The Seventh Door

Hey! It's here--the third book in the Children of the Bard series by Bryan Davis!

You may buy an autographed copy directly from Mr. Davis here - http://www.daviscrossing.com/SeventhDoor.htm

You may purchase autographed copies of the three Children of the Bard books in a three-pack for $30 - http://www.daviscrossing.com/BardCombo.htm

The Seventh Door is available from Amazon here - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0899578829







I'm not really sure how to describe this book, especially if you haven't read the ones before. It's good, of course--his books always are. Here's a review I wrote just after finishing it:

 
Once again Bryan Davis has led his readers on a wild ride. There are amazing ups and downs, crazy turns, and breathtaking chapter endings with heartstopping cliffhangers. You feel like you are really there with the characters, and shout encouragement from the sidelines. You hold your breath when they make their decisions and try to tell them to make the right one. And then, as always happens in one of Mr. Davis’ books, the characters slowly slide ahead, making decisions you would find difficult, making sacrifices and bleeding for those they love, and you find that they have pulled ahead of you and are now calling encouragement from the pages that comprise their lives. They lead by example, as Mr Davis’ characters always have.

Growing up with these books, I always look forward to them, wondering how he’ll make this one great. They always have such themes of godly character and such wonderful stories. This one was the same, but it had built on the foundations of the previous books. This one felt older and more mature, even while Matt and Darcy are still stretching their legs and gaining faith. It felt so right, along with all the previous books. It was a continuation, and its own story, and such a good stepping stone.

So many times during the book, I had to gasp and keep myself from turning ahead to see how it would turn out. This book tugged at my heart and it still hasn’t let go, which is a good thing. The Seventh Door has started working on me, and Mr. Davis has already taught me so many things about my walk with God. I can’t wait to read the next book and continue this journey with all these characters who I know and love so well.

Basically, READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Bryan Davis

Bryan Davis is wonderful at taking an idea and running with it. A dream about a boy who could breathe fire became a book that introduced us into a world full of dragons and dragon slayers, demons, sorceresses, giants, and portals to different dimensions. Oh, and it all takes place in contemporary times. I've yet to see such a seamless blend of sword and dragon with middle school and modern day. Of course, a large chunk of the books are about things that happened long ago--King Arthur's day and pre-Flood times, for one. Yet they're so believable and so well-written, that when a Sunday School teacher asks the kids, "Who was on the Ark?" my reaction is "8 people, two dragons, one wraith, and if you're technical one baby giant." This series is Dragons in our Midst, followed by the sequel Oracles of Fire, then the sequel to that which is still being written, Children of the Bard.

And that's just one series. He has two other series that are so woven together and detailed, not to mention full of sub plots and plot twists and other things that just make your head spin in a delightful attempt to make sense of the puzzle and figure out what's going to happen in the next book. These are Dragons of Starlight, which is the young adult series, and Tales of Starlight, which is the adult series (but mostly because the main characters in that one are the adult characters, and it's a tad darker as a result. But if you compare it to even 'teen' fiction out there, I'd say it's a far better read.)

He didn't just 'try' sci-fi, either. He dove into it and wriggled around and created entire worlds and wove them together in a fascinating and complex trilogy of portals and time and ethics and morals. This trilogy is Echoes From the Edge.

Call it believable characterization or deliberate subterfuge on the part of the author, but he's made several characters with such complex and intertwined goals and morals that one of the greatest delights of reading his books is divining the characters' motivations.

All together, these series are a wonderful addition to your bookshelf, ones you'll want to read again and again. (So far I've re-read them about four times each.) These characters grow on you--and you cry with them when they hurt and you laugh with them when they rejoice.

Bryan Davis has had a huge influence on my life, not only because of a desire to be able to write like him--*cough as if cough*--but because of the true elements he's woven into his books. They are Christian, and good examples, even if they are fictional characters. =D

Shakespeare's Heroes, Tragic and Comedic

I have recently, for reasons relatively embarrassing and which will therefore be left unsaid, dove into the works of Shakespeare. I have read King Lear, Macbeth, and Cymbeline, and Othello, watched Henry V, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and re-watched Much Ado About Nothing (movie with Emma Thompson), and watched the Hollow Crown (Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Henry V) trilogy. Haven't gotten to Richard III yet but I will.

