Helen Power

Scribbler & Scholar

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Tag: historical thriller

Helen's short story The Debt
May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 Helen

My New Short Story: “The Debt” is Published in Suspense Magazine

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A spooky read for October! "Beneath London's Fog" by Iona Caldwell. #bookreview . QOTD: Who's your favourite (or least favourite) vampire? . Synopsis A centuries-old vampire haunts the streets of London at night, but he isn't the monster one would expect. Jonathan once fell in love with a human, Anna, who died tragically, breaking his heart and quenching his blood lust. Now he does not kill to feed, though it would make him stronger. He lives in the feared Raven Hollow Manor with his daughter, an orphaned human he adopted. Since he does not kill, he is safe from persecution, that is, until another vampire comes to town and begins to massacre... . This is a novella, which is both a strength and a weakness. It's a strength, because every word that Caldwell writes serves a purpose to either create atmosphere, plunge the plot forward, or develop three-dimensional characters. It's also a weakness because I wanted more! . Beneath London's Fog reads like other classic vampire stories--particularly Dracula or Interview with the Vampire. The style is authentic to the time period. The writing is also almost epistolary in the way that Jonathan addresses the reader, but this isn't extended throughout the whole story, which might have disconnected the readers from the action.. I recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy horror book to read on a cold evening while curled up by the fireplace with a cat on one side and a glass of blood--er--wine on the other. . Read the full review at (link in bio) https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/ Thank you to FyreSyde Publishing for the advanced reader copy to review! ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ . . . #vampires #amreading #horror #amreadinghorror #halloween #october #dracula #literary #fiction #bookstagram #booknerd #bookphotography #horrorfan #goodreads #onemorechapter #whattoread #canadianbookstagram #readersofinstagram #reading #reader #advancedreadercopy #london #literature #beneathlondonsfog #bookstagrammer #bookblog #coverlove #booknerdigans
Yay! My library is complete! I spent most of Thanksgiving weekend working on this, and I finally got around to putting up the pictures. I have way too many books! I'm super proud of this. I sorted books by type (Yes, I have an entire shelf dedicated to *true* ghost stories and another dedicated to true crime). I'll post individual shelfies soon! . I couldn't get a picture of the full library, because there's a really bad glare from the sunlight streaming in through the window. Maybe I'll take a picture at nighttime! . The other side of the room has my old desk, but it really didn't survive it's third move very well (Ottawa to London to Windsor to Saskatoon), so I've ordered a new one online. I'll post pictures when my writing nook is final. . QOTD: What genre of books do you have way too many of? . . . . . #amreading #shelfie #library #librariesofinstagram #booklover #bibliophile #canadianbookstagram #booknook #booknerd #bookworm #writersofinstagram #saskatoon #writelife #tbr #bookphotography #bookishcanadians #reading #readersofinstagram #goals #dream #booksbooksbooks #bookishcanadians #booklife #bookdragon #yxe #instareads #bookstagrammer #cozy #booknerdigans
This picture is from last night, reading in bed and eating a cake in a mug! . I'm pretty exhausted from all the excitement from my first week at work. I'm going to carve out some time this weekend for relaxing and reading. I'm currently alternating between reading four books: The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara (It's a nonfiction about the woman who created the Creature from the Black Lagoon monster. So freaking good!) The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker (The book that the movie Hellraiser is based on. Hoping to finish that one tonight!) Catfishing on Catnet by Naomi Kritzer (A YA book that may or may not be science fiction. Not sure what to think of this one yet, but it's pretty weird!) Are We Smart Enough to Understand How Smart Animals are by Franz de Waal. (A must read for anyone interested in animal behaviour research!) . QOTD: Do you read more than one book at the same time? What are you reading now? . . . . . #amreading #cozy #readinginbed #goodreads #tbr #readersofinstagram #canadianbookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #bookish #booksbooksbooks #onemorechapter #whattoread #booklover #Booklove #instareads #lovebooks #reading #booknerdigans #bookishcanadians #YXE #booklife #bookdragon #selfcare #bookstagrammer
Late to the party again, but this was a great book! Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. Synopsis Young Eelyn was raised to be a warrior in her Viking clan, the Aska, where she fought side by side with her brother until he died in battle. Years later, seventeen-year-old Eelyn is fighting in a particularly brutal battle when she sees her brother alive and well and fighting for the other side. Compelled to follow him, she is distracted and finds herself captured by her enemy, the Riki. It is then that she discovers that not only is her brother fighting with the enemy, but he has become the enemy. Betrayed and furious, she is now a servant to her brother’s new family, and she must figure out a way to escape, or she must learn to trust her brother again. . Finally, a young adult book about Vikings! Sky in the Deep is fast-paced from start to finish. I was immediately enraptured by Adrienne Young’s language, and the not-so-subtle violence that occurred in the beginning of the book. While I’m not familiar with Viking history at all, the setting and way that the characters act felt genuine to that time period, at least, as much as a young adult book can be. . This story is impeccably written. Adrienne Young doesn’t spend much time describing the settings, the characters, etc. but she meticulously selects words that do that work for her. There’s one point where she comments on the children “funneling” out of the room. That single word, where she could have just said “leaving” or “hurrying” was so unique and really painted a picture of that scene so clearly in my mind. . I recommend this book to those looking for a young adult historical fiction that has a strong female protagonist, beautiful prose, and a cute, yet predictable, romance. . . . . . #amreading #skyinthedeep #booklover #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #bookreview #vikings #youngadult #amreadingya #fantasy #historicalfiction #bookaholic #bookphotography #goodreads #onemorechapter #bibliophile #bookphoto #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #tbr #read #reading #reader #booksbooksbooks #books #bookworm #bookaholic
First day at my job as Science and Engineering librarian at the University of Saskatchewan! This is my office overlooking the library in the Faculty of Engineering 💕📚
I know I've been MIA on Instagram a little lately, but that's because I just moved to Saskatchewan! If you've been following my stories, you'll know that I'm transforming my master bedroom into a writing den/ library. I'm so excited! I'll keep posting updates as I start adding books! . . . . . . #library #librariesofinstagram #writersden #canadianbookstagram #bookishcanadians #booksbooksbooks #shelfie #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #writer #author #reader #readersofinstagram #amreading #bookaholic #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #cozy #excitedaf
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