Tag Archives: fantasy

Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- June 2026

Memoir The Dressmaker’s Daughter by Kate Llewellyn This is the first book going towards my mini-reading challenge this year and possibly my first official memoir (I had read a partial one from a beta-reader swap that I was in from being a women’s writer group some years back) but the book itself has nothing toContinue reading “Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- June 2026”

Chinese vs Western Fantasy: A comparison of Elements (2): Heroes versus Questors for Immortality

When we talk about “heroes”, we tend to assume a shared structure. But once you compare Chinese and Western contexts, the difference becomes clearer. Broadly speaking, Western stories tend to centre on the idea of a hero. Chinese traditions are less consistent on that front, and in modern fantasy, the structure shifts again. In theContinue reading “Chinese vs Western Fantasy: A comparison of Elements (2): Heroes versus Questors for Immortality”

Chinese vs Western Fantasy: A comparison of Elements (1): Dragons

I am starting a new post series that compares elements of Chinese fantasy versus Western fantasy. For the very first post, I am going to focus on dragons.  When we say “dragon”, we are often assuming a shared idea. But that assumption doesn’t really hold once you compare Chinese and Western contexts. Broadly speaking, theContinue reading “Chinese vs Western Fantasy: A comparison of Elements (1): Dragons”

CCC day 13- Charming rogue/crafter (7th seas)

Continuing with 7th seas because I was really thinking of two character concepts. High Concept: Charming rogue/crafter  Nation: Inismore (+1 Panache)  Basic Traits: Backgrounds:  Skills: Advantages:  Arcana: rescue anyone but yourself. Hero Story: Romance  Step 1- Consult the Fate Witch to find a likely candidate  Step 2- Track her down  Step 3- Pursue her andContinue reading “CCC day 13- Charming rogue/crafter (7th seas)”

Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- December 2025

Fantasy The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn I like it okay as a redemption story but it hasn’t really struck any deep seated chord with me. The ending is somewhat interesting but I’m not sure what it does for the story exactly.  An exchange of Gifts by Anne McCaffrey Okay forContinue reading “Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- December 2025”

Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- September 2025

Fantasy  The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang Technically this is the subgenre of urban fantasy or supernatural fantasy but to be honest it felt more like a family story to me because it’s all about two sisters’ efforts to find their missing Mom. It’s okay, the pacing is a little slow at bits but IContinue reading “Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- September 2025”

Oriental Fantasy 2025 (2) 

Continuing with Striking the Zither by Joan He, I think it’s best seen as a fantasy set around certain historical events as detailed in the Romance of Three Kingdoms. In fact, after section 1, the fantasy element is so much that it’s enough to tip the whole story into the fantasy genre. On the otherContinue reading “Oriental Fantasy 2025 (2) “

Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- March 2025

Mystery 8 by James Phelan We are seeing a widening of the story that is set up nicely all along this series. Still with this series and reading on to find out what happens next.  7 by James Phelan  Here we see a major game changer in this series and I find that refreshing. StillContinue reading “Moonlake’s Book Discoveries- March 2025”

Moonlake’s Book Discoveries: September 2024

Fantasy  Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman I got curious because His Darkest Materials was the title for the lesson on research for the novel writing course that I did with the University of British Columbia up on the edX platform. As I was reading it, it reminds me a little of one movie that IContinue reading “Moonlake’s Book Discoveries: September 2024”