New Book! (That rates a new post.)

Hey, guess what! KD Sarge has a new book out! Captain's Boy came out April 1. (Yes, I'm late. Shhh.) As you all know, I'm really quite lazy, so here's my review from a couple of other sites. 

I was so excited to see another installment in the Dream'verse, and Captain's Boy does not disappoint!

This is the fourth book in the series, and it's fun to see all of the characters from the Pendragon's Dream towards the end of the book, but the story centers around Donte and Selene. During the course of the story, they experience so many things that are horrible reminders of the past and daunting new situations, but they learn each other's strengths and how to work together. I love having the backstory that explains glimpses of their relationship that I got from the other books in the series.

I wish it was my gift to write insightful reviews that drop hints to tantalize, but I'm afraid I would end up spoiling the story somehow. So I will simply say that I HIGHLY recommend this book.

If you've read the earlier books, you may remember that Donte and Selene show up a bit in Knight Errant and are mentioned in His Faithful Squire as well. This is one of those universes where I really want to know more about every single character, so I loved this book. And really, let's be serious: any book with Eve and one of her rescues in it is a must-read. 

*looks pointedly at the reader* 

A MUST read. Have you bought it? Have you read it? If not, you know what to do.

Check out this link to the Chronology of the Dream'verse and be sure that you haven't missed any of the free stories that have been posted over at Turtleduck Press.

His Faithful Squire

His Faithful Squire is out! This is the second book in the Dream'verse by KD Sarge. I've been ridiculously tired, sleepy, and unmotivated this month, so I'm recommending this book late (It was released on August 1), but at least I'm finally getting it done.



Here's the review I posted on Amazon and a few other places:

Rafe spent the first twenty years of his life learning how helpless he was. He's been with Taro for two years, living under the protection of Taro and Taro's formidable sister. He's learned some new skills, but he's pretty sure he's still helpless. However, when he and Taro strike out on their own, problems keep cropping up, and suddenly Taro is the one who needs to be rescued, more than once. It's only after Rafe's found solutions--however unorthodox--that he begins to realize that perhaps he was never as helpless as he'd been taught.

His Faithful Squire is a wonderful book, written from the point of view of the very chatty and personable Rafe. If you're ever been dissatisfied by a "happily ever after" ending, you'll appreciate this look at a relationship that's not exactly new, but is undergoing new stresses. And both parties need to learn how to adapt individually and to work together as a couple. If you've read Knight Errant, the first book in this series, you'll enjoy seeing memories from Rafe's perspective, but if you're new to this universe and this author, His Faithful Squire is an excellent and very welcoming starting point.

If you head over to KD's website, be sure to check out her Crestomanthy, which has links to all of her free short stories and excerpts. (While you're there, check out "The Staff" column on the right and realize that I've knitted 2/3 of them.) Do read "Romeo and Julien: a near-tragedy near Verona", which is a lovely little contemporary romance with a nod to Shakespeare (worth clicking just for the picture, but stick around to read when you're done drooling). Then head to the Turtleduck Press website to read the first three chapters of His Faithful Squire and Knight Errant for free. And then go buy them! There are links to all available purchase points at Turtleduck. (Amazon is the only one that sells the paperback. All of the links sell the ebook.)

And once you read and love the book, be sure to review it and recommend it to your friends. Maybe more promptly than I did. ;)

Bookmarks! And Squid!

My bookmarks are here! YAYAYAYAY! They arrived yesterday, and I'm still gleeing about it. :D Sorry about the weird background color. The colored paper I had handy was melon-colored, but it scanned pink. Hope the boys will forgive me. (Click to embiggen so you can read it! Even my mother thinks it sounds like a good book!)

Do you want a bookmark of your own? (And if you don't, WHY ON EARTH NOT? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU???) Go here! KD's still giving them away.

Now then, I believe I promised people a post about a squid hat. >_>

It's big.


Really big.

Almost as tall as I am.

It took me about 5 months to knit it, using this pattern. Except I think KD's squid is cooler, because I made him in rainbow colors. (His name is Skidoo.)

It started with this.

Well, actually it started with this. I cut the yarn into lengths and spliced it to form the rainbow ball(s).

Then there was the inner hat. I don't actually have any pictures of that, so here it is inside out. The circle is where the eye was attached, but I'll get to that in a bit.

Next, 8 arms. Although I think of them as tentacles. (Yes, there are only 7 in the picture. Hush. I obviously wasn't thinking about photographing every stage as I did it.)

Then the 2 tentacles proper. (You are ignoring the backgrounds of the messy house, right? >_> )

Skidoo is so friendly. Even before he was completed, he'd hold hands with me.

Now come the eyes.
And the other one.

Attached:

Next up, the body! It took FOREVER, but at the same time went much faster than the tentacles. I don't have any pictures of this stage completed either. But here are the fins.


And the finished hat! Yay! (No cats were eaten in the taking of this photo. Afterwards? >_> Well, I think Lilac's still around here somewhere.)

And here's a post from KD in which she talks about Skidoo a little.

SO EXCITED!!!

Anyone who follows me on Facebook or Twitter knows that one of my all-time favorite authors is releasing her first book on Dec. 1 (Knight Errant by KD Sarge, available from Turtleduck Press). Now she's giving away bookmarks! Squeeeeeeeeeee! I've wanted one since she first posted a pic on her blog, but I felt weird asking for one since they're a promotional tool and I'm already buying the book. >_> But now I can have one! Yay!

I've read the book already, as sort of a beta/proofreader. It's wonderful! You should all buy it! Seriously! Buy it, tell me you bought it, and I'll knit you something. Maybe not something as big as the squid hat, but something.

What's that? I never posted about the squid hat? You're right! But that's for next week. I don't want to distract from the bookmarks.

Edited to add: KD has now written a blog post specifically about this bookmark giveaway here.