DRAGONMOUNT

Rebecca Thorne would be the first to admit this book was initially inspired by Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes (check out Ola Aleksandra Hills’ review here) . It’s a (mostly) cozy romance in a fantasy setting about two women who open up a shop, grow to be part of the local community, and have pasts that eventually catch up to them. On the surface, that sounds like the same story, but it really isn’t; think of it more as a familiar framework to hang something new on.   Reyna is great at her job as a royal guard, but does not particularly enjoy dispatching the increasingly frequent assassins who threaten the throne. It is not, however, a role you can easily leave with your head still attached, as the Queen frequently demonstrates.   Kianthe is the Arcandor; the most powerful mage in all the land. She’s a magical troubleshooter, called in to deal with big (and frequently fiery) problems. But there’s a lot of stifling politics around the role, and many layers of ineffectual men trying to tell her what to do.   The two have also been secretly dating for years, and have a shared dream of running far away together to open a tea shop that sells books. Or, perhaps, a bookshop that serves tea. An incident at the palace makes their dreams suddenly a lot more real, and they end up incognito as small business owners in a forgotten corner of the world. There is just the small matter of Reyna committing treason against the Queendom, and Kianthe hiding from the Magicary, but I’m sure that won’t come back to bite them later (it will).   It’s worth keeping in mind that this is not quite as cozy or small scale as Legends & Lattes is. There is an underlying dragon-shaped mystery about their new town, which leads them into more adventure, and indeed more mortal peril, than you might anticipate. The two of them don’t always make the best decisions, particularly in terms of self-care and self-preservation. But this is an established relationship, and they are both supportive of each other throughout, which is certainly refreshing.   “Tomes & Tea” is planned as a four book series, and books two and three are already written. So, it will not be too long until we find out what is next for our couple, and I personally can’t wait. In fact, since the first two books were originally self-published before being picked up by Tor, I don’t actually have to wait; those two are currently available in ebook form. The physical books look very nice however, and I suspect I will pick those up for my shelves as they are released.   A fun tale, recognisable in some ways, but still very entertaining. Another sapphic shopkeeping success!   Thanks to Tor for the early review copy.

The Robert Jordan Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the community of TarValon.Net to people seeking higher education in pursuit of being a Servant of All.  This year, two scholarships will be awarded, of $500 each.  People in any accredited program of study are welcome to apply; this includes students in two or four year colleges, graduate studies, or non-traditional certification programs.   Apply NOW! because the application period goes until May 15, 2024.  Applicants are asked to explain "how do you plan to use your education in a way that exemplifies being a Servant of All?" and scholarships will be awarded based on the response.  The Tar Valon Community Council will read the essays and determine scholarship recipients, who will be notified in July.    More detail is available on the Tar Valon website.  To apply, go HERE. 

Many modern fantasy books are showcases of worldbuilding—magic systems, creative (and not so creative) variations on the “orc,” tongue-twisting character and place names, and so on. Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova has the best elements of all of that, but it also has what so many of its contemporaries do not: vivid and engaging prose. Take the very first paragraph. It was nearly midnight on New Year’s Eve, but the city inside the Wall didn’t celebrate. The people there knew that the birth of a new year was—like any birth—difficult, painful, and dangerous.   You better believe I tore through this 350-page book in a hurry after that. It helped that I read it on vacation, of course, with my only distractions being ordering another drink and the occasional dip in the Pacific. But Foul Days isn’t just a great beach read. It is also a great stay-up-past-your-bedtime read, a great take-on-your-lunch-break read, a great anytime read. The action is fast, the world is vividly bleak, and the suspense kicks in early and doesn’t let up.   