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Audiobook Review – Thornhedge

A interesting, quirky Sleeping Beauty retelling, but in the end I felt like this novella just needed a little more oomph to flesh the characters out. Recommended for those looking for quick read of an old tale that keeps the grim fairytale feel with a twist.

⭐⭐⭐¾

Definitely gets me itching for another fantasy though!

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – The Enemy at Home

Really liked the authentic-feeling WWII homefront setting of this one, and the whodunnit felt classic with some twists and turns to keep me guessing. But there were some elements that didn’t quite jive, and I found the ending to be too bittersweet for me. If you’re looking for a solid 1940s whodunnit without romance though, this might be for you!

⭐⭐⭐¾

A unique twist of genres that didn’t quite stick a satisfying conclusion for me.

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – Assistant to the Villain

Okay, this one is really tough for me to review, because this was one of those rare instances where the audiobook narration really bothered me. And in some cases, it was nearly impossible for me to tell whether it was the writing that was throwing me off or the weird cadence of the narrator.

What I liked:

  • The premise. Combining high fantasy with a workplace comedy a la The Office. YES.

What I didn’t like:

  • The characters didn’t connect for me, and I felt like we covered not a lot of ground for the length of this book, and the, (in what is a huge pet-peeve of mine) we got an abrupt cliffhanger in an ending that didn’t give much satisfaction.

So, I won’t be reading the sequel, but lots of people loved this book, so it could just be me! If the premise intrigues you, definitely check it out, but as much as I love audiobooks, I recommend you go print for this one.

⭐⭐⭐

Not for me, but it could be for you! (Just pass on the audiobook)

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – Demon Copperhead

Loved the voice in this one, and it was a really interesting retelling David Copperfield and also a reflection on the early 2000s. However, I did find the second half to be a little slow, and the conclusion to be rushed in a way that didn’t feel super satisfying. But if you’re looking for a character-centered modern classic, this could definitely be for you! Also the audiobook narration was fantastic!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Different than my usual read, but definitely enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – The Seven Year Slip

Another super popular book, that just wasn’t quite for me. Actually, I think I felt very similar to how I felt about Dead Romantics, so if you like that, you’ll probably like this one.

What I liked:

  • The premise. A time-traveling apartment that takes you back 7 years. Awesome!

What I didn’t like:

  • Eh, I just didn’t feel like I really connected to the characters, and the tension wasn’t really there for me.

So although I liked it (and would totally watch the movie), I didn’t love it. Audiobook narration was great though, and if you’re looking for a solid romance with a thought-provoking premise, check this one out!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sometimes you just need a light, fun read!

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – The True Love Experiment

Okay, Christina Lauren, you have outdone yourself. This one is my absolute favorite. Lovable characters, amazing voice, great fun premise, and chemistry that totally sizzles. Romance exactly the way it should be. 5 glowing stars and really hoping we get another book in the world titanium and Diamond matches! Hollywood, for the love of all that is holy, MOVIE NOW!!!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I’m still catching my blog up, but this was a top 6 read for me in 2023.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Yours Truly

Enjoyed it, but probably my least favorite of Abby Jimenez’s books so far. (And I’m pretty sure I’ve read them all.)

What I liked:

  • The banter and dialogue. Very fun.
  • Jacob. All the fabulous good-guy vibes.
  • The sending notes to each other in the first half. OMG. ADORBz.
  • Jacob’s narration on the audiobook

What I didn’t like:

  • The relationship drama at the 85% point felt a little contrived for me and very abrupt
  • The miscommunication
  • Brianna’s narration on the audiobook

While the first half was everything I love about Jimenez books – the cuteness, the banter, the fun. I felt like the 2nd half dipped too far in the drama, and I felt like Bri did Jacob wrong. Still a fun read for those looking for a cute romance, but if this is your first Jimenez book, I wouldn’t start here. Will still definitely read the next Jimenez book for sure though!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Not my favorite Jimenez, but I’m still excited for the next one.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Iron Flame

Finished this five minutes ago. No spoilers – real thoughts.

