I can’t believe November is already in full swing: time for fall candles, warm cinnamon-flavored teas, cozy sweaters, and National Novel Writing Month! Still, October wasn’t a bad month, either! I read several nice books, watched the new Andor series (whoop, whoop), and listened to a ton of good music! Please find the highlights below 😉
I Read…
Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer!
The sequel to Defy The Night is an addictive tale about love, duty, and revolution. It immediately follows the events of Defy The Night:
The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals.
But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir.
When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey as they attempt to mend their own fractured relationship.
This could be their only chance to keep the peace and bring relief to the people of Kandala, but danger strikes during the journey to Ostriary, and no one is who they seemed to be…
I L-O-V-E this series, y’all! It has everything I hope my books will one day have: a feisty heroine forced to learn how to survive in a world that isn’t her own, a grumpy, stoic, and stubborn prince; and a fast-paced narrative that deftly switches between different points of view.
That cliffhanger, though? RUDE 😉
I can’t wait to read the next installment!
I Watched…
The first episode of the new Andor series on Disney+!
After looong months of waiting, watching many teasers, interviews, and being whacked in the head with a last-minute delay, Andor had finally arrived! Yay!
Rogue One is my favorite Star Wars movie (next to the original trilogy, of course), so you can imagine how excited I was when Disney first announced their plans for a series about Cassian Andor!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Rogue One: Cassian Andor is a sassy rebel fighter who makes a heroic sacrifice to acquire the Death Star plans that would eventually trigger the downfall of the Galactic Empire.
This new series is about Cassian’s introduction to the rebellion. Of course, there’s a ton of backstory about his tragic past, his fears and insecurities, and the important moments that made him the man—and hero—from Rogue One.
The series is a bit different from the other Star Wars shows; the gritty vibe, the music, the overall shadiness of the characters, and the chaos of Cassian’s life make it darker and dirties, but also realistic and somehow more relatable.
Also, Syril Karn creeps me out and I love it! Where Darth Vader is the epitome of evil, Karn is a villain who’s all about the law and codes and doing the right thing. I can’t wait to see where the story takes him!
I Listened to…
The soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power by Bear McCreary!
Honestly, I think it’s impossible to overplay the importance of the soundtrack to the success of the original movies (and the subsequent The Hobbit trilogy). I still listen to these soundtracks A LOT and I geek out every time! Howard Shore is a genius (he won four Grammy Awards, three Oscars, and two Golden Globes for his work on the films) and I’m so glad he composed the theme for the series!
Composer Bear McCreary is responsible for the rest of the soundtrack (all NINE HOURS of it). His music is subtly different from Shore’s, without any references to the original themes from The Lord of the Rings.
I must admit I was a tiny bit disappointed about that, at first, but within the first minutes of the show, I’d forgotten all about it! McCreary’s new themes are sooo fitting and brilliant in their own right! All the feels!
“Galadriel” and “Númenor” are definitely my two favorite tracks, but the entire score is super cinematic and perfect for fantasy writing! Go check them out 🙂