The main character, Kosara, is a young witch who has packed a surprisingly long troubled past into her short years. Before long, she is forced to give up her shadow—her magic—in order to escape from the Czar of Monsters. It’s a short-term solution, because a witch can’t live for long without her shadow. In Kosara’s quest to get it back, she gets swept up in the machinations of the criminal underworld and crooked cops—including a handsome cop with almost as many secrets as Kosara—and a host of monsters. There is an element of steampunk to the fantasy—trains, guns, and a hot air balloon make appearances—as well as a touch of romance (I did mention a handsome cop…).   I picked this book up because the blurb advertises The Witcher meets Naomi Novik, and doesn’t that sound like a good time? There is more Naomi Novik here than Geralt; the Witcher comparison stems mostly from the compendium of monsters and specialized monster fighters. Novik’s influence is much more present, with a flawed-but-strong young heroine and a world grown from eastern-European folklore roots. In the case of Foul Days, those influences come from the author’s origins in Bulgaria.   Indeed, the “Foul Days” of the title correspond to the Pagan Slavic winter holiday of Korochun, the time of year when the more malevolent spirits are at their most potent. Those spirits are especially potent in Chenograd, where the story begins. Chenograd and Belograd are two halves of a city divided by a wall—The Wall—which keeps all the monsters and evil spirits on the Chenogradean side. It also (mostly) keeps all the citizens of the cities on their respective sides. As you might imagine, there is some tension between the folks on opposite sides of The Wall.   We learn more about the origins of The Wall and how this city got to be divided as the book progresses. Dimova does an exceptionally good job of introducing the lore at a pace that keeps the reader informed without overwhelming. The POV is third person, but there is more than a hint of the unreliable narration from our heroine, Kosara, who has some secrets that she would rather not share with the reader or anyone else. This mostly works well, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty that very much matches the uncertainty that Kosara feels after crossing to the other side of the wall and discovering the betrayal and deception that more than validate her secrecy.   There are a few instances, though, where I wish Dimova had trusted her own very capable character development and left things in the subtext. For example, after Kosara meets a character who is revealed to have robbed a bank with a toy gun, we read that “Kosara glanced at Nur with newfound respect. This perhaps showed that something was amiss in Kosara’s own moral compass.” Added to the fact that on the very first page of the book we see Kosara using magic to cheat at cards, I don’t think we need to be told so explicitly in which direction her moral compass points.   Overwhelmingly, though, I enjoyed the prose of Foul Days immensely. The world that Dimova creates leaps off the page—sometimes frighteningly so—and, at times, managed to take me from my sunny vacation to the snowy streets of Chernograd and Belograd. I loved discovering and understanding the different monsters, some of which are truly evil and some of which are just your average creatures with their own needs and wants. The book also does an excellent job of illustrating that some of the humans are more monstrous than any creature, and, as the cover of the book says, “the scariest monsters are the human-shaped ones.”   Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova comes out in June, and I highly recommend putting it on your summer reading list. The second book, Monstrous Nights, is set to release in October, and I am already excited to see how Dimova continues this adventure. Thank you to TOR for the advance reader copy that I reviewed, and thank you to Grace for editing this review.

📍 Looking for Dragonmount at JordanCon? We're all over the place! Come find us to grab your exclusive badge ribbon and join in on the fun. We're excited to meet you, share stories, and celebrate our love for The Wheel of Time. Check our plans and stop by—let's make this JordanCon unforgettable!    Kathy Campbell aka JordanCon’s Officer of Communications You’ll find her- in the wild enjoying herself around the con for most of the weekend! Sunday session- Feedback & Leavetakings   Kitty Rallo aka ½ of this year’s Toastmaster duo Opening Ceremonies Project Runway: JordanCon Unlocking Shakespeare with Guy Roberts Author Guest of Honor Spotlight Artist Guest of Honor Spotlight JordanCon’s Annual Costume Contest   Ebony Adomanis aka JordanCon’s New Member Services Director You’ll find her- Friday New Member Tours Remainder of the weekend in the wild enjoying herself around the con!   Thom DeSimone aka JordanCon Panelist tWoTcast Live! WoTionary: A Wheel of Time Game Show   Crystal Fritz aka JordanCon Newbie You’ll find her- in the wild enjoying herself around the con!   Kevin Angus aka JordanCon Panelist Looney Theories The Wheel of Time Family Feud with Tar Valon After Dark   Erin DeSimone aka JordanCon’s Director of Media Relations You’ll find her- in the wild enjoying herself around the con!    

