Amelia Smith

The problem with this story is that nothing really happens. At first it comes off as a sort of quest narrative, but after Darna and her new friends reach Anamat, the story meanders around seemingly with no point. It eventually goes somewhere, but I began to get irritated with its lack of progress towards any kind of a climax or resolution at about the halfway mark. It didn't help that I absolutely despised one of the characters, Iola. That would have been fine if she were one of the unsavory characters, but that wasn't why I couldn't stand her. She wasn't someone I loved to hate. She was just so ridiculously naive and clueless about everything, and on top of that, her fanatical religious beliefs caused her to betray her friends.

One of the few elements that I enjoyed about this book is that the story is set in a very sexist world that also seems to treat its children as easily cast aside. Unlike a couple other books I've read this year, though, the main character is a young girl who chooses to go against societal pressures to make her own way in the world and not just accept her "fate". The girls in this story have backgrounds and character traits and physical descriptions. They're not just decoration or plot points along the way.

Overall, I didn't really like Scrapplings. However, I didn't hate it either. I think it deserves a chance if you truly love Fantasy, especially Fantasy involving dragons, or if you're tired of reading male-centric trope filled quest narratives. This isn't for you if you prefer fast(er) paced books, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who is new to the Fantasy genre.… (más)

Incredible! I simply can't wait for the conclusion to this trilogy. Amelia Smith is a genius.

This installment takes us away from Anamat to the region of Salardum. The ambasadress has returned from the dragon realm, but not without paying a price, and without Darna's presence and doings in Salardum, she likely wouldn't have managed the return trip at all. Darna and the Defenders must do all they can to continue protecting the dragons.

I have suspicions of the direction the last installment is heading, but I can't wait to see if what I predict is indeed what is to come.

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.… (más)

I used to find it kind of tacky when I saw authors reviewing their own books, but then I noticed a couple of friends using the review section to post updates, so that's what I'm doing here.

Today's big news is that The Defenders' Apprentice is live and on the ebook shelves today (except Nook, where it should be coming along shortly), with a special launch price of 99 cents.

This book has been a long time coming. I know that I started it in 2002, because I workshopped the opening chapters at Viable Paradise in 2003. At the time, I'd just gotten my sho dan in aikido, and was taking some time to do other things that I hadn't been able to make time for during my years of obsessive martial arts practice.

I did another draft or two of the book in the mid-2000s, then set it aside (and basically stopped practicing aikido) when I had children. Now, with both kids in school, I've gotten back enough mental space to work on this series again.

As for the book itself, it took on a life of its own quite independent of my original vision for it, which was that it would be a sort of kohai-sempai relationship story, modeled on romance but not a romance. That thread remains, but you'll have to read it to decide whether or not that's still the main story.

I hope you'll check it out.

Thanks!
--Amelia… (más)

This was a wonderful book. A little slow to start, but in my experience, I find the best ones are. This certainly holds its own against other young adult fantasies!

Darna is the bastard child of a prince with the gift of dragon sight. Working in the palace kitchens, she could only dream of saving up the beads to get away, and when she learns of her heritage she runs away in fear of having her dragon didn't stripped of her. In Anamat she had options for her future, though still limited by her lack of beads she is destined to a season of begging and scrapping until she can earn enough to buy an apprenticeship or must succumb to a life as a servant. But the dragons have other plans for her.

I am very much looking forward to reading more in the Anamat series.

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.… (más)