Author Archives: shaunalawless

In an attempt to organise my reading for the next couple of months, I’ve made this blog post. These are the books I want to read in the next two months – ambitious maybe, but why not! Book Club I’m reading The Priory of the Orange Tree as part of the Fantology book club –Continue reading “TBR – MAY & JUNE 2021”

When writers talk about perspectives, we usually discuss the 1st and 3rd. First perspective being any story where the protagonist directly narrates his/her/their own story. I walked to the shop to buy a loaf of bread. Third perspective is where the character’s name is used or he/she, and thus the writer is able to relayContinue reading “The Second Perspective – the most unloved perspective of all”

How completely different. That is my overwhelming thought on reading this beautiful novella. I’ve been enjoying my fantasy lately; lands full of assassins, mages, female warriors, and cold-hearted kings. This isn’t that book. However, it’s no bad thing. This is still fantasy, but much more grounded, and yet, somehow more fantastical. Imagine the visuals ofContinue reading “Novella review: Tower of Mud and Straw by Yaroslav Barsukov”

PREMISE The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must prepare to unmask a conspiracy. His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. And after several “accidents” and a dying soldier’s warning, he realises his life is also in danger. YetContinue reading “Book Review – The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley”

This is my latest WWW Wednesday blog. I’m seeing more and more of these as the weeks go by – and it’s lots of fun to do. I can’t do it every week though because I don’t read fast enough. It’s been three weeks since my last post, however, and I’ve read a few booksContinue reading “WWW WEDNESDAY – 14th April 2021”

Thanks to Sue Bavey from Sue’s Musings at http://www.suelbavey.wordpress.com for giving me this challenge of talking about a favourite trope in fantasy that I’m a sucker for. Now this didn’t even me a moments thought! In fantasy novels, I’m a sucker for a strong female lead. If you add in a female protagonist with magicalContinue reading “Blog challenge – I’m a sucker for….”

Ever been in a reading slump? I have. Twice. Once because I was part of a critique website whilst also writing my own novel. I had to read so much work by critique buddies that I didn’t have time for anything else. Now you might say – but this is reading. I would argue thatContinue reading “Five fantasy books to get you out of a reading slump”

I wasn’t supposed to read this book yet. It wasn’t very high on my TBR list – but one night I went to bed and realised my kindle had no charge and that I had left my paperback (Deadhouse Gates) downstairs. This was one of the books on my bedside table, and the author’s nameContinue reading “King of Ashes by Raymond E. Feist – Review”

The Lia Fáil is a mythological stone found on the Hill of Tara – and is also known as the Stone of Destiny, although a more literal translation would be the under stone. The Lia Fáil is first discussed in a book called The Book of the Taking of Ireland (Lebor Gabála Érenn) which isContinue reading “The Lia Fáil – The Stone of Destiny”