Welcome to the 2024 Dragonmount x JordanCon Quest! Join Dragonmount on a quest to interact with the amazing community at JordanCon, which comes together each year to celebrate The Wheel of Time and other sci-fi/fantasy works.   Here's how it's going to work! Complete any quests from the list below by following the instructions and posting the photos to your social media account using the hashtag #DragonmountQuest. Write the number of each completed quest in any box on the BINGO card on the back of your JordanCon program. Get BINGO by placing any 5 completed quest numbers in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal).  When you've made a BINGO, search out a member of Dragonmount to confirm and authorize your win. Important note: All photos must be taken with consent. Please do not interrupt or disrupt panels or conversations to take photos. To be eligible to win BINGO all social media posts must be on a public profile using the hashtag #DragonmountQuest (so Dragonmount can authenticate and repost).   Selfie with a Dragonmount staffer Screenshot of your Dragonmount.com profile Selfie with someone in Aes Sedai cosplay Screenshot of you following Dragonmount on Twitch with the alert bell Post in the JordanCon 2024 chat on the Dragonmount Discord Photo of someone reading a book at JordanCon Photo of a Dragonmount ribbon on your badge Selfie with an Author Guest and their book Screenshot of your favorite video from Dragonmount's YouTube Channel Photo of your Con Suite meal Photo of a non-Wheel of Time cosplay Screenshot of your favorite blog post on Dragonmount.com Photo at a panel Selfie with a Dealer Repost your favorite Dragonmount TikTok and comment on it that you reposted it Screenshot of you following Dragonmount on Instagram Screenshot of the bookstore on Dragonmount where you can buy ebooks published by Tor Publishing Group Post a video of yourself declaring <something> "From the slopes of Dragonmount!" A photo of the Dragonmount logo somewhere at JordanCon Selfie with a group of nerds Dragonmount dance party! Find our dance party thread on our social media and post a pic/video of you dancing or a dancing gif Photo of a purchase made from the Dealers Hall Selfie with a piece of art you've purchased Screenshot of you following Dragonmount on TikTok Selfie at the JordanCon dance party Selfie at the JordanCon store Photo of your best Wheel of Time inspired pose Photo of anything that isn't directly related to The Wheel of TIme but makes you THINK of The Wheel of Time Screenshot of you following Dragonmount on YouTube with the alert bell Photo of an awesome Charity Auction item The first five people with a straight line BINGO will win one of the following prizes: a signed hardcover Origins of the Wheel of Time OR Books 1-4 of the Stormlight Archive. With book five, Wind and Truth, coming out this December, now is the perfect time to catch up on the series! Anyone else with a completed BINGO will be entered for a chance to win any remaining copies as well as a variety of other amazing prizes from the Tor Publishing Group warehouse. Special thanks to the incredible team over at Tor Publishing Group for sponsoring these amazing prizes.  Stay tuned for Brandon Sanderson's Wind and Truth, which releases on December 6th, 2024. 

