Sunday, April 29, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 29 - I Won!!

I did it! I finished Camp NaNoWriMo and a whole day early too! Still have about 20,000 words left in my project goals overall, but I'm so happy that I did it!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3, 643

Words Total (Camp): 50, 284

Words Total (Overall): 65, 201

Music: Emperor's New Clothes by Panic! At the Disco

Excerpt:

Now that I knew this place was here, I wanted to bring one of the books from The Widow’s shelves and sit in the sunshine and read all day. As much as I loved fighting, the thrill of it, the exhilaration, reading was like training for my imagination.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 28

Hey guys!

I did it! I won today (a whole day early, just like NaNoWriMo 2017)! I will post a picture of my progress bar from the site on the page for April 30th, so if you want, you can see how I did. I'll also post some tips and advice!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,295

Words Total (Camp): 46,700

Words Total (Overall): 61,906

Music: Emperor's New Clothes by Panic! at the Disco

Excerpt:

“You don’t agree with your father.” I said plainly and Quasim’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked away, studying the darkness of his cell.

“No.” He said. “I don’t. He is weak-minded but ambitious. Devany gave him the means to gain what he wants without much work. It’s difficult. I don’t disagree with everything Devany wishes to see in the world, but I strongly disagree with the ways in which she wants to achieve them. Of course, my father is the third king to rule under Devany’s…guidance.” Qasim rolled his eyes at that word, the way she had twisted what had once been a partnership into a tyranny. He swallowed. “I didn’t expect him to stand up to her, to see her vision but gentle her hand, but a king could, theoretically. It may do no good but he could’ve. But he didn’t. And that’s what I can’t seem to forgive him for.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, April 27, 2018

CampNanoWrimo Day 27

I didn't write at all today! This is how I felt the next day! πŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒ

Happy Writing! (lol)

Jasmine

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 26

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 875

Words Total (Camp): 43,405

Excerpt:

“Good.” He said. “It’s what makes you human.”

The way he said it made it sound as though we were the most amazing things he’d ever seen. As if I was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. And even though being human came with being messy and complicated and making poor decisions and a mortality that terrified me, I couldn’t help the small smile that I gave him in return.

This war between the gods started a hundred years ago, but it would end with a mortal girl and a star.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 25

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,854

Words Total (Camp): 42,530

Excerpt:

“I can’t see the future,” He said and this time the glimmer in his eyes was amusement, “But the stars can. And they like to gossip.”

“About me?” I asked incredulously.

“About everything. Don’t think yourself so special.” He said with a laugh.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 24

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,796

Words Total (Camp): 40,676

Excerpt:

“When I take someone to the After, they tend to tell me things. If I chose, I can see their whole life, beginning to end, and their mother’s life, and her mother’s life and so on. History may repeat itself but each and every experience is unique. It’s amazing the marks people leave on the world, Farrow. Each and every one.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Monday, April 23, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 23

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 109 (lol, still counts!)

Words Total (Camp): 38,880

And now, a sweet moment between Heden, or resident nerd, and Farrow.

Excerpt:

But I realized now that I think one of the reasons why we were such strange kindred spirits was that we often let ourselves become the worst versions of what people though we were.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine 

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 22

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1764

Words Total (Camp): 38,771

Excerpt:
I hadn’t realized how much of me was defined by who I was with him. Now, I felt like I was in a state of remaking. It was exhilarating and terrifying and I was caught between marveling and hating myself.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 21

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,043

Words Total (Camp): 37,007

Excerpt:

“To see who could gather the most secrets.” Jean said. She turned towards him and showed her true talents, her gifts from Perclarion. Angling her head and lowering her lashes, she gave Jonsy a look that made even him, who had seen her vomit into a potted plant after drinking too much wine when we were fifteen, gulp and blush.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, April 20, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 20

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 452

Words Total (Camp): 35,964

Excerpt:
Letting him go, though, forwarded the movements of the rebellion and backpedaled the movement of freeing Hunter. I took a deep breath. It felt a little like betrayal to my brother. But it also felt a little like a justice to me.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 19

Hi all,

So for the next ten days or so (until April 27th), the posts may look a little different. I actually completely fell off the bandwagon updating my progress on here (though I didn't fall off the wagon of NaNoWriMo!) so while the word counts and stuff are correct, the excerpts may be from the wrong sections, I don't remember what music I listened to, and I'm not sure what the total word count for the whole project would be. Still, I hope you enjoy!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: None!