Things I liked:

  • The Dragons (as in book one, I think this is exactly how dragons should be)
  • Specifically, Tairn & Andarna. Definitely my favorite
  • The squad dynamics and loyalty going on
  • Love the action
  • Love that BIG plot events happened, and that Violet played a huge part in them, really coming into her own
  • The perfection of the audiobook narration
  • The family dynamics
  • The action scenes
  • Huge stakes
  • The real feeling that no one is safe

Things I didn’t like:

  • Violet & Xaden have one ongoing fight for the entirety of this 28 hour audiobook, and it is about something (imho) ridiculous, to the point of feeling contrived for the sake of relationship tension. I like Violet pretty much the entire time except when she is with Xaden.
  • The ending. While the last book left me with a feeling of satisfaction after a book-long build to a reveal… I don’t think I got enough closure/resolution in this one to justify the abrupt cliffhanger. Which basically makes it feel like this book doesn’t stand alone in any way, but is rather a stepping stone to book 3. I know it won’t bother most people that love long series, but it’s a big pet peeve of mine. After 28 hours, I would like to close the book with a satisfying pay-off or clawing for the next one… and I don’t really feel either.

So, I think I liked it about the same as the first book, which is to say – solid read and will read book 3, but probably won’t make my 2023 favorite books list.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Solid romantasy, though I still don’t totally get the Fourth Wing mania.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Gideon the Ninth

So, a creepy sci-fi fantasy with necromancers and swords and mystery? I thought this would be right up my alley. Even after my husband gave a lackluster review of being slow, I figured, with all the hype, I would give it a shot. But while, I know a lot of people loved this book, I don’t think it was for me.

What I liked:

  • Gideon’s character and voice off the page.
  • The premise of nine houses of necromancy coming together to solve some kind of riddle in a creepy house of death
  • Swords and general creepiness. Vibes here were solid.
  • The audiobooks narration
  • The complex relationship between Gideon and Harrowhark

What I didn’t like.

  • Pacing. Oof. I’ve got to agree with my husband, this one was slow and l.o.n.g. (Please keep in mind though, as a rule, I like breakneck books.) Gideon spends a lot of the first half not really knowing what’s going on, and well, the tension just wasn’t there for me. Even by the end, I didn’t feel like the elements melded together enough for me to be really satisfied.

Obviously lots of people loved it though, so if you’re into dark, edgy sci-fi fantasy, give this one a shot. 3.75/5 for me, and I’ll pass on the sequel, though I would see the movie.

⭐⭐⭐¾

Not for me, but it could be for you! (And my little iron man says he’s not a fan of the cover, so there’s that too.)

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

2023 Author Year in Review



Every year around this time, I try to take a step back and see how my writing year went. Did I accomplish my goals from last year? Was I productive? Did I grow? How can I do better next year?

Just at a glance, I can say without question that 2023 has been the biggest year for my small-potatoes writing career to date. Honestly, I’m still blown away, but I’m so excited to break it down and see if I can take a guess at what 2024 might hold.

So let’s get into it!

first, the numbers

  • Words written: 97,500 (Into the Fire+bonus chapters) + 17,000 (Exit Seats Zero Draft) + 36,250 (My half of the co-authored Midnight Falls) = 150,750 words (-30% from last year)
  • Words revised: 97,500 (Into the Fire) + 72,500 (Midnight Falls) + 71,500 (Inky & Heater IRL) + 83,000 (The Ninth Circle) = 324,500 words (+20% from last year)
  • Words published: 77,500 (Time’s Orphan) + 101,000 (Into the Churn+bonus chapters) = 178,500 (8x last year)
  • Words queried: 71,500 (Inky & Heater IRL) = 71,500 words (-60% from last year, but I signed with an AGENT!😱)
  • So moving forward, instead of words queried, I’ll tally words on sub (😱!): 71,500 (Inky & Heater IRL)
  • 2023 Total Words Worked: 796,750 words (+5% from last year)

Sales Numbers: ~816 self-published books sold (+16% from last year, includes audiobooks but not my title with Whimsical Publishing). Another ~22,457 downloaded for free. (112x last year’s count)

And the Goodreads numbers.