With JordanCon just around the corner, excitement is building, and so is the need to pack smart! Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned attendee, having the right gear can make all the difference. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 essentials I pack to ensure my adventure is as smooth as a Tinker's dance moves.   VEGER Portable Charger: Never let your device die in the middle of capturing a memorable panel or snapping a selfie with your favorite author. This slim power bank is a lifesaver, with built-in cables for both iPhone and Android devices. Veken Packing Cubes: Stay organized and maximize suitcase space with these handy packing cubes. They come in various sizes, making it easy to find exactly what you need without rummaging through your entire bag. Pedialyte Powder Packets: Hydration is key, especially with all the excitement and running around. These packets are a quick fix to keep hydrated, helping you stay energized throughout the con. Riemot Luggage Cup Holder: Juggling coffee and luggage is no joke. Attach this cup holder to your suitcase handle, and keep your drinks secure while you maneuver through crowds. Two drink slots in case you are a drink goblin like me! Earplugs: Whether you're trying to sleep on a noisy flight, in a room near the party floor, or next to a snoring roommate, earplugs are essential for peace and quiet. I bring my Loop earplugs, which I use year-round to drown out the chaos of the office. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes: Refresh your skin after a long day with these individually wrapped wipes. They're perfect for quick makeup changes between events or before bedtime. Unlike travel packs of makeup wipes, these won’t dry out because they are individually wrapped. This is especially handy if you don’t use these frequently. It will keep the rest fresh for when you do need them. BAGSMART Toiletry Bag: This TSA-approved toiletry bag hangs conveniently and fits all your grooming essentials, keeping them neatly organized and accessible.  14 GRIDS Travel Pill Organizer: Keep your medications and supplements neatly sorted and easily accessible, a must-have for managing health on the go. It is so small, it can easily fit in any bag you choose. Electronics Organizer: An absolute necessity to keep all your electronic accessories like cables, power banks, Apple watches, Fitbits, e-readers, and earphones in one place. No more digging through your bag for a lost charger! Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen: From accidental spills to enthusiastic costume mishaps, this pen will be your best friend. It's compact and perfect for immediate spot treatment to keep your outfits looking great.   Packing these items will ensure you're prepared for anything JordanCon throws your way, leaving you free to focus on the fun, the books, and the unforgettable community experience. See you there!   *Note- contains affiliate links. Clicking through our links won't cost you any extra, but Dragonmount may get a small commission from Amazon. It's win-win for you and us!

Tsalmoth, a Vlad Taltos novel by Steven Brust, begins with a punchy opening line: “Have you ever noticed that getting married is like trying to collect a debt from a dead guy?”   Well, have you?   I myself have not noticed this, but I also do not have any personal experience doing either thing, so perhaps I am not best qualified to assess the analogy. In any case, I certainly felt compelled to read the next line, and the next, and the next—which is a good thing, because before that, I had been slightly worried to discover that I was starting the sixteenth Vlad Taltos novel, having read none of the previous fifteen! This seems to be a theme with my book reviews—jumping into series and universes at random points and trying to find my footing. I needn’t have worried though, as I was able to understand enough about the world and characters to find it deeply enjoyable as a stand-alone novel. Indeed, after a few pages, I found myself caught up in the story and piecing together enough context to enjoy the ride.   Tsalmoth follows the adventures of Vlad Taltos, a sort of mid-level organized crime boss in a fantasy city, as he attempts to plan a wedding and collect a debt from a dead guy. The story is told first-person from Vlad’s perspective, and I quickly found myself enjoying his voice. Although the first few pages had me feeling in over my head with characters and lore, Vlad quickly addresses this by offering “...maybe I should tell you a bit about myself. Nah, skip it. That’s boring. You’ll figure it out.” This snappy and somewhat cocky tone is tempered by Vlad’s curiosity, good-heartedness, humor, and noted simple tastes.   Each chapter begins with several ‘out of time’ paragraphs of Vlad describing the wedding planning process. As he sorts through the various traditions and cultural expectations of a wedding, I was reminded of a The Sopranos meme of actor Michael Imperioli as the hapless Christopher Moltisanti pinching a cigarette between his fingers and earnestly explaining his understanding of a concept. Go ahead and insert “So get this, Tony…” before any of Vlad’s expositions and you’ll see what I mean.   Brust, as Vlad Taltos, does include some absolutely effective descriptions that can’t help but resonate with the reader. For example, recounting a conversation with his betrothed, Cawti:   We talked about moving stuff around. How can a discussion of moving a table from one side of a room to the other make you so happy? I don’t know. It did.   Those few, simple words about the pure contented feeling of planning with another person that you trust and want to spend time doing nothing with do more to capture the feeling of love than a lot of flowery prose that I have encountered.   Vlad’s adventures begin, as alluded to, with the death of a guy who owes him money. In his efforts to find who is responsible, and who might be able to make good on the debt, Vlad is drawn into a world of intrigue. In classic mob story fashion, the plot thickens—and thickens again, as more players are revealed, and factions emerge. Each time it seems that he is closing in on the money, a new angle develops, until the very end when everything is tied up in surprising and satisfying fashion.   One element that I found to be missing, although I stayed on my toes expecting it for the whole read, is a devastating betrayal. In fact, most of the characters, aside from Vlad, are fairly one dimensional (in the character sense, not necessarily in the planar existence sense). This could be an intentional choice of the author to depict an unreliable and self-interested narrator, so I mention it more as an observation than a criticism.    There is sorcery and necromancy and demonology in the world of Vlad Taltos, as well as a collection of races and classes that I struggled to keep track of. I attribute my struggles more to the fact that I started in the middle of the series than as a shortcoming on the writing. If anything, I am now motivated to read more of Brust’s books so that I can begin to understand more of this world. Overall, Tsalmoth is an entertaining mob mystery set in a fantasy world. The quick pacing and snappy dialogue helped smooth over any of my confusion about the world of Vlad Taltos. Even if I didn't know exactly what was happening in the universe, I always knew what was happening in the moment. Steven Brust has firmly been added to the list of authors whose works I will always check for at libraries and booksellers.