Words Total (Camp): 35,512

Excerpt:

Qasim stood proud, tall, looking like a prince for the first time since I’ve met him. I studied his handsome features, the rich, brown skin and the intelligent brown eyes. Hunter always was attracted to strength, and Qasim contained a strength of a different sort, but just as beautiful, and perhaps even more dangerous.

The serious set of his mouth faltered and his lips slipped upward. That’s when I saw it. The mischief. The challenge. The knowing that you had a fighting chance of winning and looking forward to the fight. All things that held my brother’s heart.

“Most of the nobles haven’t seen me for two years.” He said. “They’ll think I am the same quiet, shy boy I was before.”

“And that’s not who you are now?” I asked.

“Oh, Farrow.” Qasim said, his grin turning into a charming smile. He relaxed his shoulders. “They have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 18

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,171

Words Total (Camp): 35,512

Words Total (Overall): 50,396

Music: Mars (Instrumental) by Sleeping At Last

Excerpt:

At first I thought that Cricket and Jonsy had just lost their minds. But then I tilted my head a certain way and I realized that there was something in my eye. A grayish mark just to the left of my iris that glimmered when the light hit it just right. In the shape of a starburst.

Dear Gods. The Queen of Stars.

A faint giggle sounded in the back of my head, lilting and magical.

“Shit.” I whispered.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 17

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 4,967 (a lot of this was a refurbished scene from the last draft but still!)

Words Total (Camp): 32,341

Words Total (Overall): 47,225

Music: Believer by Imagine Dragons

Excerpt:

"How did you do that?” Tauron asked.

“Fight? We all know how to do that.” I went to the tree and picked up my dagger where it had been dropped.

“We know how to fight.” Tauron growled and the beastly growl in response from the shadows behind me made my heart stop for a moment. “We don’t know how to do…that.” He waved a hand towards the bodies strewn about.

“We each have our talents.” I said.

“And yours happens to be killing?”

“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” I said drily.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 16

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 647

Words Total (Camp): 27,377

Words Total (Overall): 42,796

Music: The album Atlas: Year One by Sleeping At Last 

Excerpt:

“I can’t believe I”m saying this,” I said, collecting sticks with Heden, “But I wish we were in the library.”

Heden snorted. Despite my love my books and stories, a love that was one of the few things that Heden and I had in common, being in this place, with Rychon and Sian and The Widow, not to mention the gods and their insane plan, had made me a little bloodthirsty.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 15

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,249

Words Total (Camp): 26,730

Words Total (Overall): 42,181

Music: Bagbak By Vince Staples (Black Panther Trailer Music)

Excerpt:

“You going to tap out?” Oron asked. I couldn’t see his face but I could hear the smugness in his words. I suppose knocking a god into the dirt once should have been enough. But not for me. And not this particular god.

“Never.” I wheezed.


Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 14

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,885

Words Total (Camp): 24,481

Words Total (Overall): 39,934

Music: Believer by Imagine Dragons

Excerpt:

“We stood next to you when you and Hunter had the stupid idea to try and save the pig set for slaughter from Mr. Barner. That was almost assured destruction but we dragged that squealing pig to freedom through the streets anyway.”

“This is a little different, Jean.”

“We helped you plan a crazy scheme to get into the most secure prison on the continent.” Heden said. I tilted my head in acknowledgement.

“Fair enough.” I said.

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Friday, April 13, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 13

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 138 (lol guys)

Words Total (Camp): 22,596

Words Total (Overall): 38,329

Music: Listened to YouTube videos in the background!

Excerpt:

“I’m glad you’re feeling better but I can’t help but wonder why. And I’m worried it’s because you’ve maimed someone.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 12

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,838

Words Total (Camp): 22,458

Words Total (Overall): 38,191

Music: Sweet Dreams (Wrinkle In Time Trailer Song) ft. Dresage

Excerpt:

“Do not be afraid.” I said to myself, and saying the words made them feel more real. I said it again and again and again until it felt like a song on my tongue and a truth in my soul.