  • Odriel’s Heirs: 217 ratings (+30%) / 4.17 stars
  • Burning Shadows: 32 ratings (+88%) / 4.72 stars
  • Idriel’s Children: 70 ratings (+40%) / 4.43 stars
  • Night of Ash: 24 ratings (2.7x) / 4.75 stars
  • Time’s Orphan: 74 ratings (9.3x) / 4.57 stars
  • The Gatekeeper of Pericael: 98 ratings (+17%) / 4.12 stars
  • Into the Churn: 141 ratings (35.25x) / 4.38 stars
  • My Goodreads total: 659 ratings (+93%) / 4.36 stars

If you want to compare the totals to last year more directly, my 2022 summary is here. For many, these are still very small numbers, but this was a HUGE growth for me as far as exposure. And words-wise, it looks like I just about matched 2022, which is a consistency I’m super happy with, especially considering all the other exciting developments that happened this year!

the highlights

  • I SIGNED WITH AN AGENT!!! This was seriously a dream come true for me. After querying my YA Romance, Inky & Heater IRL, I got *3* agent offers and signed with the brilliant Kristen Terrette from Martin Literary. I am STILL processing.
  • And then Inky & Heater IRL went on sub! This was a huge step in my writing journey, and I’m so excited to see where this YA Romance goes next!
  • Several of my books won awards! Odriel’s Heirs was a silver medalist in 2022 International Readers’ Favorite Awards, A Wishing Shelf Book Award Bronze Medal Winner, and a Literary Titan Gold Winner. Idriel’s Children was a semi-finalist in both the 2023 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award and the 2023 Kindle Book Awards. And The Gatekeeper of Pericael got an Indie BRAG Medallion.
  • I made the game-changing realization that I could price-match my books on Amazon for the sake of Bookbub promotions of free books (thank you to the amazing Carol Beth Anderson for showing me how this is done.) I cannot under-emphasize what a huge difference this made for me. For reference, I had 20,301 units ordered from Amazon alone this year, bringing me to a lifetime total of 30,874 since I published my first book in March 2020. So basically, I *tripled* the combined exposure I accumulated from 2020-2022 in a single year. After my free BookBub promotion, I kept the first book of my Odriel’s Heirs series free, which then triggered enough sales of the later books to generate more profit this year than in any other year since I’ve started publishing. And I will *definitely* be continuing to use BookBub free promotions in 2024.
  • I had my first ever in-person author events, readers actually came, and someone made me an Into the Churn bracelet. 😭 Into the Churn actually got onto the shelf of The Hidden Lantern and a Barnes and Noble. 🤩 Bucket-list item. CHECK.
  • And while I’m gushing about amazing Into the Churn things that happened. A special edition was featured in the Unplugged bookbox and had dyed edges and just a completely stunning design. I saw fanart from multiple readers, an amazing reader-made moodboard, there was an incredibly cinematic book trailer, @glamorouslyguilty cosplayed as Ezren, multiple readers messaged me how much my books meant to them, and in general, I just about died from happiness.
  • Into the Churn sold well enough that Whimsical Publishing greenlighted the sequel, Into the Fire, which is scheduled to launch in May 2024! I’ve been told ad nauseum that YA sci-fi doesn’t sell, but I can’t help but dream in trilogies, so this was SUCH an amazing surprise.
  • I co-authored a book with the incredible E.P. Stavs! Erin and I have been writing friends for awhile, and I’m a huge fan of her work, so it was so fun to create a story together! I really enjoyed our collaborative process and overall, we just had a blast with it. I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for our quirky paranormal, Midnight Falls!
  • My microfiction, When They’re Ready, got an honorable mention in the NYC Midnight 250-word challenge! So completely honored and blown away!