The Wheel of Time flows through my veins as much as it does yours! That being said, there is a TON of wide-ranging crossover in many fandoms with us WoT nerds. Whether it's Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, or even cooking (love them honeycakes)! But another franchise that is near and dear to my heart is Avatar: The Last Airbender. The themes and many story elements deeply cross over into Wheel of Time.I will be exploring all of this in this blog series as I watch the live-action series. You can also catch some AtLAB content by tuning in to the current season of our Monday Night #reWoTch where we are watching the Animated series of AtLAB Book 2.   Don't forget to join us Mondays at 9pm Eastern on the Youtubes ;-)   Welcome to the Fire Nation capital, a place where beauty is shadowed with ominous foreboding. As the curtain rises on the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, we are treated to a visual feast. The set design? Stunning. The costumes and makeup? On point. The opening sequence? Kyoshi, you absolute legend! She graces the screen looking fiercer than ever. The visualization of the avatars, lined up like a council of gods, with Roku's entrance at the end? Perfection. And we can’t forget the delightful addition of rat-chickens, which immediately shows the quirky touch that runs through the world of Avatar.   But it's not just the aesthetics that I thoroughly enjoyed. The bending, oh the bending! Earth and fire collide in a spectacular display of power. The earthbender's use of stones to create a Gatling gun? Pure genius. And those rat-chickens? They steal the show with their hilarious antics.   As the action unfolds, we witness the earthbender seamlessly blending defense and attack, surfing on rocks like a boss. And those 'chocobos' lurking in the background? A nod to gaming, perhaps, with Square Enix vibes that make you do a double-take.   And then there's Firelord Sozen and crew, delivering performances that harken back to classic Kung Fu films. It's a nostalgic nod that many fans probably appreciate. I certainly did!   But let's talk about the fire. The burning effects are chillingly realistic, a stark reminder of the showrunners' aim to appeal to “Game of Thrones" fans. The violence and gore is in service of a darker, grittier narrative.   Side Note: I want to dive into a theory I have been seeing people passionately discuss. Is the Avatar truly one soul? I'm not entirely convinced. The Avatar communicates with past/dead Avatars, suggesting a shared consciousness rather than a simple cycle of rebirth. It's a thought-provoking concept that adds depth to the story.   And then there's Aang, soaring through the skies without his trusty staff. A bold choice, considering its significance later on. Why the change? It's a departure from the original, but perhaps it sets the stage for new developments.   Speaking of developments, the announcement of Aang as the Avatar and subsequent event at the Southern Air Temple adds a layer of tension. It makes the Fire Nation's decimation of the airbenders more plausible, concentrating some of the strongest/most influential airbenders in one vulnerable location. And can we talk about the air temples? Majestic doesn't even begin to describe them.   Now, let's address the elephant-bison in the room: accents. Or rather, the lack thereof. Aang sounds... off. Like a robot trying to blend in with humans. It's a curious choice that has me scratching my head.He almost sounds like someone narrating Aang’s story/thoughts instead of a character living in the world.   But enough about Aang, let's talk about everyone's favorite sky bison, Appa. He looks and sounds as magnificent as ever, a CGI masterpiece that brings joy to this diehard fans' heart.   Aang emerges from his icy slumber and leaves behind his beloved Appa, a choice I’m not thrilled about him just HAVING the Air bison whistle already. Because I fear its the Netflix is giving us a subtle hint that certain filler episodes may be left out, but also a lesson in responsibility and sacrifice for the viewers >.<.   