I’d prove the stars wrong. I’d play this game of gods and monsters, not as a pawn, but as a queen.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 11

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,303

Words Total (Camp): 20,620

Words Total (Overall): 36,353

Music: Absent-minded Keys by Michael Harris

Excerpt:

I had forgotten how much I loved it, seeing someone experience something wondrous for the first time.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 10

For Brightly She Burns

Today was a struggle guys.

Words Written: 605

Words Total (Camp):18,317

Words Total (Overall): 34,050

Music: I don't think I listened to anything?

Excerpt:

“No one really knows what Devany is capable of anymore. Even if it hadn’t of killed you, it probably would have hurt like hell. So you’re welcome.”

I glared at him and he smiled back at me.

“So this is the God of Death.” I said finally. The smile widened. He put his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

“At your service.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Monday, April 9, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 9

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,806

Words Total (Camp): 17,712

Words Total (Overall): 36,325

Music: Sweet Dreams (A Wrinkle In Time Trailer Song) ft. Dresage

Excerpt:

I closed my eyes and imagined myself running a hand across the surface of the water that filled the well of my magic, frozen for so long. I rubbed the frost that came away between my fingers. I opened my eyes and the goddess was sharper, clearer.

So were the heads of the Pantheon, her brothers and sisters, speared atop the poles held by the nine men.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 8

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,305

Words Total (Camp): 15,906

Words Total (Overall): 34, 533

Music: Saturn by Sleeping at Last

Excerpt:

“Thanks.” I said dryly. “Are you here to make good on our deal?”

Oron tilted his head side to side in a maybe, maybe not motion.

“I think now would be the perfect time.” I said, watching as he walked towards me. “And if it’s not, then I have no interest in listening to anything you have to say.”

“Now that’s not very nice.” He sounded so much like Hunter when he said things like that, looked like him when he glanced up at me, spinning the arrow through his fingers without a second thought.

“I’m known for a lot of things. Being nice isn’t really one of them.”

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine
 

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 7

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 369

Words Total (Camp): 13,601

Words Total (Overall): 32,228

Music: Start a War by Klergy & Valerie Broussard

Excerpt:
“I know that we are in the business of being reckless,” Jean threw in, holding up a hand as if she were about to share a fun fact, “But this is a lot. Even for us. And we are a lot.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, April 6, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 6

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 576

Words Total (Camp): 13,232

Words Total (Overall): 31,859

Music: Probably The Way (again) *shrug emoji*

Excerpt:
“No. You know what? Yes. I saw how they all looked at me in that room. I saw the way they looked at all of us. I saw the way they looked at you and Cricket and Jean and Heden when they saw how I looked at you.” Jonsy was chewing on the inside of his cheek now. Jean, Cricket, and Heden froze at that last part. “They don’t care about us, Jonsy. They've let us burn for the last hundred years."

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 5

It was so hard to write today guys. Like, so hard that I'm updating yesterday's post today (though I did do all the writing yesterday, promise!) and making blogger say I posted yesterday. Some days it's just like pulling teeth but you push through anyway. *collapses in an exhausted heap*

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,151

Words Total (Camp): 12,656

Words Total (Overall): 31, 283

Excerpt:

I began to make a list.

1. Find Oron and get him to show me the star’s vision of Hunter.

2. Find Aediel and ask him what the hell was going on.

3. Talk to The Widow alone and ask if she knew any ways to kill a goddess.

4. Ask The Widow if there is a way to kill a god, because I was fairly sure by then I’d want to kill them all.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 4

For Brightly She Burns

I added this picture on my Camp NaNoWriMo page!


Words Written: 2,239 (some repurposed from draft 2 but still)

Words Total (Camp): 11,505

Words Total (Overall): 30,133 (broke 30K woo!)

Music: Start a War by Clergy & Valerie Broussard

Excerpt:

When Heden finished, Jean began to talk about how one of the teachers, who had taught her to stitch skin together with needle and thread while also explaining where to stab someone with the same needle in order to paralyze, was the most beautiful and terrifying person she’s ever met.

“Is she scary because she’s beautiful?” Cricket asked. “Or beautiful because she’s scary?" Jean sighed longingly.

“Oh Cricket,” She said and signed*, “Both. I can only dream to be her.”

*Cricket is deaf so Farrow and co. often speak and sign in tandem! 