What I learned

  • Zero drafts (a dialogue-only draft written before the first draft that reads much like a screenplay) are my jam. I think I started this in 2022, but I totally honed this part of my process in 2023. In general, this is the year I really felt like I had my writing process down pat and really maximized efficiency with juggling WIPs.
  • BookBub Promos for free books are where it is AT, pricing the first book in a series at free is a fantastic marketing strategy for me, and I will be utilizing both of these epiphanies in 2024.
  • Entering book awards is very fulfilling for me and can result in some excellent feedback and I will continue to enter in the future. On the flip-side, I also invested in some recommended trade reviews, but I didn’t really find that to be worthwhile or satisfying in any way.
  • A street team is an effective and fun way to build hype for a book release. In 2023, I did this for the first time with Into the Churn, and we totally had a blast. I can’t wait to jump into it again with my Into the Fire team.
  • I was so much more consistent with my engagement on Instagram and Twitter this year. Although I didn’t get a big follower increase, overall, I was much more confident in just being myself, and on Instagram, I finally felt like I was striking a decent balance between getting the word out about my books and just being my bookish, weirdo self while not over-extending myself.
  • In-person events, while so fun and fulfilling, didn’t generate many sales for me. I think I still have a lot to learn about when and where to hold these to maximize efficacy.
  • YA sci-fi… is a hard sell. Boo. I hate that I have that I even have to put this on here, but I’m trying to be honest. When I first published YA sci-fi, I knew if it took off that I had enough sci-fi stories I was itching to write that I could happily specialize and build a brand as a YA sci-fi author. Unfortunately, despite the amazing feedback on the book itself, getting it out into the world and finding its reader niche has been difficult. Hopefully, I’ll update this with better news in 2024, but as of right now, (unless something miraculous happens with Into the Fire) I fully expect to be moving away from YA sci-fi for the forseeable future. However, while I do love sci-fi, since I’m a huge genre-hopper as a reader and a writer, this is just another bittersweet step in the journey. This past year, I’ve loved shaping up both my first YA romance and my first YA horror, and I’m excited to jump back into dark fantasy this spring. I’m still trying to find my brand, but this year I learned that I really do need to pay attention to the market as well if I want to my writing career to progress. Kind of a hard lesson to swallow but also an important one, and a learning opportunity I’m so grateful for.

What I still need to work on

  • BookTok. I should still probably try harder to get into this sphere, but I still feel like I haven’t the faintest idea how to attack that goliath. I am HERE for your suggestions.
  • Newsletter. Despite all the stuff that happened this year, I don’t know if I sent out a single newsletter update. Although I try only to send them out when I have book news, I definitely need to send them out more often then the ‘never’ frequency I’m approaching right now. I have a hard time with the fact that the number one thing I can do to decrease my subscribers is send out a newsletter. 😂
  • Odriel’s Heirs covers. This year I attempted (twice) to get a character art cover of Time’s Orphan to match the other two hardcovers of Odriel’s Heirs, but it didn’t work out. So I ended up taking all the hardcover versions down since I didn’t want to create incomplete sets. 😭 One day, I’d still like to get these as well as an amazing omnibus cover, and maybe even makeover Gatekeeper’s cover? But it’s probably more of a dream than a goal. If you have any amazing cover artists you’d like to shout out, I’d love to see their links!
  • This blog. I really don’t try to market this blog, write a lot of posts, or increase traffic and… maybe I should? I don’t know. Still waffling on this one.

Goals

So what next? As always, I try to keep my goals measurable and attainable. (Goal small. Dream big.) Last year I’m proud to say I hit 5/6 of my goals (but since Storybound Fest was cancelled, I didn’t get to check that one off.) And for this year I’m aiming to:

  • Get Into the Fire out into the world in May!
  • Finish my revision of Midnight Falls with E.P. Stavs and send it to my agent, Kristen, to see what she thinks!
  • Write the two next books itching at my brain!

Okay, I’m wrapping it up, I swear! Looking at the big picture, 2023 was a huge revision year for me, so I think that means 2024 will be a drafting year. Overall though, this has, by far, been my best writing year to date, and I’m so grateful for everyone who’ve believed in my books and made this possible: Whimsical Publishing, Kristen Terrette, E.P. Stavs, and everyone else who’ve taken the time to leave a book review or a kind word. Thank you so much. Your support truly means the world to me, and I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Cheers to continuing this crazy journey in 2024. I can’t wait to see what happens next. As always, thanks so much for reading!

Thanks for the memories, 2023! Bring on 2024!