Books I’ve Read so far in 2024
Books I’ve Read so far in 2024
In the first half of 2024 I read 23 books!
I didn’t realise I’d read/listened to so many, though the audiobooks can stack up when you have an hour in the car per day travelling to and from work.
The highlights so far this year:
”Armour of Light” by Ken Follett (of course)
“Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom
“Treasure and Dirt” (audio) by Chris Hammer
If you want to see the full list, go to my Reading page.
The Blackwater Prince - The Companion
She is the cousin and constant companion of the King’s only daughter, acting as friend, handmaiden and confidante.
Her position alongside the princess is controversial at best, hated at worst. Many a noble family would move heaven and earth for their daughter to be the lady-in-waiting to the princess, and most cannot understand why a girl of such lowly status holds such a lofty position.
She counts herself fortunate given the scandal surrounding her birth. She may have royal blood, but it counts for little. However, the royal family welcomed her from a young age where she and the princess grew up like sisters, much to the dismay of many members of the court.
Currently being schooled far from the capitol, their safe haven may not be so safe for much longer. She is young, barely fifteen, but she must find the courage to survive and protect the princess as the realm descends into chaos.
The Blackwater Prince - The Son
He is the heir apparent to the vast estates and riches of one of the realm’s most powerful houses. As such, he had all the advantages expected from a family of such high status.
He never excelled at finance or politics, but he did become an exemplary horseman and quite formidable with the bow, though this did little to impress his father.
Consequently, he was left languishing at home until, in his twenty-first year he was summoned to the capitol to work beside his father, who had become Governor several years before.
He assumed he would finally gain the respect that he deserved. However, he was rarely given tasks of significance with which he could really prove himself and the excitement soon faded. As time passed, his attitude soured and he became more obnoxious, alienating those around him.
Little does he know he will soon be at the centre of the biggest upheaval in the realm for generations. Will he finally gain the approval and respect he has sought for so long, or continue to be a disappointment to his father?
Why this Style?
Before I started writing ‘The Blackwater Prince’, I had recently finished reading the ‘Song of Ice and Fire’ series (yes, all seven books). While I thoroughly enjoyed it, the story moves quite slowly, and there is SO much information to take in.
I had also read a few novels by Matthew Reilly, such as ‘Contest’, ‘Temple’, and the ‘Scarecrow’ and ‘Jack West Jr.’ action thrillers. His novels generally move along at a cracking pace, giving scant time to take a breath between scenes.
I wanted to blend the best of both and create an easy-to-read, engaging story set in a medieval fantasy world. The plot should move along at a decent pace and not burden the reader with too much information. I feel I have achieved that…
…time will tell.
Why this Genre?
I love reading fantasy novels and have done since I was young, with stories that transport you to another world, even if only for a short time. ‘Magician’, 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant' and 'Lord of the Rings', to name a few, are on my list of favourite novels.
I also enjoy historical novels, with the amazing ‘Pillars of the Earth’ by Ken Follett, my absolute favourite novel of all time. These types of stories also take you to another world, or at least another version of our world, and most of the time, I learn something as well.
I consider ‘The Blackwater Prince’ a ‘medieval fantasy’, combining my love of historical fiction and fantasy. It should appeal to readers who enjoy both of these genres as well as those not generally into reading fantasy.
Why did I start writing a novel?
I absolutely love reading!
Because of that, I wanted to tell a tale of my own, so my first novel is a story that I would like to read. With ‘The Blackwater Prince’, I really enjoyed developing the plot, creating the world, and populating it with interesting places and characters.
Another reason I started writing was the desire to do something better with my time other than playing video games or watching TV (though I still enjoy both pursuits, just not to the same extent).
Writing a novel was a HUGE challenge, much bigger than I had expected, and I’ll admit I sometimes felt I’d bitten off more than I could chew. However, I persisted, and now I have a complete novel of which I am proud. I sincerely hope people will enjoy reading it.
Despite the challenges, frustrations, and time it took to write ’The Blackwater Prince’, I still enjoy the writing process. I am already working on the next story in ‘The Blackwater Chronicles’ and a novella in a completely different genre…exciting times ahead!
The Blackwater Prince - The Lords
One is the Governor and head of the ruling council, second only to the King in power. He has accomplished nearly everything he has set out to achieve, finishing what his father started many years ago. The other is a confidante and close friend of the King. He is anxiously awaiting his family’s arrival in the capitol for his daughter’s upcoming betrothal.
Aside from the royal family, they head the two most powerful houses in the realm, each gaining immense influence and riches through their far-reaching business empires.
The southern lord wears his heart on his sleeve, leaving little doubt about his feelings. The lord from the north plays his cards close to his chest, revealing little about what he is thinking.
Despite fighting on the same side in the War of Colours, the two lords are far from friends. One could go so far as to say they hate each other. They are heading for a clash that will ultimately decide the fate of the realm, and neither house will escape unscathed.
The Blackwater Prince - The Handmaiden
Although unafraid of hard work, she yearned for more excitement than life on the farm delivered. She loved her family, but at the tender age of sixteen, despite her mother’s objections, she left for the capitol, Twin Falls. She found work in her uncle’s tavern but quickly tired of being groped and propositioned by the men who frequented the establishment.
The gods finally smiled on her when she gained employment in the Governor’s household. Whilst not as glamorous as imagined, it was far better than the farm or the tavern. She worked hard, even garnering praise from the tetchy head cook.
One day, she was plucked from the kitchen to be handmaiden to the Governor’s wife. Her new mistress was a demanding aristocrat, but before long, they became close, much closer than she had ever been to anyone.
Despite her fortunate circumstances, she couldn’t fully enjoy her new life, for she harboured a secret that, if revealed, could have deadly consequences.