About the Book:
Xích Si: bot maker, data analyst, mother, scavenger. But those days are over now-her ship has just been captured by the Red Banner pirate fleet, famous for their double-dealing and cruelty. Xích Si expects to be tortured to death-only for the pirates’ enigmatic leader, Rice Fish, to arrive with a different and shocking proposition: an arranged marriage between Xích Si and herself.
Rice Fish: sentient ship, leader of the infamous Red Banner pirate fleet, wife of the Red Scholar. Or at least, she was the latter before her wife died under suspicious circumstances. Now isolated and alone, Rice Fish wants Xích Si’s help to find out who struck against them and why. Marrying Xích Si means Rice Fish can offer Xích Si protection, in exchange for Xích Si’s technical fluency: a business arrangement with nothing more to it.
But as the investigation goes on, Rice Fish and Xích Si find themselves falling for each other. As the interstellar war against piracy intensifies and the five fleets start fighting each other, they will have to make a stand-and to decide what kind of future they have together…
My thoughts:
I love a great scifi and I love Aliette de Bodard’s work. Sentient Spaceship love! Spaceships who have lives and artificial forms to interact with the humans who work and live on board them. And a pirate sentient spaceship? Fabulous. A pirate spaceship that needs a new wife? There are so many layers to this story. Xich Si is a scavenger who is captured by pirates. Rather than the death she expects she is offered a different choice. To marry for protection. Rice Fish is the leader of the Red Banner pirate fleet. She can protect Xich Si in exchange for her technical skills. But the life of a pirate is one of constant danger. There is betrayal and love and more betrayal in this story. The pirate banners are working at cross purposes and the government is after them. Betrayal will come from an unexcepted source. A romance will rise and fall. Battles abound and potential death lies around every corner. Xich Si has a child she must save. Rice Fish’s child is full of anger. When the attack begins decisions must be made or all is lost. Another fabulous scifi story from a wonderful author. Loved it.
About the Book:
The world’s happiest and most dog-friendly superhero is here! A brand new adventure for junior readers from Kate Foster.
Meet Harriet Hound. She’s eight years old and loves dogs!
But Harriet has something else that makes her super … the power to summon the dogs from her family’s rescue shelter every time there’s trouble afoot.
Whether it’s a carnival catastrophe, a sudden storm, or vanishing vegetables, Harriet and her best dog friends use their super special talents and problem-solving skills to save the day!
My Thoughts:
Oh this is just so so wonderful to read. A joyous children’s chapter book full of magic and amazingly helpful rescue hounds and Harriet – an 8 year old magical superhero who is able to continually save the day.
The pictures throughout this chapter book are stunning and fun, and really suit the wonderful writing style with text that will just grab the attention of younger readers.
Harriet is autistic and a magical superhero. She is able to save the day with her magical powers and her super helpful four legged friends. Harriet stims, she wears headphones and has sensitivity to loud sounds and lights and has a need to be super prepared for new events and paths, but she is also incredibly brave, always thinking of how she can help others and is able to save the day time and time again. Harriet is a wonderful main character and I want to read more about her and her adventures. And I love that Harriet also helps her four legged friends find new families. Even though it makes her sad to lose them from the rescue shelter she knows they will be happy with their new found families and that their new found families will be happier too.
This is a terrific read for younger children who have autism, who have autistic friends they want to read about and understand a little more about or for families and the wider community to help them see into the extraordinary minds of such children. It is such a positive book. It’s also a terrific read for younger children who want a pet – there is some great advice about caring for pets and really thinking about the right animal traits that will suit families and their lifestyles. I loved every second of these magical tales. It is a great early reader for 6-10 year olds to read on their own as they develop and strengthen their reading skills or for younger ones to read together with their parents. I wish I had Harriet’s magic pajamas! I think this is a fabulous book and should be read by as many children as possible!
You can pre-order Blood Fever now
RELEASE DATE: 20 July 2023
ABOUT BLOOD FEVER
Mich Janelle is a disgraced Hunter who wants to find out who set her up for murder.
Zeth Wen made the worst mistake of his life, and now a space cruiser full of children are dead.
Rel Charley was a child of alien occupation and is now a man facing prejudice at every turn.
When the PIs are forced to team up to solve the gruesome murder of a mid-level tech smuggler, no one is happy. But as the clues piece together and the bodies pile up, the three must work together if they are to prevent a shocking conspiracy to kill millions.
As Zeth and Rel face their demons to prevent a bloodbath, Mich must wrestle with a voice that has lived inside her mind since she was locked away, one that whispers … kill them all …
An electrifying sci-fi thriller from the author of White Fire, Boss From Hell and The Stones of Power series.
PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox
“It’s passing overhead,” chief sensor operator Ashar confirmed.
“Patience, master pilot.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How long?”
“Second, we cannot be identified by the local inhabitants. Our ship will survive down here as long as required.”
“Yes, sir.” The second officer scowled. They wouldn’t be here at all, hiding underwater, if the captain hadn’t tripped and spilled his electro tea right onto the master pilot’s command console. Shorted everything. Fortunately, the master pilot was able to land them here from the backup console and the repairs had begun. Once the sun set, they’d return home. The second officer submitted his unimpressed report.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart
It was quiet.
Eerie really.
No voices, no feet in sandals scraping the bricks, no bells tolling.
No birdsong either.
“What happened here?” she asked, hiking her heavy backpack higher. Her companion shrugged.
It had taken them months. First, landing their spaceship, then hiking out here to the middle of nowhere. And now, no life to be found.
“He said to meet here, right?”
Her companion nodded.
Their contact was to hand over the jewelled headstone for the cash in her bag.
“It’ll be dark soon.”
Nod.
“Let’s set up camp. You take first shift.”
Nod.
The shadows crept closer.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox
“So, what’s happening?”
“We are listening to an author talk about their latest book.”
“Why?”
“Because they can tell us things about the book? Like why they wrote it.”
“Why don’t they just put that into the book?”
“Look… it’s a thing that they do here. You are trying to blend in with the locals and the human you are impersonating had tickets. So shut up and blend in.”
“Should I ask questions?”
“Arghhhh. Do you know nothing about staying incognito?”
“Look, I’m new to this planet. I’m trying. Don’t get snippy.”
*Sigh* “Fine.”
“Am I a fan?”
*Louder sigh*
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count:100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
Who will be next?
Mich Janelle is a disgraced Hunter who wants to find out who set her up for murder.
Zeth Wen made the worst mistake of his life, and now a space cruiser full of children are dead.
Rel Charley was a child of alien occupation and is now a man facing prejudice at every turn.
When the PIs are forced to team up to solve the gruesome murder of a mid-level tech smuggler, no one is happy. But as the clues piece together and the bodies pile up, the three must work together if they are to prevent a shocking conspiracy to kill millions.
As Zeth and Rel face their demons to prevent a bloodbath, Mich must wrestle with a voice that has lived inside her mind since she was locked away, one that whispers … kill them all …
An electrifying sci-fi thriller from the author of White Fire, Boss From Hell and The Stones of Power series.
COMING SOON
When I first wrote The Butterfly Stone I had a vision of a “dream cast” if the movies were ever made…
Now that I am working on book 4 I have updated my dream cast for the series! It helps me write if I can visualise my lovely lovely characters and hear them in my head.
So I’m manifesting my dream cast aloud and who knows what might happen…
If I was dream casting my Stones of Power series of books … David Hewlett would be Agent Malden and Joey Batey is Prince Henry. All the kids would be newbies. Madeleine Hyland would be Miss Tearning, Henry Cavill would be Timothy and Ke Huy Quan would be Doctor Chan. Grandma would be Jamie Lee Curtis.
And Aldis Hodge would pop up in The Crow’s Heart. As would Millie Bobby Brown.
👀
Now I just need an agent, a streaming service, a contract, a producer, a director and so on… 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Can’t hurt to dream, amiright?
Am I procrastinating when I should be editing book 4? Why yes I am, thanks for asking. 🤪
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
It was just stone walls as far as she could see. Which wasn’t much given the blood dripping down her face and the swollen right eye. She stumbled forward, limping heavily with her injured left leg. He stepped into her path. She drew her sword, finally face to face with the enemy general. “Now, is the day you die,” she spat.
“Go left.”
“No, no. Charge ahead and slash.”
“Go back. You need help.”
“Kids. Turn that off, it’s time for dinner,” Mom shouted through the living room doorway. “Wash up and set the table please.”
“Awwwwwwwwwww, Mom! Not now.”
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word Count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Amanda Forestwood
They knew the bard had traveled this way. “But why leave his violin?”
“Someone must have taken him.” The warrior cried pulling his sword.
“Put that away, he was probably drunk and forgot it,” the Sorceress said with a sneer.
The cleric leaned in to sniff the polished wood. “He would never forget his magic violin. It is the source of his power.”
Again the Sorceress scoffed.
I stared around the table. “What do you want to do?”
My teammates laughed. “Sleep!” they all cried.
“Everyone roll—” I was cut off at the tremble in the table. “Earthquake! Run!”
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt response
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
Rambles, writing and amusing musings 