And I have found a peculiar, recurring thread that I just noticed after finishing Cymbeline. No, it started niggling in my head while reading Macbeth, which opens with glowing praise of Macbeth. Says King Duncan-- "O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!"
And you know, even if you don't know anything about Macbeth, that during the course of the play Macbeth's character will regress from valiant and worthy to base and violent. Just the simple fact that his goodness is pointed out makes you suspicious. I remembered Othello, which starts out similarly (oh how wonderful Othello is I'm actually glad my daughter married you). I remembered Much Ado About Nothing, which has most of the cast calling Hero's faithfulness into question. Then I read Cymbeline, and most of the action starts with Posthumus praising his wife's virtue. This, of course, is quickly challenged.

Then it finally hit me. Whether or not the heroes of Shakespeare remain heroes, or fall and are known as tragic heroes because of their flaws, their goodness or lack thereof is the turning point of everything. Either they win because they are good or they fail because they are not. It seems none of his characters can simply say "Yeah she's pretty good, isn't she" and continue their lives.

None of us can, either. If we see a good person, it's almost though it becomes a challenge-- when will they fall, not will they fall. Because surely, such goodness isn't natural and cannot remain? Maybe it's jealousy on our part, and a kind of shame because we are not as good or virtuous as this other person, but we want to tear them down off their pedestal and show the world that really, they weren't all that.

It made me think of Jesus, actually, and the quote that...oh, somebody said, I can't remember who. "If there ever was someone perfect, the world would kill him because they couldn't stand it." How true it is. We're not good, not at all--

But He provided a way for us to be. Not by anything we can do-- because there's nothing--but by what He's done. It's putting on His clothes, His perfection, His goodness. It's accepting Him, the only Good One.

Fanfiction Recommendations.

Because quality fanfiction is so hard to come by, and I decided to start marking what I've read in the past month by listing some of my favorites. All well-written, all good, and I'll tell you if there's any swearing or whatever. Probably all of these will be taken from fanfiction.net because that's where I hang out and where there happens to be a multitude of the darling things.

In no particular order, she says as suddenly she is seized by the inexplicable urge to organize these by date read. She clears her throat. Starts again.

In the order of date read, assume oneshot unless otherwise informed:

Mistletoe Run, a Mentalist fanfic. Involves Patrick Jane and a large amount of mistletoe. Given that it does involve mistletoe, it also involves kissing. of course. ;) but still fun.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6562981/1/Mistletoe-Run

A Story for Children, a Sherlock fanfic. Started out as this rather fun bedtime story the Uncle and Uncle Sherlock told small Amelia, Rory, John, and Molly, and now it has a plot and danger and all sorts of wonderful things. Also a villain, an antagonist, a downright detestable creature known only as the Moffis, the Gaffat. multi-chapter, ongoing.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7927311/1/A-Story-For-Children

A Mother's Faith, a Thor (2) fanfic. Frigga and Loki bit, about wisdom and kings and such.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9917873/1/A-Mother-s-Faith

The Final Offense, Thor 2 fic, Loki and Odin and resentments and unforgiveness. tad dark and angsty. (spoilers)
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9917866/1/The-Final-Offense

Helpless, Thor 2 fic, Loki and Frigga and a perhaps reason for Loki's thorough protection of Jane.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9872940/1/Helpless

The Squire's Squire, a Squire's Tales fic. [so...spoilers, if you haven't read the series. I recommend it if you haven't.] King Arthur wishes he could just not be a king. And wakes up as a squire to a certain squire of a certain nephew of his.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10012365/1/

A Pointless Illusion, Thor 2 fic, Loki and introspection on why he keeps the illusions around. Given the blasted movie there are feels and angst.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9846757/1/A-Pointless-Illusion

Budapest, a crossover fic. Avengers and Phineas and Ferb. Come now, you really want to read the real reason Clint remembered Budapest so differently than Natasha, and the fact that it may or may not have something to do with two boys and a platypus is more than curious.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8680792/1/Budapest

Two Knocks, a Sherlock fic. Lestrade has news for Mrs. Hudson. Angsty tragedy but so, so good. Honestly, the greatest compliment I can give this one is that it almost made me cry. So in character...so good.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8879617/1/

Ritual, an Avengers fic. The team has a ritual in place for when Hawkeye returns to the tower late. Quite possibly the epitome of hurt/comfort.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9246556/1/Ritual

The Most Important Question, a Thor fic. Such question is, of course, what color Loki's eyes are. And if the Trickster happens to be deliberately changing them to annoy his fangirl army...(Not quite sure if this falls into the 'well-written' or 'quality' bit, but the conclusion stuck in my head and gave me feels and therefore I share it.)
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10010483/1/The-Most-Important-Question

Gentle, Velvet Lies, a thor 2 fic. Loki and Frigga and denial and lies and the debatable merits of lying when Truth is so, so, so horrible.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9841254/1/Gentle-Velvet-Lies

bedtime stories, an Avengers fic. for Loki's magic to work he has to believe, but the little man says he lacks conviction.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8591249/1/bedtime-stories

The Vanishing Act, a Doctor Who fic. I'll give you the author's summary: The Doctor and his darling wife get into another one of their arguments. Rapidly escalating into a small war. Rapidly escalating into a large war. And it might not end until the universe does.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9999427/1/The-Vanishing-Act

Immortalised, an Avengers fic. Loki tries to kill off the Avengers, with unexpected results.
http://starsurfer108.deviantart.com/art/Immortalised-COMPLETE-424702522

Linguistics, an Avengers fic. A year after the Battle of New York, another inscription appears in New Mexico.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10013210/1/Linguistics

I lied. these are not all the fics I read in January. But I've lost all the other ones I would have added, so these will have to do. Honestly, I don't know if anyone even wants these, but here they are. I can stop feeling guilty about not having posted these. Perhaps I'll inundate you with all the Labyrinth fics I read during February.

Perhaps not.
Either way, here you go.

Calling all Shippers:

I just had me a thought. (after reading a fanfic about a couple from the Squire's Tales book series, wherein the daughter enjoys watching her parents just be together)
Ooh, this thought may require my explaining the word ship. (as pertains to fandom/romance/etc)

A 'shipper--contraction of relationshipper--is someone who supports the idea of two characters being in a romantic relationship. Mostly, this 'shipping' business involves grinning like a madwoman any time your chosen pair interact in any mushy-type bits. You know the characters, you like the characters, and you know that these two characters are just perfect for each other. (Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, River and the Doctor, Guinevere and Arthur)

Sometimes you ship two characters not in an established relationship (*cough MollyxSherlock, MerlinxMorgana, cough*) and construct very elaborate headcanons which explain their being together. sometimes you can grasp at straws for proof (*"look," she shrieks, pointing at them smiling at each other, "they like each other! I knew it!"*) and sometimes it makes sense, but the bottom line is that you know they would make a good couple and you like the idea of it.

I hope that explained it...because it's one of those irritatingly hard things to explain. Like Doctor Who. Anyway.

My thought:

My parents are in a relationship. And they are canon. And, as their daughter and a self-aware shipper, it is my duty, nay, my privilege, to support said relationship. I'm, uh, kind of blanking on ideas, but knowing all the fic ideas and fandom jargon including Shipper On Deck and what have you, I'm...hereby swearing to support Mom/Dad (oh stars. I've just thought of a perfect ship name...) in whatever means possible.

And also asking for ideas because how on earth does one even...I'm thinking doing dishes and paying for dinners or whatever. Someone get Mary Watson to exist, since I'm sure she'd be perfect at this. Anyway. Who's with me?

*walks away, still pondering ship name and any and all ways in which to get two people fluffily happy*

Peanut Butter Oreo Mini Cheesecake

Salute me; I have discovered, through that most honorable method of following one's stomach and taste, a recipe--nay, a dessert, a perfection--full worthy of the ingredients it be composed of, namely Oreos and cream cheese.

Hush, ye inner voice which whispers that my recipe was in truth invented long before I stumbled upon it. Hush, and allow me to relay it.

Okay, Shakespearean talk over. I discovered a single serving cheesecake recipe by scrounging around the kitchen while craving cream cheese, oreos, and thinking that probably peanut butter would go well with them. I love it. It's creamy, takes twenty minutes or so, and I'm of the opinion that it epitomizes comfort food and would be good for the heartbreaking plot twist which would usually occur at the twenty minute mark. I'm currently planning on making one before I watch the Christmas special, so it's ready when I need it.

Anyway. The first time I made this, I wasn't measuring anything and was tasting after each addition, and upon gaining Mom's approval and concurrence of its deliciousness, I decided to make it again (half because she wasn't feeling good and I kind of let her eat it so I needed to make one again anyway) and write down the recipe. So. here it is.

