I was going to find a semi-Amok related song, but my friend Josh has just released a new single with his church. So that's today's post.
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Today on the tour: C.O. Bonham's review!
Monday, 14 June 2021
Wednesday, 9 June 2021
#bookreview: Discernment | Lauren Salisbury (plus #booklaunch!)
Discernment by Lauren H. SalisburyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
JIYA DOES NOT WANT TO GET MARRIED. That's it, that's the whole book.
Discernment starts with the typical "awkward girl who doesn't quite fit in" vibe. Jiya can't cook. She can't sew. She wants to watch the races, work on machines, maybe be a mechanic. But she can't. Not when her father is the Nalac-dar, leader of the clan, and has traditions and laws to uphold. And one of them is that she needs to get married and settle down pretty soon. Even though she knows there has to be something more to her life - something that matters.
But then Mahsan saves her from space pirates, and the off-worlder takes residence in her father's estate and eventually in her heart...
TBH I had a little difficulty starting this one. After the brilliant Esaralian world in Courage and Strength, you're suddenly thrown into an all-new Teraburan world with new customs and traditions and so. many. animal. names. I have to admit that I skipped some of the animal/plant descriptions, sorry.
What I especially love about this one is the nuance that Salisbury brings to Jiya's search for meaning. It's not that Jiya just wants to buck traditions for the sake of rebellion. She tries. But it's not enough. Why did the All-seeing One give her gifts and interests that don't fit any of their traditions? That refuses to conform to the mould? Did God make her wrong? Was she a mistake? Were all her dreams just that - dreams? To be simply discarded so that she can cook and clean and raise children for someone who won't appreciate her true gifts?
I think these are timely, relevant questions to be asking in this day and age - young women have many new opportunities now, but traditions (especially church ones!) are holding them to the same old expectations. How do you use your gifts if your community won't let you just because of your gender? What then, is the point of having that gift?
Obviously, since this is fiction instead of real life, it all ties in very neatly.
But it should, too, in real life.
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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In Jiya’s world, the only choice a woman has is who she will marry. When she meets a mysterious off-worlder, she must decide how far she is willing to push the boundaries of Teraburan culture to gain her freedom, and whether that is truly what she wants.
Mahsan has never been accepted for who he is. The sole human raised on an Esarelian cruiser, his attempts to belong led only to disaster and him becoming a fugitive. When he is invited into the home of a Teraburan clan leader, he finds a place where he could finally put down roots. But his past haunts him, and he will need to make peace with it if he wants any kind of future in his new home.
Not everyone approves of Jiya and Mahsan’s friendship, and some will stop at nothing to keep them apart. As the unlikely pair discover their true calling, they will have to confront everything they thought they knew and learn to see themselves as they never have before.
---
Lauren H Salisbury hates writing bios. She tried to bribe her husband to write this for her, but he refused, even for homemade banana cake. Unfortunately, she’s run out of plausible housework excuses, and she’s still waiting for the next series of The Expanse. Oh, most of her writing is sci-fi and fantasy set in the universe of her Legacy Chronicles series.
Monday, 7 June 2021
#musicmonday: Restless | Audrey Assad
Because it's Monday.
And I am still running, still catching up, never caught up.
When does this stop?
Saturday, 5 June 2021
#booklaunch: Here's the #AmokNovel tour calendar!
So, if things had gone according to plan, I had a week-long tour filled with posts from lovely, generous book bloggers on the launch week from 24 to 30 June. Now that the dates have been shifted, I have a smattering of posts across the month. This makes it a little harder to keep track of, but here's a handy-dandy calendar and a list of where posts are appearing, and when!
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| Click to embiggen! |
TOUR STOPS
31 May: Moments for my thoughts - Launch spotlight
2 June: Mermaird - Launch spotlight
14 June: C.O. Bonham - Review
15 June: Moments for my thoughts - Guest Post
22 June: Kara J. Lovett Co. - Guest Post
24 June: Joshua Reid - Spotlight
25 June: Lauren Thornhill - Spotlight
26 June: a.sithreader - Review
26 June: Teh Tarik & Books - Review
27 June: Trisha Bisen - Review
28 June: Amazing Distance - Review
29 June: H. L. Burke - Spotlight
I'll also be reposting & resharing reviews on facebook, so check out my page for updates!
***
All Putera Mikal wants is to gain the Amok Strength, the supernatural power granted by Kudus to the Mahan royal family. No matter how religiously Mikal keeps his vows, Kudus still denies him the Strength—whilst his father, Sultan Simson, flaunts the Strength despite his blatant defiance of the Temple and the priests’ visions of coming doom.
Then the prophecies come true.
Taken captive, Mikal must find a way to liberate his people and restore his throne in Maha—and the key to this is the Amok Strength. But what does it take to gain Kudus’ favour?
BUY LINKS:
***
But paperbacks!
If you’ve preordered a local paperback from Teaspoon Publishing and/or still want to order one, we’re also maintaining the preorder price of RM35 until we actually have the printed books in hand. We'll also sweeten the deal by sending you an ebook copy to keep you occupied until the paperback finally gets printed.***
Are you a NetGalley reviewer? Here's where you can download a review copy!
