh, thank you for your oracular prediction - let's hope so.
DeleteWow, nice one! :) Congrats :) And I'm chuffed you enjoyed Overlord, I LOVED it to bits. You have excellent taste :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, it's pretty fun. :D And yep - have you read Sullivan? it's kind of similar - both are traditional elements and worlds, but done really well.
Deletecongrats! you have arrived! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Delete