Happy New Year!
It's the last day of Holidailies! Or rather, it would be, but I think the website is in a different timezone so the entries are already locked.
I got some writing done today. Not that I have resolutions, but I would like to prioritize writing more. It's easy to put it off by working on the other endless tasks associated with publishing, but the writing needs to be first. I've been avoiding word count goals for burnout reasons, but I think 500 words per day is reasonable. Most days I should be over that, but even on days when I'm having a hard time concentrating, 500 words is doable.
So there. That's my plan.
Way Too Much Cozy for Me
I listened to more of The Spellshop, and the problems I noted yesterday are coming back to bite the author in the ass. Characters are now arguing that of course they can't do the magic thing, but since there's no cost or downside to using magic, it leaves the reader wondering why not. The plot has been heading that way for the last half of the book, so obviously they are going to do the magic thing, on the first try with no difficulty. Just get on with it.
Also, the main character and her love interest get interrupted every time they have a moment alone. Usually, I'd be irritated by such heavy-handed plot interference, but honestly, I don't care about them being together and I really don't want to listen to this author attempt a sex scene, so in this case I'm making an exception to my rule about limiting convenient interruptions.
I think I'd like this book better if about a third of it were cut out. That's fine. I'm sure other people will enjoy it.
Obligatory Kitten Picture
Have I used this one before? Probably. But Sabot was adorable.
I'm one full day into the new year with no kittens yet...
Sabot wants to go with!!!! I don't think I stopped reading Spell Shop for being too cozy, but there was a distinct lack of a real plot to keep it moving forward. And when plot ploys are too obvious, I tend to stop reading. But as you said, the book is quite popular. I think it sold well and there's probably already a second book out!
ReplyDeleteI finished it. There was a section where I (once again) wondered why a scene hadn't been cut because it didn't add anything and also didn't really make sense, and then I realized it was there to set up the character for the second book. And I don't have a problem with it, in concept, but it was so obviously shoved in at the last minute...
DeleteI guess my main reaction to that book is that it needed better editing, which is not my usual reaction to trad pubbed books.