Separate 3 Oreos, placing the cookies in a sandwich bag and the filling in a bowl. Using a rolling pin, finely crush the cookies. Melt 1 Tbsp butter in one ramekin (or whatever dish you'll use to hold your mini cheesecake). Stir the cookies into the butter until completely blended, press into the bottom and put in the freezer. Take the filling and, using a butterknife, crumble the filling. Set aside. (I hate doing more dishes than I need to, so at this step I pour it back into the bag I used to crush the Oreos, leaving the bowl open for the next step.) Microwave 2 oz cream cheese in the bowl for 10 seconds. Stir until smooth. (It doesn't need to be completely softened, just smoother) Put 1 Tbsp peanut butter in the same bowl as the cream cheese, but do not stir. Microwave both the cream cheese and the peanut butter for another 10 seconds. Stir together until completely blended and smooth. Add 1 Tbsp sugar to the cream cheese mixture and stir. Remove ramekin from the freezer and spoon the cream cheese mixture onto the cookie crust. Take Oreo filling and sprinkle over the top. Put back in the freezer.

I haven't actually conclusively measured this last bit; I think 10 minutes would be fine, but I usually end up forgetting about it until 20 minutes later. When I take it out it's firm and cheesecake-y and perfect. And it only makes one so you don't really have to share anything more than a bite. :) It is rather rich, though, but I just ate half of it, saved it and then ate the rest. It works perfectly.

So there you go. Happy eating, and feel free to wiggle around with the recipe, since I think the first one used more cream cheese and was better. Also may need more butter. not sure.

Enjoy!

Fairytales Reviews Announcement

Fairytales.

Odd things, they are. If you were to open a book and begin to read about a kind, hardworking girl with great beauty, her two awful sisters, their scheming mother, a wonderful handsome prince who does nothing other than search out the beautiful girl and marry her, thus making her a princess...it sounds like a Mary Sue fanfiction, doesn't it?

Yet Cinderella has always been well loved.

It makes me wonder if there is a difference between opening a book that you know is a fairytale and one that isn't. In fairytales, such things as true love and virtuous heroes and heroines can happen and do happen and are looked upon as nothing strange. And I’ll admit, the second part of that is fine. Heroes are supposed to be good. The fairytales tell morals, more often than not (for instance, you are greatly rewarded for continually having a cheerful attitude despite being forced to work as basically a slave in your own home). But why do we love them? What is it about magic and true love and spells and breaking of spells that just...settles something within us? You finish one and the adult part of you is saying, "Yeah, that really didn't make much sense and the characters--" and the childish wonder in you is just sighing in contentment at the world, because the girl worked hard and was rewarded for it. Even if it had a 'bad' ending, it was usually for a reason. The girl was selfish or vain and was punished for it.

Perhaps that's it. The fairytale world has its rules, and they are followed. You know it will happen, you expect it to happen, and when it does you are content.

However, the adult part of you that has gone through courses on Literature and knows terms like 'characterization' and 'plot' and 'suspension of disbelief' doesn't quite like the simplistic nature of fairytales and the blind faith you sometimes have to have. (The twelve dancing princesses danced every night because they did, okay? No other reason is needed.) Childish you still loves them, but adult you realizes they could be better stories.

And lo and behold, you find these wonderful books called 'fairytale retellings'.

Ah.

Oh, joy. They are the fairytales we know and love, but they make sense! The characters are believable! The plot advances in the way it should! And best of all, (as I've already said) it's still the story you love that you grew up with and the guy gets the girl or vice versa and good triumphs in the end and everything.

Suffice it to say, dear readers, that I have discovered the wonderful realm of fairytale retellings. I have already read a couple books within said genre and am endeavoring to figure out how to write a review about them, which will appear shortly. New Year and regular posts and all that. :) Sides, my blog is becoming a book review platform...I'll add a couple movies later. (Also I might try reviewing a soundtrack? *clears throat* I’m not saying I’m obsessed or anything, but I’ve found that the soundtrack for Thor: The Dark World tells a story too. And other movies, like—eh. Yeah, I’ll probably do that.)

Anyway. Expect to see Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, also by Jessica Day George, Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, and any others I manage to get my hands on. Speaking of, any recommendations? Hey-please-read-this-and-tell-me-if-it's-any-good requests? Starflower-involved-a-kiss-by-a-prince-and-therefore-counts nudges? It’s-a-whole-new-fairytale-so-do-it-anyway logic? Seriously, anything.

Feed me the books, dearies.