And then there's the budding bond between Aang and Katara, a sweet moment that feels a tad forced but still manages to warm our hearts 😉   The showdown between Zuko and Sokka is a highlight, showcasing Sokka's clever tactics and Zuko's simmering frustration. Aang's intervention, effortlessly taking out firebenders, is a testament to his raw power. But it's Zuko's disappointment upon meeting Aang that strikes a chord. The gap between expectation and reality is palpable, setting the stage for a complex relationship. They've really got Zuko's obsession (or admiration?) of the Avatar down pat. It's like he worships the Avatar. I’ve always seen it like a kid idolizing a pro wrestler.    The way he rambles on about past Avatars and their abilities, creating a collection of pictures and even little Avatar dolls, predicting what this new one will be like. It's all there, and was something wasn’t fleshed out until much later in the animated series.   Now, let's address the Avatar state. His reaction to finding Monk Gyatso feels a bit underwhelming compared to the animated series, missing how it lands with an emotional gut punch. In the cartoon, Katara's role in helping Aang come out of the state was a pivotal moment that seems to be missing here.   In summary, this live-action adaptation scores a solid 4 out of 10 from me. The visuals? A strong 7 to 10. The story? A middling 5. The bending, though? Top-notch, with the airbending presenting a unique challenge in a live action medium versus an animated one that the team tackles admirably.   In the end, Avatar: The live-action show is a mixed bag of nostalgia, stunning visuals, and a few missed opportunities. But hey, it's a... ride.. that's just getting started. Here's hoping they continue to surprise us and capture more of the magic of the original series.   So grab your gliders, wrangle your rat-chickens, and get ready for an adventure unlike any other (lets hope >.<). The elements are calling, is Avatar ready to answer?   Air Benders in General Great Costuming - overall feel of the Air temples and the atmosphere was wonderful. Though it felt like they were all far too serious. The whole theme of the Airbenders is that they are ephemeral, flighty. They don't hold strongly to anything because all life is fleeting and all are one.  Fire Nation / Benders I think they are doing well showing the Imperial nature of the Fire Nation at this point in their history. The bending itself does look good and “dance” like. I hope that theme carries through. Southern Water Tribe Totally get “Reservation Dogs” feel with how they acted together. I also like the feel from the Indigenous people in the most recent season of True Detective. I am glad they hired indigenous actors.  Aang Trying to be as nice as possible and honestly hoping that this kid just received very poor direction but he has almost no personality IMO, he just seems SO FAKE and wooden. Aang’s happy go lucky/childlike nature is basically non-existent. He seems more like a narrator telling the viewer about Aang and what he is doing and less a living character.  Gyatso Monk Gyatso was one of my favorite characters in the animated series, this one is… ok. I liked his look and his voice. I think they needed to make him more ‘fatherly’ toward Aang. It was so impactful seeing the flashback scenes and how he took care of Aang in the animated series, that made his death so gut wrenching.. Kitara Another one I am unsure on. I want to see more dialogue and scenes with Kitara. I like her look, the costuming is great. Sokka Overall I like his personality and acting, it took me a minute but I am hoping that he is still in his “protective defense” stage of his personality and that he will mellow out.  Zuko Changing his drive from “regaining honor” to  “his destiny to be fire lord” was a terrible mistake IMO. At the heart of regaining his “honor” was really “seeking his fathers approval” and it wasn't until he realized (Iroh showed him) that he would never get that because his father was a failure as a father/leader/person. Only then did he realize that it was up to himself to grant his “honor” back.   Iroh He's ….good. That's the best I can say. I love Paul Sun-Hyung Lee a ton! But I can’t get past seeing the actor instead of the character.The character of Iroh should be bigger than life, while still humble, funny, charismatic, a deep sadness. This isn’t capturing that for me. I am hoping when he will get a chance to flex his acting muscles as the show progresses.