Friday, 4 June 2021
#bookspotlight: Finding God in Anime: A devotional for otakus
Being a Christian can be tough. Being an otaku can be tough. But being both at once?
In this devotional, you will find God in the animes you know and love. Each devotional presents spiritual lessons found in animes ranging from the world-famous Attack on Titan to fan-favorite Haikyu!! to beloved classics like Cowboy Bebop. Each piece will feature a different theme such as:
- Human Will vs. The Holy Spirit in Yona of the Dawn
- Choosing to be Free in Free! Swim Club
- Not by My Might in My Hero Academia
About the Organizers
Laura and Moriah’s life consists of giving each other manga recommendations until they see whose TBR pile will fall on them first. Rest assured they're both still safe...until another manga releases. In the meantime, they enjoy sharing beautiful pictures of Japan and trying to make each other laugh with anime memes. They both have an appreciation for cute stickers, samurai, and pins. If they're not chatting about all things otaku, you can find them trying to write their next story or surviving on ramen and pocky after their latest manga order.
Manga Photo Challenge on Instagram
Celebrate the release of Finding God in Anime by participating in the manga photo challenge on Instagram! During the month of June, the organizers will be spotlighting a variety of manga that have had an anime adaptation by showcasing them using #MangaFestival in their posts. Each title prompt is an anime that is featured in the devotional. Grab your favorite manga and get ready to celebrate!
Wednesday, 2 June 2021
#bookreview: Strength (The Legacy Chronicles 2) | Lauren Salisbury
Strength by Lauren H. SalisburyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ok, so this book. I'm all set to start reading Discernment (book 3) so I look it up on GR and then I go eh, how come I didn't review book 2???
Grab a copy and start reading and go... BUT WAIT I HAVE READ THIS. WHY DID I NOT REVIEW IT?
[Then I realise when I got to the acknowledgements that I probably didn't review it because I beta read it and then I forgot lol]
That doesn't change my opinion that this is a brilliant, brilliant book.
If you've ever wondered what happens between the time when the Pharoah's daughter adopts baby Moses and then he goes out and murders an Egyptian guard before running away, Salisbury's wonderful reimagining does a lot to fill in the gaps. Remember though, that this is (no longer baby) MOSES IN SPACE so obviously, not Egyptian, not earth.
Strength covers Moses' teenage years. Mahsan has grown up an outcast in the Esaralian cruiser - and his only friends are really his mother, Reemah, and her two friends, Velay and Selah. He reaches that age where he really wants to know about his birth family - and defies his mother to do so, and then gets into all kinds of trouble, where he has to flee. I mean, that's the bare bones. You know how the Bible story goes.
But Salisbury's writing focuses on the women surrounding Moses, so where Courage focused on Gilla, Mahsan's birth mother, Strength focuses on Ra'hos Reemah, the Esaralian princess who defies all court and social conventions to adopt a human son. I love the strength that she shows in standing up for her son, even if that means curbing her own wild and adventurous nature, and becoming somewhat of an outcast herself so that Mahsan can grow up just like the pure-blooded Esaralians, with all their advantages.
There's political intrigue, of course, and help from unexpected quarters, including just a little bit of romance.
I love it and am excited to go on to read Discernment!!
View all my reviews
DISCERNMENT RELEASES TODAY! BUY NOW!
Tuesday, 1 June 2021
Amok: Surprise Lockdown Launch! Get your copy now!
In light of Malaysia’s not-so-surprising Total Lockdown, Teaspoon Publishing has pushed up the release date of Amok for a surprise lockdown launch!
Yes, Amok ebooks drop on 1 June* as so that you can hunker down in your house and entertain yourself with a great read—and everyone else gets to benefit! We'll still honour our launch prices, so our ebook preorder prices of RM12 / USD2.99 will remain until the 23rd of June and will rise to RM20 / USD4.99 on 24 June.
BUY LINKS:
All Putera Mikal wants is to gain the Amok Strength, the supernatural power
granted by Kudus to the Mahan royal family. No matter how religiously Mikal
keeps his vows, Kudus still denies him the Strength—whilst his father,
Sultan Simson, flaunts the Strength despite his blatant defiance of the
Temple and the priests’ visions of coming doom.
Then the prophecies come true.
Taken captive, Mikal must find a way to liberate his people and restore his
throne in Maha—and the key to this is the Amok Strength. But what does it
take to gain Kudus’ favour?
***
But paperbacks!
If you’ve preordered a local paperback from Teaspoon Publishing and/or still
want to order one, we’re also maintaining the preorder price of RM35 until
we actually have the printed books in hand. We'll also sweeten the deal by
sending you an ebook copy to keep you occupied until the paperback finally
gets printed.
Bonus content!
And while we're at it, send a screenshot of your Amok purchase receipt (whether ebook or paperback) to admin@teaspoonpublishing.com.my by 24 June to claim a free copy of The Painted Hall Collection! Just tell us if you’d like it in e-pub or mobi.Happy reading!
Stay safe, stay home, and get vaccinated.
#LindungiDiriLindungiSemua
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