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine


 

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 3

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,894

Words Total (Camp): 9,292

Words Total (Overall): 27,894

Music: Find You by Ruelle and The Way (Instrumental) by Zach Hemsey

Excerpt:

“I know that you almost just choked that kid to death,” Jonsy said as we neared the table, “But if you had made me miss lunch, I don’t know if you could have stopped me from strangling you.” He grinned at me. I laughed as he winked at one of the servers and she gave him an extra scoop of stew.

And with that, the last bit of cold melted away.

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence - Release Day Review

In Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain.
There will be blood.

************************** Amazon, B&N, Goodreads **************************

Anyone who knows me well knows that I absolutely loved Red Sister. I recommended it all the time when I worked at Barnes and Noble last year. Grey Sister was no different - the world just gets more complex, the characters more interesting and developed, and the situation concerning magic and the kingdom more dire in this sequel. 

I did an amateur blogger thing where I read this a while ago and forgot to write the review afterwards so I may be a little scatterbrained in this review. But the best part is, is there are parts that I remember even from so long ago because I enjoyed it so much. 

The social system and learning systems in this world are so interesting. In Grey Sister, you really get to see Nona struggling with conforming and with being teased by her envious peers. Mark Lawrence does something great with this series in that he has all the storylines of a great, classic fantasy while playing will all those tropes just a little along the way. The Chosen One is super chill and nonchalant. People who do horrible things tend to get their way. Instead of the bully getting her due justice, it is Nona that must run and figure out how to survive in response. She gets beat up and put down and truly struggles along the way and doesn't really follow the hero's journey as one would think. 

The secondary characters really come to forefront in this sequel. There are many different focuses throughout the book and we follow various people all around the kingdom as all of the parts begin to get moving. If I remember correctly, I did get confused at times about what was really happening and where I was and who was doing what. I always found my way back, though. As a fan of Nona, I did wish that we were with her a little more often, and I have to say her journey and destination were not what I was expecting. 

I told my coworkers that Red Sister reminded me of an adult version of the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. While I think that this sequel definitively diverts from that comparison, I do think that fans of those classic fantasties, with really developed worlds with complicated politics and a large cast of diverse characters, will enjoy this series and this book in particular as we move forward to the last installment. 
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **
Find out more about Mark and his books here: http://www.marklawrence.buzz

Mark Lawrence was born in Champagne-Urbanan, Illinois, to British parents but moved to the UK at the age of one. He went back to the US after taking a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College to work on a variety of research projects including the ‘Star Wars’ missile defence programme. Returning to the UK, he has worked mainly on image processing and decision/reasoning theory. He says he never had any ambition to be a writer so was very surprised when a half-hearted attempt to find an agent turned into a global publishing deal overnight. His first trilogy, THE BROKEN EMPIRE, has been universally acclaimed as a ground-breaking work of fantasy. Following The Broken Empire comes the bestselling RED QUEEN’S WAR trilogy. The BOOK OF THE ANCESTOR trilogy, in an entirely new setting, commences with RED SISTER in 2017. Mark is married, with four children, and lives in Bristol.

Happy Reading! 

Jasmine 

Monday, April 2, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 2

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,607

Words Total (Camp): 5,398

Words Total (Overall): 24,000

Music: Where's My Love (Alternate Version)  - SYML

Excerpt:

He made my heart speed up but not from fear and not from anger.

He stopped and looked down at me. He was a handful of inches taller, and my eyes looked squarely upon his collar bone. If I leaned forward, my head would fit nicely in the space between his neck and shoulder, and his chin would hit the top of my head. I bit my lip. Why would I even think that. Insulting gods and goddesses I could do. Cuddling with them? No. Definitely not.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 1

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,781

Words Total (Camp): 2,781

Words Total (Overall): 21,393

Excerpt: 

Hunter had sat in that prison for over a day, untouched by the Goddess of the Sun. Him and Garrett, but it had been Garrett that was killed that morning. She'd let Hunter live. “Why him?” I didn’t mean for it to be a whisper. Oron heaved a sigh. His eyes met mine and I couldn’t help but gulp. He wasn’t looking at me like a god to a mortal, or even a parent to a child. He was looking at me like a god would look at a god, a king to a queen. I clenched the fabric of my pants to hide the fact that my hands were shaking.

“She had to be sure.” He said finally. He sounded…sad. I waited. “She had to be sure it was you.”

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine